best and worst freshwater/inland fishes of books

Is their a site that reviews the various "freshwater fishes of" and "inland fishes of" books?

I was wondering as to what the best and worst of them was.

When I saw Mike's copy of "Inland Fishes of Virginia" I was impressed because it located them down to specific streams and parts of drainages.

I used to like my copy of Freshwater Fishes of New Hamphire until I learned how inaccurate it is. (like saying banded sunfish is in both the connecticut river and merrimack river drainages when its only in the connecticut drainage in one pond). It's limiting fish range to drainage leaves alot to be desired for species with very small ranges in a drainage.

Then again this is NH Fish and Game produced book, I recently asked Gabe the local fisheries biologist on if the northward spread of channel cats would have a negative impact on local fish and he had no idea and said it was likely no one studied this before. I asked him on seasonal movements of local fish and he was similarly stumped. I asked him if the decline of White Perch in the Connecticut river was due to the introduction of Black Crappie. He said he suspected that too, which made me wonder why that was not thought of or planned for before crappie were stocked in the region. *sigh* I really wish I went to Unity College for a fisheries degree (they wanted me to go to Keene State for an associates first and I ended up liking Keene and getting a bio major their instead). I think I would make a better fisheries biologist.

There are five state books that I refer to on a regular basis, all of which I like -
Fishes of Arkansas, by Robison and Buchanan;
The Fishes of Tennessee, by Etnier and Starnes;
Freshwater Fishes of Virginia, by Jenkins and Burkhead;
Fishes of Alabama and the Mobile Basin, by Mettee, O'Neil and Pierson;
Fishes of Alabama, by Boschung, Mayden and Tomelleri.

I haven't seen Fritz' South Carolina book yet, I gotta assume it's good. We're lucky in Alabama to have not one but two. And I like the Massachusetts book by Karsten Hartel.

Worst books? That's usually a relative measure. No one really started doing the very ambitious ones like I mention above until the last 20 years. The states that really, truly need books are Georgia, North Carolina and Kentucky (at least to top the list). I'm sure others will mention Mississippi, Florida, Connecticut, Indiana, ...

I haven't checked out any book other than fishes of Ohio, but Fishes of Ohio is one heck of a great book. The only downfall is the first edition is from 1950's and the update was in 1980 or 1981. But as for thoroughness - WOW!

Andy

I'm sure others will mention Mississippi

Really? What's your beef? I like the Ross volume, in general...

Really? What's your beef? I like the Ross volume, in general...

They will, of course, mention Mississippi if they get carried away with finishing a message and stop thinking...

There's books in the works. Patience, grasshopper, patience.

Becker's (1983) Fishes of WI is a classic that hasn't been mentioned yet, and you could make positive remarks about books from much of the west and midwest that were somewhat before their time. The modern era in NA ichthyology really started with the Lee et al. (1980) Atlas of NA Freshwater Fishes; it's been the catalyst that's driven more research than any other single volume...

I'm not sure a "worst" discussion is really useful, although a while back I was nearly thrown out of a mall chain bookstore for critiquing a British-produced field guide and the illustrations therein...

Becker's (1983) Fishes of WI is a classic that hasn't been mentioned yet, and you could make positive remarks about books from much of the west and midwest that were somewhat before their time.

I spent a lot of time with Becker's book. I think I have permanent back problems from lugging the book around in my backpack for two years straight. Then, I discovered it was made available online. I credit that book with spurring my interest even further into ichthyology and ecology.

As Dave said, there really isn't a worst and best, just new and old and different. Fishes of Ohio is a good example; while old it is a good reference that I will still use on occassion. While I personally did not like the Mette - Fishes of AL & Mobile Basin book, it had more to do with the cost when compared to the more recent Boschung and Mayden. However, the coffee table book shape it has leaves a little to be desired. Saying something is inaccurate also reflects a books age rather than the science behind it. Fishes of TN is becoming fairly "inaccurate", but it certainly doesn't mean that it is a bad reference. From the time a reference of this type is started to the time it is published it almost undoubtedly becomes out of date, especially if it is a SE book. All of these references have their quirks and advantages over one another so comparing them can also be like comparing apples to oranges.

I spent a lot of time with Becker's book. I think I have permanent back problems from lugging the book around in my backpack for two years straight. Then, I discovered it was made available online. I credit that book with spurring my interest even further into ichthyology and ecology.

Nice! Now I have another reference. Here's the link: Fishes of Wisconsin

Really? What's your beef? I like the Ross volume, in general...

No beef here, either. Also I happen to like Dr. Ross.