preliminary stocking trials

We performed rearing studies with first-feeding fry and fingerling American Atlantic stur-geons Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus Mitchill, 1815 of Hudson River parentage. Sturgeons were reared at initial densities of 3.7-22.2 fish/l and offered live Artemia sp., frozen Artemia sp., or a for-mulated diet (Biokyowa). After 26 days, mean specific growth rate was inversely proportional to fish density and ranged from 4.9-11.1 % per day. Fish fed frozen artemia were smaller but had the same survival rate as those fed live artemia. Sturgeons converted to a formulated diet with < 25 % mortality at mean length and weight (sd) of 34.5 mm (3.0) and 182 mg (50). Treatments of fingerlings established at initial densities of 0.37-2.22 g/l and fed a formulated diet (Zeigler) for 28 days exhibited mean percent survival (sd) of 87.0 (0.0) to 93.3 (2.3) and had feed conversion factors of 0.50 or less. Our study showed that first-feeding American Atlantic sturgeons require low initial rearing densities (7.4 fish/l or less) and 20-26 days of continuous live artemia to facil-itate conversion to formulated feed. Fish reared similarly were released into the Hudson River in 1994 and into the Nanticoke River (a Chesapeake Bay tributary) in 1996 to evaluate survival an