IMPROVED GROWTH, SWIMMING PERFORMANCE, AND MUSCULAR DEVELOPMENT IN EXERCISE-CONDITIONED YOUNG-OF-THE-YEAR STRIPED BASS (MORONE-SAXATILIS)

Exercise conditioning at 1.2-2.4 body lengths.s-1 for 60 d significant ly improved final weights, specific growth rates (SGR), 2-min critical swimming velocities, red muscle cross-sectional areas at 80% standard length (SL), and red:white muscle ratio at 80% SL in both cultured an d wild young-of-the-year striped bass (Morone saxatilis). Moreover, wi ld fish had final weights and SGR greater than cultured fish in both e xercised and unexercised groups. Exercise conditioning also increased white muscle cross-sectional areas at all sections (50, 65, and 80% SL ) in the cultured but not in the wild fish, although white muscle area s of exercised wild fish were significantly greater than in the unexer cised cultured fish. It is suggested that exercise-conditioned striped bass used for stocking purposes might show increased survival rates i n the wild.