Invasion

Invasion Description

1st Record: Richmond/VA/James River (Cope 1869, Jenkins and Burkhead 1993(, !st Record: Ocean County/NJ/Toms River (Fowler 1952)?, 1st Record: CT/Connecticut River (~1850, Whitworth 1968; Whitworth 1996),

st Record: North Kingstown/RI/Pettaquamscutt River (Horton 1959, URI MS Thesis Fofonoff, personal observations (1975-1980)

, 1862, 1st Record: 5 counties (including Philadelphia)/PA/Delaware River (1880, Creveling 1881), 1st Record: NY/Erie-Canal-Hudson River (1882, Smith and Lake 1990; Mills et al. 1997; Daniels et al. 2005)

The Largemouth and Smallmouth Basses (Micropterus dolomieu and M. salmoides) were widely lumped as 'Black Basses' and frequently confused. The first definite record for M. salomoides in the Hudson Basin is from 1902 Both species may have been intorduced by the Erie Canal, or stocked later on (Mills et al. 1997; Daniels et al. 2005), 1st Record? Millsboro/DE/Indian River Inlet (Fowler 1911),

Boston/MA/Charles River Basin (1862, Hartel et al. 2002)

Geographic Extent

Susquehanna River - Micropterus salmoides was probably introduced to the Susquehanna before 1893: 'widely introduced in Pennsylvania' (Bean 1893). Official USFC stocking began there in 1893 (Worth 1895). However, this fish was not listed for Susquehanna in PA by Fowler (1919; 1948). It is now common throughout the Susquehanna (Bielo 1963; McKeown 1984).

Upper Bay- Micropterus salmoides was planted at Principio Creek in 1893, (Worth 1895) and the Severn, Gunpowder, Sassafras, Patapsco Rivers by United States Fish Commisionin 1901-1910 (Ravenel 1902; Bowers 1912). The first verified captures from the Upper Bay were in Elk and Bohemia Rivers (Fowler 1917; Radcliffe and Welsh 1917). It occurs regularly in the Rhode River (Hines et al.. unpublished data) and is widespread in upper Bay tributaries (Bush, Gunpowder, Northeast, Elk, Bohemia) (Fewlass 1980). In 1971-72, after heavy rains, including Hurricane 'Agnes', it was caught at Calvert Cliffs (Academy of Sciences of Philadelphia 1973), but was not collected there in subsequent (9) annual fish surveys (Horwitz 1987).

Eastern Shore Tributaries - 'Black Bass' were introduced to the Tred Avon River, Easton MD (1901) and the Pocomoke River, Snow Hill MD in 1901-1907 (Ravenel 1902; Bowers 1911). Micropterus salmoides are now widespread in fresh and tidal fresh waters on the Eastern Shore in MD and VA (Lee et al. 1981; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993).

Patuxent River- Micropterus salmoides was stocked by the USFC in 1897-1905 (Ravenel 1898; Bowers 1907), and is now common in fresh-oligohaline waters of the estuary (Jug Bay Wetlands Sactuary 1996; Mansueti 1950).

Potomac River- The earliest Potomac specimen of M. salmoides was collected in 1876 (Bean and Weed 1911), and probably originated from unofficial stocking. It was introduced in Shenandoah River in 1889 and was later planted in the lower Potomac by the USFC . 'By 1896 the fish had become remarkably abundant in the vicinity of Washington' (Smith and Bean 1898). It is found from Chain Bridge to the Wicomico River and St. Clements Bay, but is more abundant in the tributaries (Lippson et al. 1979). Abundance of M. salmoides has greatly increased since the invasion of Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrilla) in the 1980s (Killgore et al. 1989; Phelps 1994; Kraus et al. 2012; de Mutsert et al. 2017). It is abundant above Chain Bridge to Great Falls, in the nontidal river (Starnes et al. 2011).

Rappahannock River- M. salmoideswas probably introduced by unofficial stocking before 1876 (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993) or by United States Fish Commission (USFC) stocking in 1894 and 1897 (Bean 1896; Ravenel 1898), but the first verified record was in 1951 (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). It was widespread in the upper, middle and lower (tidal fresh) river by 1983 (Maurakis et al. 1987).

James River- Micropterus salmoides was considered to be possibly native, but probably introduced, to the James River (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). The first verified record (with voucher specimens) was Cope's (1869) in Tuckahoe Creek, near Richmond VA. He mentions an earlier museum specimen, caught downriver in the James. Virginia Fish Commission reports from 1876 suggest it was introduced to James from SC around 1800, but no evidence was cited. (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). It was not found in pre-European or 17th century archeaological sites in VA (Miller 1986)., NJ/Mullica River (Milstein et al. 1977); Ocean County/NJ/Toms River (Fowler 1952), CT/Connecticut River estuary (1850, Whitworth 1968; Whitworth 1996; Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection 1998); Haddam/CT/Connecticut River estuary (Marcy 1976); Westerly-Pawcatuck/CT-RI/Pawcatuck River (tidal?, Whitworth 1968); Norwich/CT/Thames River (Whitworth 1968); Brigeport/CT/Housatonic River (Whitworth 1968),

North Kingstown/RI/Pettaquamscutt River (Horton 1959, URI MS Thesis Fofonoff, personal observations (1975-1980) Brayton Point (Somerset/MA/Taunton River)

, South Dartmouth/MA/Slocums River, 5 counties (including Philadelphia) /PA/Delaware River; (1880, Creveling 1881) Wilmington/DE/Delaware River (1891, Trenton/NJ/Delaware River (Raasch and Altemus 1991); Trenton-Marcus Hook/NJ-PA/Delaware River (Horwitz 1986; Weisberg 1996)
Delaware River - Micropterus salmoides was probably introduced before 1893, since it was'widely introduced in Pennsylvania' (Bean 1893). Pond rearing began in Wilmington DE in 1891 (Raasch and Altemus 1991); It is now widespread in fresh-mesohaline waters of the estuary (Horwitz 1986; Raasch and Altemus 1991)., NY/Erie Canal; NY/Hudson River estuary, Smith and Lake 1990; Mills et al. 1997; Daniels et al. 2005); Troy-Peekskill (river km 240-60/NY/Hudson River estuary (Nack et al. 1993), Millsboro/DE/Indian River Inlet (Fowler 1911),

Boston/MA/Charles River Basin (1862, Hartel et al. 2002)