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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I CL YMERS GROW-OUT POND The pond was first stocked with razorback suckers from the 24 Road Hatchery in October 1996. additional razorbacks from the hatchery were stocked periodically until June 1997 (see 24 Road Hatchery results. The suckers ate only natural food because no supplemental feeding was done. A total of 9,798 razor backs from the 24 Road Hatchery were stocked into Clymer's Pond. When the pond was drained in September 1997, 1,733 razorbacks were recovered (see 24-Road Hatchery results). Poor survival of these fish may be related to time of stocking, food availability, or predation. Time of stocking may have been a key factor in survival because fish that were stocked in the fall and winter had lower survival rates than fish stocked in the spring. Colder water temperature and limited food availability may have been factors in the razorback's ability to survive over the winter. Problems Poor survival rates were the largest problem at Clymer's Grow-out Pond. Out of 9,798 razorbacks stocked, only 1,733 (17.7 %) were recovered. Lack of natural food may be a problem for fish over-wintering in the pond. No additional food was given to the fish. Approximately 20 largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were found in the pond when it was drained and may have preyed on the razorbacks. Fish eating birds were also seen at the pond and may have fed upon the razorbacks. RECOMMENDATIONS HORSE THIEF REFUGIA PONDS 1. Shorten intervals between periodic prophylactic treatments to avoid catastrophic losses due to disease. Studies have shown that regular prophylactic treatments are beneficial to disease control (Sanchez et al. 1996). 2. Continue to remove all mortalities as quickly as possible to reduce the incidence of infection and predation. 3. Continue removal of problem predators as needed. -19-