212

collections were much larger than those collected in

November, indicating that different segments of the total

population were in the pond on the different dates;

therefore, both segments were summed. According to these

estimates, the total wet season production per square meter

of marsh was 11.0 mg Bluegill and 10.3 mg Redear. The

production rate, "r" in equation 19 of Methods, was 0.219

for the two species combined.



Florida Gar

 Top carnivores such as gar, bass, and Bowfin were

found in quantity only in the pond during low water

periods. A few fingerling gar (20-60 mm) were taken in

marsh samples as early as June 15, 1974, and were found at

the most distant location in the marsh (Station 1200) on

July 30. Although one large gravid female was removed from

the pond on October 22, the majority of th.e gar were

collected on March 31, April 28, and June 12, 1975, when

the open area of the pond was the only standing water in

the area. Fifty percent of the gar on April 28 had eggs.

Figure 49 is a length frequency histogram for the gar taken

on each date, ranging from 18 to 58 cm in length. Table 23

shows the mean dry weight per square meter of gar taken in

the samples and estimates of total dry weight of gar in the

pond on each date. Several stomachs were examined.

Contents included Mosquitofish, crayfish, and fish eggs.

Stomachs of all gar collected on April 23 were empty.