Sander vitreus

History of Spread

Sander vitreus (Walleye) is native to the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Arctic, and Mississippi basins fromm Northwest Territories and Quebec south to AL and AR (Lee et al. 1980; Page and Burr 1991). This species was widely stocked beginning in the 19th century, and has now been released in 43 states outside its native range. Introductions failed in the San Francisco Bay drainage and elswhere in CA, but the species is expanding its range in the Columbia River basin and estuary (Fuller et al. 1999).

The status of middle Atlantic coast (Delaware to Roanoke Rivers) populations of Sander vitreus (Walleye) has been debated. They were considered 'apparently native' by Scott and Crossman (1973). However, their absence or apparently recent introduction in several river systems (Rappahannock, James, York) and well-documented stocking in others (Potomac, Delaware) suggests that they are probably introduced throughout the region, and were stocked very early and unofficially in a few Coastal Plain rivers (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). Sander vitreus were present before 1870 in NC (Neuse, Chowan, Roanoke) but some local opinion considered them to have been introduced (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). In PA, records of their occurence in the Susquehanna go back to 1833 (Bean 1893), but Fowler (1919 ) regarded them as introduced. Starnes (2002) mentions a report of its introduction to Susquehanna from Seneca Lake NY, in 1813. It should be noted that there is a plausible explanation for their natural colonization of Susquehanna, during the early post-glacial period when the Susquehanna was connected to the Great Lakes-Mississippi sytem (Hocutt et al. 1986).

However, Sander vitreus are clearly introduced in other Chesapeake tributaries and in the Connecticut (nontidal?), Housatonic (nontidal?), Hudson and Delaware Rivers,(Whitworth et al. 1968; Horwitz 1986; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Mills et al. 1997). They were once established on the NC Coastal Plain, but are now restricted to upper Piedmont and mountains (Menhennick 1991). They were introduced unsuccessfully to the San Francico bay drainage, but established in the Columbia River (Dill and Cordone 1997). Stizostedion vitreum are widely introduced in Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific drainages (Lee et al. 1980; Page and Burr 1991). The status of eastern Gulf slope populations is uncertain (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993).

James River- There are no historic or archaeological records of S. vitreus from this river; the earliest record is 1977 from Lake Chesdin, which was stocked by VA Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993).

York River- Sander vitreus was stocked in 1975 in Lake Anna (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993).

Potomac River- Sander vitreus was first stocked by 1902; 1,750,000 fry and fingerlings were released at Sycamore Island, near the Fall-Line by the United States Fish Commission (USFC) (Ravenel 1902). USFC stocking continued to 1909 (Bowers 1911). Stocking by Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries continues to the present (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Kazyak 1995. S. vitreum have been collected in tidal freshwater Potomac (Kazyak 1995). Several catches of large fish by anglers near Chain Bridge in March 1996 (Washington Post fishing columns) are suggestive of spring spawning runs.

Patuxent River- Sander vitreus has been introduced to impoundments, but has not been recorded from the river or estuary (Mansueti 1950).

Susquehanna River- Starnes (2002) cites an account of Sander vitreus' introduction to the Susquehanna River from Seneca Lake NY in 1813. An early record of S. vitreum was from the upper Juniata River PA, in 1833, 'within twenty miles of headwaters' (Bean 1893). 'In the year 1863 an individual weighing 8 pounds was sold at Bainbridge' (PA) (Bean 1883). In 1879, a specimen was caught at Port Deposit MD on the tidal river (U.S. National Museum of Natural History 2001). It is widely distributed along the Susquehanna in PA, and is the major game fish at most stations sampled (Bielo 1963). However, it was the rarest fish listed in a creel survey below Conowingo Dam in 1958-1960 (Plosila 1961).

Upper Bay and Drainages- Sander vitreus was 'scarcely if ever brought to the Baltimore markets', and said to occur in the 'mountainous regions' (Uhler and Lugger 1876) so it was probably rare or absent in the upper Bay (at least near Baltimore) at that time. It was stocked in the Gunpowder River 1905 (350,000 fish) (Bowers 1906). Later on, it continued to be rare in upper Chesapeake Bay (Musick 1972a); including a creel survey on the Northeast River (Elser 1960).

Delaware River- Sander vitreus was introduced by 1919 (Fowler 1919), and occurs in tidal fresh water (Horwitz 1986; Raasch and Altemus 1991).

History References - Bean 1883; Bean 1893; Bielo 1963; Bowers 1906; Bowers 1911; Elser 1960; Fuller et al. 1999; Horwitz 1986; Lee et al. 1980; Mansueti 1950; Musick 1972a; Page and Burr 1991; Plosila 1961; Raasch and Altemus 1991; Ravenel 1902; Scott and Crossman 1873; Starnes 2002; Uhler and Lugger 1876; U.S. National Museum of Natural History 2001

Invasion Comments