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193-F

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 120:509-518, 1991


Copyright by the American Fisheries Society 1991

Relationship of Relative Weight (Wr) to Proximate


Composition of Juvenile Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass
MICHAEL L. BROWN AND BRIAN R. MURPHY
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University System
College Station, Texas 77843, USA
Abstract.The relative weight (W^ index is commonly used to assess fish condition. However,
little is known about the relationship of WT to physiological condition. Whole-body proximate
analysis quantifies the general chemical composition of fish but is impractical and too costly for
large-scale application to natural populations. Relative weight may offer an alternative method to
estimate body composition. We raised juvenile striped bass Morone saxatilis and hybrid striped
bass M. saxatilis 9 x M. chrysops 6 under controlled conditions for a 12-week period and then
determined their proximate compositions. Analysis of relationships between Wr and proximate
components indicated that Wr may be used for estimating body composition and gross energy in
juvenile striped bass and hybrid striped bass; WT was correlated with percent crude fat, crude
protein, ash, visceral fat, and ash-free dry-weight gross energy. Additionally, Wr was correlated
with relative growth and the change in total length for the experimental period. Reserve energy
(visceral fat) predicted from Wr may provide a measure of overwintering fitness and suitability of
juvenile striped bass and hybrid striped bass for stocking.

Physiological condition of fishes has been defined as the gross nutritional state (Love 1970) and
the level of reserve nutrients, particularly fat, present in the body (Gershanovich et al. 1984). Consequently, chemical body composition of an individual fish should characterize its physiological
condition and, in general, its health. Furthermore,
this physiological status determines the individual's ability to compete successfully (e.g., through
optimal foraging and reproduction), sustain
growth, maintain and repair tissues, and cope with
stresses induced by environmental changes. Energy reserves in fish are primarily expressed as
visceral fat (Love 1970). Changes in chemical body
composition generally reflect storage or depletion
of energy reserves.
Quantitative analyses of primary body constituents of fish have been reported for numerous
marine (Vinogradov 1953) and freshwater species
(Jacquot 1961). Generally, live-weight, whole-body
composition offish is 70-80% water, 20-30% protein, and 2-12% lipid; however, extreme values
for these components may fall well outside these
ranges (Weatherley and Gill 1987). Several studies
have shown significant changes in whole-body
composition or in the composition of specific organs or muscle tissue due to age, diet, feeding frequency, migration, ration, season, sex, starvation,
and temperature (Chang and Idler 1960; Brett et
al. 1969; Groves 1970; Savitz 1971; Niimi 1972;
Elliot 1976; Craig 1977; Grayton and Beamish
1977; Millikin 1982; Weatherley and Gill 1983).

Condition, as applied to fish population ecology, has been described as an indication of fatness,
general well-being, or gonad development (among
other traits) of an individual or a group of individuals (Le Cren 1951). To put it simply, condition is the relative plumpness or well-being offish
(Wege and Anderson 1978). These definitions are
characterized by indices based on empirical
weight-length relationships. The relative condition factor (Kn; Le Cren 1951) provides a measure
for comparison of individual fish weight to a predicted weight derived for that population or subgroup, whereas relative weight (W r ; Wege and Anderson 1978) measures the variation between
individual fish weight and a length-specific standard weight (Ws) for the species in question. Presently, the Wr index is in wide use among fisheries
management agencies (Murphy et al. 1991), primarily because of the comparative attributes of
the index among species and between individuals
of different lengths within a species. Anderson
(1980) suggested that a Wr of 100 (individual
weight = standard weight) may reflect ecological
and physiological optimality; however, little empirical evidence of the relationship of these factors
to Wr has been shown.
The measurement of physiological condition,
determined by comparison with a standard weightlength relationship, may provide reliable estimates for determining body composition of live
fish. Typically, body composition of fish is assessed by chemical proximate analysis, which is

509

510

BROWN AND MURPHY

expensive and time-consuming and requires the


death of the fish. If body composition can be estimated reliably from a mathematical condition
index such as Wr, this would allow fish to be
released unharmed after weight-length measurements. Additionally, this method would have applications to aquaculture: fat and protein levels
could be monitored indirectly at various stages of
growth. Thus, the specific objectives of this study
were (1) to determine the empirical relationship
between Wr and proximate composition of individual juvenile striped bass Morone saxatilis and
hybrid striped bass M. saxatilis $ x M'. chrysops
3 raised under controlled conditions, and (2) to
evaluate the relationships between Wr and various
growth characteristics.
Methods

Experimental design. We obtained 30 juvenile striped bass (mean weight, 184.1 g 33.3
SD) and 30 hybrid striped bass (543.2 g 89.0)
from the San Marcos National Fish Hatchery and
Technology Center, San Marcos, Texas, and
stocked them in 109-L aquaria equipped with siphon drains. Stable conditions were maintained
by a closed recirculation system (total volume,
4,357 L) that delivered water to each aquarium at
a rate of about 1 L/min; partial exchange (50%)
with well water occurred every 3 d. Total ammonia, nitrites, alkalinity, hardness, dissolved oxygen, and pH were measured weekly. Water quality complied with standards suggested for striped
bass culture (Bonn et al. 1976; Lewis and Heidinger 1981; Rogers et al. 1982). Water temperature
was maintained at 24-26C with a chiller unit.
This temperature has produced optimum growth
of juvenile striped bass under laboratory conditions (Cox and Coutant 1981). Fluorescent lighting, controlled by an automatic electric timer, provided a light: dark cycle of 12:12 h.
Fish were fed a pelleted grower diet (Bioproducts, Warrenton, Oregon) in both experiments (4mm-diameter pellet for striped bass; 9-mm-diameter pellet for hybrid striped bass). This diet, a
semimoist extruded feed formulated to produce
rapid growth of salmonids, meets the known nutritional demands of juvenile striped bass (Bonn
et al. 1976; Millikin 1982, 1983; Zeigler et al.
1984). All fish were conditioned for 2 weeks by
feeding them at a rate of 2% (0.05 g) of dry body
weight per day (BWPD). After the pretreatment
period, five randomly selected replicates were each
fed one of six ration levels (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1, 2,

or 3% 0.05 g BWPD) for 12 weeks (striped bass,


July-September; hybrid striped bass, DecemberFebruary) in order to stratify proximate body
components across the six treatments. Analysis of
variance indicated that initial relative weight (Wr)
and ration level were independent (P > 0.2). Ration levels were expressed as dry weight based on
78.4% and 75.6% dry matter for 4-mm and 9-mm
pellets, respectively. Feeding frequency was limited to once per day (0800 hours). Generally, consumption ceased in 10-15 min, and pellets not
consumed were counted immediately to estimate
consumption by difference (Talbot 1985); uneaten
food and fecal waste were siphoned from each
aquarium shortly thereafter. Weight (striped bass,
to 0.5 g; hybrid striped bass, to 0.1 g) and
length (mm) measurements were made at 2-week
intervals; feed allotments for the next interval then
were adjusted for observed weight gains.
Analyses. At the end of each experiment all
fish were starved for 48 h, measured, blotted dry,
and weighed. Individuals were frozen immediately (-20Q to prevent protein denaturation and
oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids pending proximate analysis. Before analysis, visceral fat was
excised and weighed (to 0.001 g) for calculation
of relative visceral fat weight (visceral fat weight/
wet body weight). The liver was removed from
each striped bass (Hvers of hybrids were not analyzed) and weighed for calculation of the liversomatic index (LSI, liver weight/body weight;
Novinger 1973). Visual examination of reproductive organs confirmed all fish were sexually immature. Excised tissues were replaced and whole
bodies were individually passed through a meat
grinder (3-mm-diameter sieve). We used two samples per individual in all stages of analysis. Homogenate samples (4.00 g 0.001 g) were taken
for determination of water content and were ovendried at 100C until constant weight was attained
(AOAC 1984). The remaining slurry was freezedried (-75Q for 48 h and rehomogenized in a
stainless steel blender. Because freeze-dried samples were about 97% dry, 4.00-g samples (0.001
g) were oven-dried at 100C to constant weight to
provide a correction factor for dry-weight calculations of remaining analyses. We ashed dry-matter samples at 600C in a muffle furnace to a constant weight to determine the ash fraction (Lovell
1975). The crude-fat fraction (2.00-g samples,
0.001 g) was determined by petroleum ether extraction (Lovell 1975) in a Goldfisch fat extractor.
Nitrogen (0.500-g samples, 0.0001 g) was de-

RELATIVE WEIGHT AND PROXIMATE COMPOSITION

511

termined by the macro-Kjeldahl technique (AOAC gain for each experiment (Brown 1957). Total
1984) and converted to total protein equivalents growth efficiency (Et) was calculated biweekly as
(percentage crude protein = percentage nitrogen
x 6.25). Crude fat, crude protein, and ash were
expressed as dry-weight percentages. We calculated gross energy content of whole bodies on ash- G is weight gain (g) and / is dry-weight consumpfree dry-weight samples with standard conversion tion (g) (Warren and Davis 1967). The instanfactors recommended for fat (39.54 kj/g) and pro- taneous (specific) growth rate (IG) was detertein (20.08 kj/g) (Brett and Groves 1979).
mined as
Our threshold of statistical significance was P
< 0.0001 unless noted otherwise. The z-test did
not reveal any significant differences for proximate component replicates for individuals (P >
0.05), so means for duplicates of individuals were WT is the final weight at time T, and Wt is the
used in all analyses. Variances associated with ra- initial weight at time t (T t was about 14 d),
tion treatments were homogeneous, so untrans- derived from the rate expression
formed values were reported. Tests for differences
among ration treatments for final Wn percentage
water, crude fat, crude protein, ash, and visceral YT is the final weight and Yt is the initial weight
fat were based on analysis of variance (ANOVA) (Brown 1957).
Growth efficiency and instantaneous growth rate
and Tukey's W-procedure (Lentner and Bishop
1986). We evaluated residual plots for regression assessments were based on Wr values derived for
analyses to select best-fit models; all relationships the interval associated with the growth period and
evaluated in this study produced linear models. on Wr values for a lag phase of one interval before
Parameters were derived for calculation of pre- and after calculation of growth characteristics. We
diction intervals for new data (Neter et al. 1989). determined the absolute change in Wr (for a biWe calculated relative weight (Wr\ Wege and weekly period) for evaluation against growth charAnderson 1978) at the beginning of each experi- acteristics in the aforementioned manner.
ment and at the end of each growth interval as

*-

Wr = -^x 100;

Results and Discussion

Relationship of Wr to Proximate Components


Crude fat. Regression analyses of the final WrWv& the actual weight of an individual and Ws is crude-fat relationships produced significant rea length-specific standard weight. Standard-weight gression models for striped bass and hybrid striped
equations used to derive index values were
bass (Table 1). Crude-fat values increased with
increasing Wr (Figure 1). Therefore, the significant
-4.924 + 3.007 log10TL
positive relationship of crude fat to Wr appears to
for striped bass (TL is total length) and
provide an acceptable means of estimating the approximate level of total body fat.
logio^, = -5.201 +3.139 logloTL
Energy storage sites. The percentage of visfor hybrid striped bass (Brown et al. 1989). We ceral fat relative to wet body weight was used to
calculated relative liver weight (Lr\ Legler 1977) as evaluate the relationship of final W to one of the
r
primary lipid storage sites: the visceral depot
(Weatherley and Gill 1987). Extrapolation from
the regression equations (Table 1) predicted 0%
LW is the liver weight for an individual, and we visceral fat at Wr values of 63 and 64 for striped
estimated the liver-somatic index as LSI = 100 and hybrid striped bass, respectively (Figure 1).
Excess energy is primarily stored as fat (triglycx liver weight/wet body weight.
To determine relationships of growth to Wf9 erides) (Love 1980; Weatherley and Gill 1987),
we estimated relative growth, change in total and this depot constitutes the main energy source
length, growth efficiency, and instantaneous growth for maintenance (Weatherley and Gill 1987). Fat
rates. Relative growth was the percentage weight reserves are necessary in mature fish of most spe-

512

BROWN AND MURPHY

Hybrid striped bass

Striped bass
82i
78
74
70
66
62
75

90

105

120

6(T

75

90

105

120

75

90

105

120

75

90

105

120

28i
25;
22
19
16
13;
75

90

105

120

10-_
60
70i

66
62
58
54
50

60

75

90

105

_
60

120
6

1
5

75

75

90

90

105

105

120

60

75

90

105

120

120

36i
30
24
18
12
6
0'
60

75

90

105

120

Relative weight

FIGURE 1.Scatter plots depicting the relationships of percent crude fat, visceral fat, crude protein, ash, and
water to final relative weight for individual juvenile striped bass and hybrid striped bass. Crude fat, crude protein,
and ash are expressed as percent of dry body weight. Visceral fat is expressed as percent wet body weight.

cies for periods of migration (Chang and Idler


1960), overwintering, and gonad maturation (Craig
1977; Medford and Mackay 1978; Dawson and
Grimm 1980). Such reserves in sexually immature
fish are necessary for growth (Brett et al. 1969)
and overwintering (Oliver et al. 1979; Wicker and
Johnson 1987). Therefore, fish entering a prolonged period of natural starvation or other stress

(e.g., overwintering) at minimum Wr values may


not survive.

The assessment of liver tissue as another storage


depot of energy reserves (lipid and glycogen) has
been used to evaluate condition for several species
(Novinger 1973; Tyler and Dunn 1976; Heidinger
and Crawford 1977; Delahunty and de Vlaming
1980; Adams and McLean 1985). Regardless of

RELATIVE WEIGHT AND PROXIMATE COMPOSITION

513

TABLE 1.Variables for least-squares regression analysis of striped bass and hybrid striped bass relationships for
crude fat, visceral fat, crude protein, absolute protein (g), ash, water, gross energy (kj/g), relative growth (%), and
the change (A) in total length (mm) versus final Wr (P < 0.0001). Crude fat, crude protein, and ash are expressed
as dry-weight percentages. Visceral fat and water are expressed as wet-weight percentages. Absolute protein is based
on wet weight of striped bass (310 mm) and hybrid striped bass (369 mm). The sums of squared deviations for Wr
are 2,431 and 1,687 for striped bass and hybrid striped bass, respectively. Means for Wr are 93 and 86 for striped
bass and hybrid striped bass, respectively.
Linear equation

Mean square error

SE of Wr coefficient

fi

Striped bass
Crude fat - -36.766 + 0.661 Wr
Visceral fet = -15.064 + 0.240 Wr
Crude protein = 95.735 - 0.407 Wr
Absolute protein - -73.973 + 1.428 Wr
Ash = 44.706 - 0.313 Wr
Water = 100.070 - 0.308 Wr
Gross energy - 9.416 + 0.076 Wr
Relative growth - -306.566 + 4.337 Wr
A total length = -123.211 + 1.858 Wr

3.180
1.222
2.116
8.548
1.734
1.751
0.833
28.033
11.738

0.064
0.012
0.043
0.173
0.035
0.036
0.018
0.675
0.240

0.790
0.770
0.762
0.708
0.739
0.729
0.727
0.675
0.685

Crude fat = -14.963 + 0.461 Wr


Visceral fet - -9.321 + 0.146 Wr
Crude protein - 76.499 - 0.244 Wr
Absolute protein - -94.187 + 2.359 Wr
Ash = 39.491 -0.256 Wr
Water = 93.721 -0.291 Wr
Gross energy - 9.387 + 0.134 Wr
Relative growth = -96.850 + 1.304 Wr
A total length = -32.742 + 0.536 Wr

Hybrid striped bass


2.641
0.913
1.883
12.902
1.410
1.940
0.809
8.386
5.476

0.064
0.022
0.046
0.314
0.034
0.047
0.020
0.204
0.133

0.656
0.615
0.512
0.676
0.673
0.585
0.632
0.602
0.374

Other authors have reported similar results based


on whole-body analyses (Phillips et al. 1960; Niimi 1972; Dawson and Grimm 1980).
Generally, there is little change in the protein
provide a meaningful relationship (r2 = 0.128). fraction until periods of prolonged starvation reCalculation of the Lr index (Legler 1977) for striped duce fat reserves to a point at which protein is
bass did not provide higher correlations with en- catabolized (endogenous metabolism) to meet energy storage than did Wr. Percentage crude fat (r2 ergy requirements. Sexually mature fish, especial= 0.369) and percentage visceral fat (r2 = 0.336) ly females, displace muscle protein to the reproprovided only moderate correlations when re- ductive soma during gonad maturation (Craig
gressed against Lr. Based on these observations, 1977; Medford and Mackay 1978; Dawson and
Wr appears to provide better estimates of reserve Grimm 1980). The striped bass and hybrid striped
energy in striped bass than does LSI or Lr (Table bass in this study were sexually immature; therefore, whole-body protein dynamics were attrib1).
Crude protein.The relative quantity of crude uted to changes in feed intake.
protein decreased linearly with increasing Wr valAsh. Whole-body ash fraction decreased with
ues (Figure 1), thereby reflecting the concurrent increasing Wr values (Figure 1). Linear regression
positive relationship between percentage crude fat of percentage ash against final Wr provided sigand Wr. Predictive equations derived from our nificant predictive equations (Table 1). Other instudy appear to provide good estimates of per- vestigators have reported increasing relative ash
centage whole-body protein (Table 1). The rela- values with declining body fat (Savitz 1971; Niimi
tionship between absolute protein (g) and Wr was 1972). Scales and vertebrae probably constitute
determined by adjusting protein to a mean length the major depots for elemental mineral concen(striped bass, 310 mm; hybrid striped bass, 369 trations, thereby providing the least-sensitive
mm). Regressions of absolute protein (g) against components to changes in absolute values. Love
final Wr provided positive relationships (Table 1). (1970) reported that relative muscle ash declined
condition, liver weight was highly correlated with
body weight in our study (liver weight = 0.306
+ 0.008 wet body weight, r2 = 0.808). Regression
analysis of LSI against Wr for striped bass did not

514

BROWN AND MURPHY

after water content reached a critical point during


starvation, though absolute values hardly reflected
the depletion.
Water. Regression analysis provided correlations of about 0.7 and 0.6 (Table 1) for the inverse
relationship of water content versus final Wr for
striped bass and hybrid striped bass, respectively
(Figure 1). Several authors have noted that body
water content (%) increases with starvation (Idler
and Bitners 1959; Groves 1970; Savitz 1971; Niimi 1972). This relationship to Wr was expected
because of the inverse water-crude-fat relationship.
Gross energy. Whole-body gross energy (kj/g)
content was calculated for ash-free dry-weight
samples based on available-energy assumptions
for fat and protein (Brett and Groves 1979). Regression analysis of the combined energy content
of these components against final Wr produced
significant positive linear relationships (Table 1).
Because fat and (to a lesser extent) protein constitute the primary energy sources in fish, the Wr
index may be used to estimate the level of wholebody gross energy for striped bass and hybrid
striped bass.

Interdependencies of Proximate Constituents


Our regression analyses for the relationships of
crude fat, crude protein, and ash versus water content produced highly significant linear models for
striped bass and hybrid striped bass (Table 2).
Linear relations between proximate components
have been observed for various species in previous studies (Brett et al. 1969; Groves 1970; Elliot
1976). Love (1970) categorized bony fish species
based on the relationships of fat and protein to
water content; fatty fish (e.g., Salmonidae) exhibit
an inverse relationship between fat and water, and

Wr Relationship to Growth Characteristics


Evaluation of relative growth (i.e., percent

nonfatty fish (e.g., Gadidae) show an inverse relationship between protein and water. Based on
these criteria, striped bass and hybrid striped bass
may be classified as fatty fish because both displayed inverse linear crude-fat-water relationships and positive linear crude-protein-water relationships (Figure 2) in this study. This increase
in water content was due to extensive cellular
shrinkage with a concurrent increase in extracellular fluid (Love 1980). The highest water value
(81%) and lowest crude-fat value (5%) were observed for a striped bass; ash (27%) and crude
protein (68%) values were also highest for this
individual. Values of an individual striped bass
for the other condition extreme were 67% water,
33% crude fat, 53% crude protein, and 13% ash.

change in weight for the experimental period) ver-

A less extreme range for proximate component

sus final Wr resulted in significant positive linear


relationships for striped bass and hybrid striped
bass. Models for this relationship provided the
highest correlations for any growth analysis (Table
1).
The change in total length (mm) as a function
of final Wr provided significant linear models for
striped bass and hybrid striped bass. This evaluation indicates that a moderate amount of the
variance associated with the change in the total
length increment is accounted for by final Wr.
This should be expected since the ability to attain
skeletal growth is conditionally regulated by the
nutritional history of the fish.
There was no apparent relationship of Wr to
growth efficiency in either experiment. Furthermore, lagging Wr did not produce any meaningful
relationships with instantaneous growth or growth
efficiency. Evaluation of instantaneous growth- Wr
relationships produced low correlations (striped
bass, r2 = 0.303; hybrid striped bass, r 2 = 0.240).
Regression analysis of the relationship between
instantaneous growth and the absolute change in
Wr accounted for a moderate amount of the variability in Wr (striped bass, r 2 = 0.458; hybrid
striped bass, r 2 = 0.604).

values was observed for hybrid striped bass. The


individual in the poorest condition contained 73%
water, 17% crude fat, 61% crude protein, and 23%
ash, whereas the individual in the best condition
contained 63% water, 31% crude fat, 51% crude
protein, and 13% ash.
Significant differences across feeding treatments
were most frequently detected between the 0.25%
BWPD ration and all other rations in our striped
bass study (Table 3). Low variability between
treatments was due to highly variable consumption rates among individuals within a ration treatment. Means for water, crude protein, and ash
were lowest at the 2% BWPD level; highest mean
values for crude fat, visceral fat, and Wr were also
observed at this level. This pattern was reversed
at the 0.25% BWPD level. Mean consumption level
was highest for the 2% BWPD treatment.
Significant differences across effects were most
frequently seen between the 0.25 and 0.50%
BWPD rations and all other rations in our hybrid
striped bass study (Table 3), although differences
between treatments were not as discernible as those
seen for striped bass. The hybrids, larger than the
striped bass used in this study, apparently did not
feed as well in the isolated experimental environ-

RELATIVE WEIGHT AND PROXIMATE COMPOSITION

Striped bass

36
30
a? 24

Hybrid striped bass


36;

5 1B1
3 12
6j
0
58 62 66 70 74 78 82

30
24
18
12
6
0^
58

66 70

74

78 82

62

Q- 58

58

54

o so62

66 70

74

78 82

36

50
58 62 66 70 74 78 82

36
30

*T 30

12
6
0
58

62

66]

62

58

.1^*^

70

9 70
? 66
I

515

62

66 70

74

78 82

24
18
12
6
0
58

Water (*)

62

66 70

74

78

82

FIGURE 2.Scatter plots reflecting the relationships of crude fat, crude protein, and ash to water for individual
juvenile striped bass and hybrid striped bass. All components (except water) are expressed as percent dry weight.

ment. This may have been because they were held estimating body composition and gross energy in
in a pond before the study. We observed general juvenile striped bass and hybrid striped bass. Reincreases in crude fat, visceral fat, and Wr with serve energy (visceral fat) predicted from Wr proincreasing ration for both striped bass and hybrid vides a measure of overwintering fitness and perstriped bass; concurrent decreases were noted in haps of suitability for stocking. If Wr can acceptably
water content, crude protein, and ash.
predict stored energy in mature fish, it can be exWe conclude that the Wr index appears to pro- tended to traditional fall population assessments
vide a viable alternative to proximate analysis for to predict overwintering fitness of the general POP-

TABLE 2.Variables for least-squares regression analysis of striped bass and hybrid striped bass relationships for
water versus crude fat, crude protein, and ash (f < 0.0001). All independent variables are expressed on a dryweight percentage basis. The sums of squared deviations for water are 317.19 and 244.79 for striped bass and
hybrid striped bass, respectively. Means for water are 71.53 and 6S.79 for striped bass and hybrid striped bass,
respectively.
Linear equation
Crude fat * 165.206 - 1.968 water
Crude protein = -23.564 -1- 1.141 water
Ash = -48.775 + 0.902 water
Crude fat = 108.106 - 1.215 water
Crude protein = 1 1.440 -f 0.642 water
Ash - -30.186 + 0.694 water

Mean square error SE of water coefficient

r*

Striped bass
2.054
2.026
1.524

0.115
0.114
0.086

0.912
0.782
0.798

Hybrid striped bass


2.628
1.878
1.308

0.168
0.120
0.084

0.659
0.514
0.719

516

BROWN AND MURPHY

TABLE 3.Means for proximate components, visceral fat, and final Wr derived from striped bass and hybrid
striped bass feeding treatments. Mean comparisons are based on Tukey's HP-procedure; means followed by the
same letter within effect rows are not significantly different (P > 0.05).
Ration level (% of body weight per day)
Effect

0.25

Water
Crude fat
Crude protein
Ash
Visceral fat
Final Wr

77 y
12 x
65 x
22 x
0.2 w
76 x

Water
Crude fat
Crude protein
Ash
Visceral fat
Final Wr

72 y
17y
59 x
21 y
1.4 y
76 y

0.50

0.75

Striped bass
72 z
71 z
23 y
26 y
60 y
58 yz
14yz
16y
1.5 x
2.5 y
92 y
92 y
Hybrid striped bass
70 yz
69 yz
23 z
25 z
57 yx
55 yz
17z
18yz
2.4 yz
3.6 y
83 yz
86 yz

ulation and possibly the reproductive potential of


striped bass in the following spring. However,
equations developed in our study were based on
juvenile striped bass (240-340 mm) and hybrids
(300-400 mm). The results of this study should
not be extended to mature fish. Numerous authors
have reported marked variability of proximate
components within a species due to age, sex, season, diet, and combinations of these factors. Fat
appears to be the component most affected by these
factors because of energy demands associated with
overwintering starvation in juvenile and mature
fish and eventual gonad maturation in sexually
mature fish; protein and ash, to a lesser extent,
are not as dynamic as fat. Additional research is
required to clarify the relationship of Wr to these
factors for wild and adult stocks.
Acknowledgments
This project was completed with partial funding
from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
(contract 122) as part of Texas Agricultural Experiment Station (TAES) project 6843-H; this paper represents TAES contribution TA-24939.
Special thanks are extended to Cathy Dryden for
assistance with laboratory analyses. Manuscript
reviews were provided by Richard O. Anderson,
Delbert M. Gatlin, and H. Del Var Petersen.
References
Adams, S. M., and R. B. McLean. 1985. Estimation
of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides Lacepede, growth using the liver somatic index and
physiological variables. Journal of Fish Biology 26:
111-126.

56 yz
15yz
2.0 yx
95 yz

68 z
32 z
54 z
13z
3.8 z
103 z

70 z
28 yz
56 yz
14yz
2.7 y
98 yz

68 yz
28 z
55 yz
16z
3.7 y
89 z

67 yz
28 z
54 yz
16z
3.8 y
92 z

66 z
27 z
53 z
15z
4.5 y
89 z

71 z
26 y

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