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<br />they are once again biologically available for plankton <br />production. <br /> <br />METHODS <br /> <br />Striped bass data were evaluated over the past 24 years. <br />Fish were collected by gill netting, electrofishing, <br />ichthyoplankton tows, midwater trawls, with hook-and-line, and <br />during creel surveys. Fish were measured to total length (TL) <br />with the caudal fin squeezed on the measuring board. Fork <br />length, used to determine condition factor (Kfl), was obtained by <br />multiplying total length by a factor of 0.93. Gill net catch was <br />enumerated as striped bass caught per 1000 ft2 of gill net set <br />for 12 h. Food habits were taken from each fish at time of <br />capture and reported as percent occurrence. Scales for age and <br />growth were taken from a point below the lateral line and at the <br />tip of the pectoral fin. Stage of maturity was occasionally <br />taken from a subsample of fish collected by all techniques at <br />various times throughout the years. <br /> <br />AGE AND GROWTH <br /> <br />From 1975-1979 yearling striped bass grew faster than <br />striped bass in saltwater and in most freshwater populations <br />(Table 2). Shad were abundant in the pelagic zone and the newly <br />introduced striped bass were not numerous enough to deplete <br />pelagic forage fish. This period demonstrates maximum growth <br />potential of striped bass in Lake Powell with unlimited forage <br />resources. <br />Greatest growth occurred during the first three years of <br />life. Annual growth increments from 1980-1984 were 227, 202, <br />126, 79, 39, 33 and 80 mm for Ages 1-8, respectively. In <br />contrast, Atlantic Coast striped bass in Chesapeake Bay and <br /> <br />9 <br />