David Roddy informed us that the Wisconsin hatchery called back in January with the fact that they had 14,000 fertilized Sturgeon eggs and asked if Tennessee could use them. They are on the endangered species list and TWRA is trying to reintroduce them to Tennessee waters.  When they hatched out there were 7,000 that lived.  In September they were between 3 and 5 inches.  They grow at different rates and at that time they would only eat ground up bloodworms.  They were fed 4 times a day and had not yet been weaned from the blood worms and put on commercial fish food.  Since these were not budgeted for...other programs were being tapped for the money.  They will be a part of the budget in 2010.  The old hatchery facilities at the Gallatin Steam Plant has been called into use and some of the fish have been moved there.  They will be kept until they reach 1 foot long so they don't become food for other fish and help them to get established.  They are mostly mussel eaters and can grow to 100 lbs. plus.  They will not be able to be taken for many years but they will be able to be caught and released.

Some have been released into the Cumberland River at Shelby Park ramp.  These were fish that were given to TN that were large enough to be released.