PRODUCTION CHARACTERISTICS OF STRIPED BASS (<i>Morone saxatilis</i>) AND F₁, F₂ HYBRIDS (<i>M. saxatilis</i> AND <i>M. chrysops</i>) REARED IN INTENSIVE TANK SYSTEMS¹

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aquaculture characteristics of striped bass ( Morone saxatilis ) and its white bass ( M. chrysops ) hybrids were compared in two intensive tank culture studies which utilized recirculated brackish water. In the first study, striped bass and F 1 hybrids (original cross) exhibited similar growth and survival rates even though the F 1 hybrids were stocked at a density (65 fish/m 3 ) 93% greater than the striped bass. By day 219, striped bass had grown from 30 g to 593 g while F 1 hybrid bass grew from 47 g to 636 g. Standing crops at this time were 15.6 k9/m 3 , and survival was 74.6% and 78.4% for the striped bass and F 1 hybrid bass, respectively. By day 302, F 1 hybrid bass had grown to 835 g and standing crop was 43.1 kg/m 3 . The second study demnstrated that F 1 hybrid bass (reciprocal cross) grew more rapidly than either striped bass or F2 hybrid bass (F 1 original x F 1 original) when reared at the same density (31 fish/m 3 ). Further, survival of the F 1 hybrid bass was 100% at conclusion of this 287‐day study in spite of intensive sampling every 21 days. Individual growth variation was substantial among the F 2 hybrid bass and size frequency distribution at harvest was broad and non‐modal. In contrast, striped bass and F 1 hybrid bass exhibited more uniform growth and size frequency distributions at harvest approximated normal distributions. At completion of this study mean sizes of the F 1 , F 2 hybrid bass, and striped bass were 506.6, 346.7 and 289.3 9, respectively. In summary, F 1 hybrid ( M. saxatilis and M. chrysops ) bass possess a number of desirable characteristics which should make them attractive for aquaculture development.