Racial investigations of striped bass (Morone saxatilus) (Walbaum) 1772 (Pisces : Percichthyidae) for three Canadian Atlantic Rivers : SaintJohn, Shubenacadie, Tabusintac

Meristic and morphometric features and electrophoretic patterns of striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Walbaum) 1772, in the St. John River, Shubenacadie Lake and the Tabusintac River, were examined to determine if discrete populations existed. Liver esterase, optic lens proteins, and serum proteins were separated electrophoretically in 7% poly acrylamide gels and differentiated primarily on the frequency distribution of the presence or absence of protein bands. Comparisons of meristic and morphometric data revealed that each of the three sampling areas represents a distinct population with inter and intra- population differences depending on the parameter being examined. However, no meristic character provided a useful means to differentiate any large percent of bass of one river from another. Morphometric features allowed a much greater percent segregation of fish. Electrophoretic separation of proteins resulted in l esterase, 13 optic lens, and 34 serum protein bands. Of these 3 optic lens proteins occurred only in (either present or absent in 100% of the samples for one area only).the Shubenacadie Lake bass and 1 serum protein band in the Tabusintac River fish. All other bands were found to occur at some frequency in bass from each location. Serum samples of striped bass from Montack Beach, Long Island, N.Y. were also analyzed and comparisons with the three Maritime river systems are discussed.