ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT. The cultural practices used to produce fingerling wall eye, Stizostedion vitreum, in drainable earthen ponds are described for a state fish hatchery in Nebraska and two federal hatcheries in North Dakota. The ponds were filled 1 to 7 days before D2-D4 (Dl=the day of hatch) walleye fry were stocked. At one hatchery, ponds were sometimes double-cropped, first for production of northern pike, Esox lucius. The two federal hatcheries fertilized ponds with ground alfalfa hay or pellets, while the standard practice at the Nebraska hatchery was not to fertilize walleye ponds, be cause of concern that fertilization would result in weed problems and oxygen depletion. One hatchery seeded the ponds with rye grass in the fall. Two of the hatcheries regularly used herbicides to prevent the stranding of fingerlings during harvest and their mortality caused by entangment with net algae, Hydrodicton. When used, herbicide
Robert C. Summerfelt, Christopher P. Clouse, and Lloyd M. Harding, Depart ment o f Animal Ecology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011-3221, USA.
