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JJJ" pox I Information bulletin u.s. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NA~IONAL BIOLOGICAL SURVey 1/'/7 Number 76 1994 Suckers Spawned From Captive Broodstock The sucker family (Catostomidae) includes a wide variety of species, some of which are threatened and endangered. Other suckers have extensive ranges and are often common inhabitants in freshwater ecosystems. Some are important as a bait species for sport fisheries throughout the year. Only a few of these species have been artificially spawned. We are attempting to develop sucker culture methods that use captive broodstock, a technique that has not been utilized for most sucker species. This technique can be used to culture suckers for restoration of depleted wild stocks or for baitfish production. Wild Spawning of White Suckers For years, the white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) has been cultured throughout the north-central and northeastern states as bait or as feeder minnows for hatchery-raised gamefish. Captive broodstock have not been maintained because of their abundance during natural spawning runs. Broodstock are obtained from the wild, typically below small dams where the mature fish concentrate during spawning runs. At that time the broodstock are manually spawned at the side of the stream or at a hatchery and then released. The eggs are then hatched and the fry are raised in ponds. Baitfish farmers in most southern states do not culture suckers because they have little opportunity to obtain sucker broodstock because of the paucity of small dams on streams. In addition, suckers have not been a traditional bait species in the South. Baitfish farmers in the South have recently expressed the desire for a fish species that grows to approximately 17.8 cm (7 inches) within one growing season so that it could be sold to anglers seeking large predatory fish such as walleyes (Stizostedion vitreum), striped bass (Morone saxatilis), or southern largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). To be economically viable the species should also have a large potential market at smaller sizes and have a wide geographical range so that it would not be considered an exotic fish in states where it was marketed. Research Information Bulletins (RIBs) are internal National Biological Survey documents whose purpose is to provide information on research activities. Because RIBs are not subject to peer review, they may not be cited. Use of trade names does Dot imply U.S. Government endorsement of commercial products. I