The cage culture of some fishes in the intake and discharge canals of a steam - electric generating station, Galveston Bay, Texas

Croaker (Micropogon undulatus), pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides), pompano (Trachinotus carolinus), white mullet (Mugil curema), pigfish (Orthopristis chrysoptera), Gulf kingfish (Menticirrhus littoralis), silver perch (Bairdiella chrysura), spot (Leiostomus xanthurus), and black drum (Pogonias cromis) were stocked in cages in the discharge canal of the P.H. Robinson Generating Station on Galveston Bay, Texas, to determine survival, food conservation, length-weight relationship, condition, and growth. Gas-bubble disease was implicated as the cause of their poor survival and nitrogen-saturation levels should be determined before investing in fish culture in a thermal discharge. Croaker and pinfish were heavier per unit length than were fish from natural environments. Final condition values of croaker, pinfish, pigfish, Gulf kingfish, spot, and black drum were generally higher, while those of pompano and silver perch were lower than the initial condition values. Placement of cages in flowing water with velocities greater than about 0.4 m/sec is not recommended because of the excessive force exerted on the cages and mooring systems.