The University of Nevada in association with the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries and the Nevada Fish and Game Department is conducting research concerning the rearing of bait fishes in the desert Southwest. The ultimate goal of this project is to develop methods and techniques for producing a quality product in sufficient numbers at a low cost per of unit effort. The first year's work of the project has been analysis of supply and demand for bait fishes within the complex. The research on review and selection of bait species suitable for rearing in the Southwest will continue during the second year's operations with emphasis on studies of preference of predator species for selected bait species. The total number of retail bait outlets in the lower Colorado River basin is presently 53. Over 90% of these dealers were interviewed. The largest concentration of retail outlets exists in the Las Vegas-Lake Mead area (17), followed by the Lake Havasu and Mohave County area (14), and the Parker Dam area (10). There are six dealers in each of the remaining two areas--Blythe Palo Verde, California and Yuma, Arizona. The total value of bait sales in the study area was $457,000 in 1968. Approximately 40% of this sum was spent in the Las Vegas-Lake Mead area. The total sales volume in 1968 was 4.3 million units of live bait--salamander larvae and minnows. The sales of salamander larvae exceeded minnow sales by 0.7 million units. The wholesale market in the study area consists of five local wholesalers, two wholesalers in central California, and a large number of independent catchers of salamander larvae who obtain their supplies from almost all states in the western part of the United States. The most significant aspect of the wholesale market is the fact that each subarea within the study area is largely, sometimes exclusively, dominated by one local wholesaler. The supply of minnows produced within the lower Colorado River basin meets only about 50% of the demand from retailers in that area. The remaining 50% of minnows are imported from two hatcheries located in central California. It is concluded that there exist ample opportunities for a significant expansion of raising minnows in the lower Colorado River complex. The demand for sport fishing recreation and live bait within the study area is expected to increase at a predicted rate of 9 to 10% per annum in the next decade. Studies on the preference of largemouth bass for selected bait species under experimental conditions have indicated that bass show a definite preference for golden shiners over goldfish (2.2:1) and for salamander larvae over golden shiners and goldfish (2.2:1 and 4.2:1). Future preference experimentation will include the use of striped bass and several native minnows.
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