SEINABILITY OF CHANNEL CATFISH, BLUE CATFISH, AND THEIR F-1, F-2, F3,AND BACKCROSS HYBRIDS IN EARTHEN PONDS

Blue catfish Ictalurus fur catus were significantly easier to harvest by seining than channel catfish I. punctatus, female channel catfish X male blue catfish F-1 and F-2 hybrids, channel catfish backcrosses, a nd blue catfish backcrosses (P < 0.05). The F-1 hybrid was significant ly easier to catch than channel catfish (P < 0.05). The F-3 hybrid was significantly easier to catch than the F-2 hybrid, channel catfish, a nd channel catfish backcrosses (P < 0.05). individual epistatic recomb ination loss had a positive effect on percent fish caught in the first seine haul. Channel catfish additive genetic effects had a negative e ffect on ease of capture by seining. The more channel catfish genes pr esent, the harder the fish was to catch.