HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-07-30, Page 47'
4.11.110.
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Page 23
An1ers collect trout eggs to raise fish fry for stock
• from page 22
during the spawning season. Water levels
and the flow rate had to be just right for
the fish to get through the hole in the dam
and when those conditions were met, they
would only last a day or two at the most.
The fishway is basically a water diver-
sion skirting the five fogt dam that spans
the river. The water flows through a con-
crete spillway and is dumped back into the
river below the dam, reducing the jump
the fish must make from five feet to one
foot.
Fish heading upstream to spawn instinc-
tively follow the current of the rive& and
that instinct causes them to swim to the
bottom end of the fishway. They jump over
a barricade and 'swim up the concrete
spillway.
Poor spawning
The' large numbers of sport fishermen
dipping their lines in the confined area bet-
ween the dam and the river mouth also
contributed to poor spawnings. Very few
tout made it past the dam and the move-
ment of fishermen through the water
below the dam, combined with the fish
caught during the spawning run, reduced
the number of trout born in the Nine Mile
River significantly.
Following the installation of the fishway,
the ministry tagged fish and collected
biological information for six seasons.
Fish were trapped in a wire cage about
five feet long a!d three feet wide as they
swam up the causeway. Each hour
ministry employees used a chain hoist to
raise the cage.
The trout were lifted from the cage in a
net and placed in bathtub like containers
awaiting processing. The fish were
s •_• - • I , I • . 0 , ,_ • and • laced
on a measuring table. The fish's weight,
length, sex and spawning condition were
recorded and a tag was sewn on its back.
The fish were then placed in a tub and car-
ried back to the river above the dam.
Fish were also checked for large scars
indicating lamprey attacks. The scars in-
dicated that the rainbow trout is capable of
surviving such attacks more readily then
lake trout, which -had been devastated by
the parasite at the time the fishway was
built.
Since the end of the ministry project,
local sports cltibs including the Maitland
Valley Anglers Association have handled
the fish passing through the fishway to tag
..the fish and collect eggs which will be fer-
tilized to replenish stock.
Improve habitat
According to Mike Malhiot; district
biologist with the Ministry of Natural
Resources in Wingham, a second ministry
projet''t, stream rehabilitation in
tributaries, undertook to improve the
habitat of young fish that hatch following
the increased spawning runs. The life span
of rainbow trout is such that they spend 2 -
3 years in cold water streams until they
grow to eight or nine inches long, before
they head out to the'ake for the remainder
of their life.
Before they head out to the lake, the
trout undergo, smoltification, a change in
the physiology of the fish which permits
them to adapt to life in the lake.
Information gathered at the fishway in-
cluded the number off repeat spawnings.
One female returned to the Nine Mile
River to spawn for five years. About 12 per
cent in any one year were repeat
spawners, says Malhiot.
Port Albert
HORSESHOE
PITCHING
TOURNAMENT
(behind ball diamond)
MONDAY, .AUG. 4
$5.00 Registration at noon
Starting Time 1:00
16 courts available
Men's A & B Doubles
. Ladies' Doubles
Bring your own partner
if you choose
Collecting trout eggs
There will always be ,celebrations
and jubilations and seasons of joy.
Flavia
Best Wishes from the Fine Merchants
at Suncoast Mali, Goderich
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GROWING TOGETHER TO SERVE YOU BETTER!!
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SSAg 17141��id.'i�,"-,ids�.q �6�ri.i�,y'�Mih:;�."il +f;%1,.�.. l..Y, r,:- ?. <.�• �.P fi, .i
.ourren s
CongratulatioflSo
and ne.ighbourS. .
Have yourselves a great kick!
Proud to have served the needs of Port Albert and
Ashfield Township for close to 40 years.
People You Can Count On.
GODERICH TEESWATER CLINTON .
(Edward Fuels Ltd.) (Edward Fuels Ltd.) (Scruton/Edward Corp.)
524-8386 392-6100 482-7381