Survival Of Brook Trout Research Articles

Trout Production and Angling Success from Matched Plantings of Brook Trout and Rainbow Trout in East Fish Lake, Michigan

We studied survival, growth, exploitation, and production from five consecutive matched plantings of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) (8.5-9.5 inches long) in East Fish Lake, Montmorency County, Michigan, 1958-1962. Stocked fish were given varying fin clips for later recognition. Population numbers at several intervals between introductions were determined by Petersen-type estimates. Angler exploitation was tabulated from a complete creel census. Rainbow trout survival was about 98 percent from stocking in October to the following fishing season in April, whereas brook trout survival averaged only 49 percent. About one-third of brook trout deaths occurred between 15 October and the date of ice formation (approx. 15 December). Brook trout stayed in shallow water along shore more than did rainbow trout. Anglers caught 86 percent of the stocked rainbow trout, but only 39 percent of the brook trout. For each pound of trout stocked, anglers caught 3.59 lb of rainbow trout, but only 0.76 lb of brook trout. In addition to the better return on a poundage basis, rainbow trout provided a fishery throughout the angling season, whereas nearly all brook trout were caught during the first 10 days. The brook trout grew well (average increment 0.9 lb/yr), but the rainbow trout averaged 1.3 lb increment per year. Possibly a greater poundage return on rainbow trout would accrue if the beginning of the angling season could be delayed to take advantage of the early summer growing season. Fish managers generally maintain trout in lakes by stocking hatchery fish, because trout do not reproduce in most lakes. A distinct advantage in periodic stocking is that the manager has control over fish density. We can manage trout lake-fisheries most efficiently with an understanding of mortality, growth, and production. This report deals with results from comparable plantings of brook and rainbow trout over a 5year period (1958-62) in East Fish Lake, Montmorency County, Michigan. There have been many studies of trout growth, but few studies of population numbers (and weights) throughout the life of a brood year or a given stocking. Natural mortality is difficult to measure, because the investigator usually has information only on angler exploitation, but lacks corresponding total mortality data. Seasonal differences in natural mortality of trout were observed in a general way by 1 Contribution from Dingell-Johnson Projects F-21-R, F-27-R, and F-30-R, Michigan. 682 Alexander and Shetter (1961), Latta (1963), and Eipper (1964), but we need to understand the seasonal pattern more precisely. Our objectives in this study were to determine, from October releases of rainbow and brook trout, matched for size and numbers: (1) the relative survival and growth of the species; (2) the fraction of each species later creeled; (3) the temporal distribution of the catch; and (4) the biomass of fish flesh produced by the two species. We wish to acknowledge the assistance of past and present members of the Hunt Creek Trout Research Station staff in the collection and tabulation of data. The fine cooperation of the trout fishermen in reporting their angling results is appreciated. G. P. Cooper, M. H. Patriarche, and W. E. Schaaf reviewed the manuscript and offered many helpful suggestions.

Overwinter Survival of Wild Fingerling Brook Trout in Lawrence Creek, Wisconsin

Overwinter survival of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) from the 9-month-old fingerling stage to the 16-month-old yearling stage varied from 35 to 73% during 11 successive winters (1954–65). Mean survival through these first winters of life was 54%.Survival appeared to be independent of fingerling density most winters, and especially when September densities were less than 2200/km, as they were during 7 of 11 years. Overwinter survival tended to increase with an increase in mean length of fingerling stocks (r = 0.83++) and with an increase in winter water temperatures. Intraspecific predation did not appear to be a critical mortality factor. The survival advantage of increased fingerling size was probably related to increased physiological resistance to temperature-associated stresses rather than reduced vulnerability to predation.

Water Quality in Relation to Survival of Brook Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill)

Abstract Periodic water analyses and simultaneous observations on the survival of various groups of test fish made in Honnedaga Lake during 1960 and 1961 indicated a relationship between water quality and trout survival. Periods of high acidity and heavy metals content, during the summer, were coincident with heavy mortality of brook trout from a hard-water and a soft-water hatchery; trout from a second hard-water hatchery, which contained zinc in its water supply, survived transfer to Honnedaga Lake. Chemical analyses of 30 nearby Adirondack lakes revealed two lakes of lower salinity, two of higher acidity, and one with a heavy metals content equal to that of Honnedaga. No other lakes exhibited the combined features of very low salinity, high acidity, and relatively high heavy metals content.

Survival of Brook Trout from Egg to Fingerling Stage in Two Michigan Trout Streams

Survival of wild brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) from the egg to the end of the first summer of life was investigated at the Hunt Creek Trout Research Station, Montmorency County, Michigan, during 1943-48, by confinement of spawners of known size and number in screened diversions, followed by direct enumeration of the resulting fingerlings. The numbers of eggs deposited were estimated from size of spawners. Percentage survival observed in six diversion experiments ranged from 4.5 to 31.7. Survival from egg to fingerling was estimated also for unconfined, natural populations in the Pigeon River and in Hunt Creek (the natural channel) during 1949-58. Consecutive fall population estimates gave the number of breeders present one fall and the number of fingerlings surviving to the following fall. Egg production for the population of breeders was estimated from egg-count data. From a series of 12 population estimates, survival rates from egg deposition to the following September ranged from 2.7 to 6.7 percent (significantly lower than in the diversion experiments at Hunt Creek). For a total of 24 observations (from confinements in diversions at Hunt Creek and Convict Creek, plus population studies on the Pigeon River and Hunt Creek), the percentage survival from egg to fall fingerling ranged from 2.7 to 43, and averaged 8.6. Excluding what appear to be unduly high results from four of the observations, the survival rates ranged from 2.7 to 8.8 percent (average, 4.7).

Scientific Fish Culture in Quebec since 1945

Abstract In Quebec, a number of experiments have been undertaken to improve the quality of the trout reared for planting purposes. Data are presented on efficiency of diets and effects of light and temperature on reproduction, incubation, growth and survival of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), Quebec red trout (Salvelinus alpinus marstoni), rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri), brown trout (Salmo trutta) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and on hybrids between these species, especially the brook-lake trout hybrid (splake).

Survival of Brook Trout in Water of Low Oxygen Content

Survival of Brook Trout in Water of Low Oxygen Content