Abstract
In a 4-year study of northern pike (Esox lucius) at Lac la Ronge, Sask., barb-anchored spaghetti dart tags (when applied with special needles and disinfectant) were retained longer than monofilament-attached preopercular disc tags. Losses after 2 years were 13 and 92%, respectively. Tagging mortality tended to be higher among dart-tagged individuals, but was only 12% after 2 years. Condition tended to be depressed by both tags and, among females, more so by the preopercular discs. Growth increments tended to be smaller for disc-tagged than for dart-tagged individuals of the same sex. Disc-tagged pike also dispersed more widely and were more vulnerable to angling. It is suggested that a brightly colored tag attached to the head of a predatory species, such as pike, interferes with feeding, perhaps by startling prey; such interference would explain all of the comparative tagging effects observed.
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