Declines in annual biomass from 1997 to 1998 occurred for all species except alewives, which may be partly due to undersampling by the trawl.

The increase in alewife was chiefly due to the full recruitment of the 1995 year-class into the trawls and to a lesser degree the increased catch of age-0 alewives in 1998, however, the increased towing speed may have also been partly responsible for the increased alewife catch. Adult alewife has remained the most important constituent of salmonid diet in Lake Michigan for the last 20 years. There is presently no commercial fishery for alewives in Lake Michigan. Relative abundance of adult alewives increased from 100 fish per tow in 1996 and 110 fish per tow in 1997 to 346 fish per tow in 1998. This catch rate represents the greatest annual change in adult alewife abundance in the last several years. From 1990 to 1997, there was no consistent upward or downward trend in adult alewife abundance. Rather, the abundance fluctuated about a mean level of approximately 112 fish per tow.

The survey estimated a total lakewide biomass of prey fish available to the bottom trawl in 1998 of 134,143 metric tons, compared with 304,011 in 1997.

Currently, boat registration fees contribute $3.5 to $4 million to the Wisconsin DNR annually. It hasn't been determined how much money would be brought in by the proposed amendment.

Pumpkinseed Sunfish:

• 1 lb., 1.5 oz., Sarah Jones, Campbell Lake near Bemidji. Aug. 4, 1997.
• 1 lb., 3 oz., Jeffrey Miller, Leech Lake. Oct. 2, 1998.

Shovelnose Sturgeon:

• 5 lb., 4 oz., Jerry Bambenek, Mississippi River near Winona. Feb. 16, 1998.
• 5 lb., 5 oz., Joseph Yankovec, Mississippi River near Red Wing. April 13, 1998.

Walleye-Sauger Hybrid:

• 9 lb., 1.5 oz., William Stahnke, Mississippi River Pool 4. March 7, 1998.

Rock Bass:

• 2 lb., Paul Kern, Lake Osakis. May 10, 1998.

The affected lakes and their regulations are:

• 15-inch minimum size limit: Platte Lake, Crow Wing County; Sullivan Lake, Morrison County.
• 16-inch minimum size limit: North Big Pine Lake, Aitkin and Pine counties; South Big Pine Lake, Aitkin County.
• 17-inch minimum size limit:

The DNR will also continue the northern pike protected slot limit at Lake Mille Lacs, which requires all northern pile from 26 inches through 36 inches to be immediately returned to the water.

Area boaters are advised that trap nets will be set in areas off South Bass, Middle Bass, and North Bass islands through June. Nets can vary in length from 175 feet to as much as 325 feet from the shore. Scuba divers may also be present in these areas through July. Boaters are asked to use extreme caution.

When reporting a tagged fish, include the species of fish caught, the five-digit tag number, date and location of catch, length, whether the fish was kept or released, and the angler's name, address and telephone number. Anglers who release a tagged fish should not remove the tag. The project will help biologists learn more about bass movements and habitat use, stock composition, spawning habitats and success, survival rates, and early life history.