Stocking April 2013

In late February the club received notice from the Ed Weed Fish Cultural Station in Vermont that Atlantic salmon fry would be available to the club for free by the end of March if the club wanted them.  Otherwise they would be destroyed as the hatchery was being shut down for repairs.  So at the club's February meeting after a quick check of the costs involved, it was decided that the club would accept the fish.  

Plans were put in place as club members had to pay for testing for disease and transportation.  Two large tanks were borrowed from the DEC hatchery in Rome and a large truck was rented to hold the tanks.  Oxygen was provided to the water in the tanks during the trip from Vermont.  The club also had to obtain permission from the state DEC in order to stock the fish. Two members traveled to the hatchery in Vermont, stayed overnight, loaded the tanks with the fish in the morning and transported the fish to McConnellsville, NY.

The truck arrived at McConnellsville a little before 2 PM and we were finished by 5.  All of the 15,000 Atlantic salmon fry were placed in the West Branch of Fish Creek and Mad River.  Water temperature in the stream was only 1 degree (F) different from the temperature in the tanks so thermal shock was not a worry.  The salmon fry were small and measured about 30 mm (a guess).  The water was cold and running a little high but nobody fell in.  To top it off the weather was great and everyone had a great time stocking Atlantic salmon.

Thanks go to everyone who had a hand with putting fish in the water.


Members meet

Club members pose for the obligatory photo opportunity.  More people showed up after this photo was taken and we had plenty of help.

truck arrives

The truck was a lot bigger than we needed but it was the only one available at the time.  It was more than adequate.  The tanks holding the fish were borrowed from the hatchery in Rome, NY.  

fish placed in pails

The salmon are carried to the stream in large pails.  Volunteers carried the fish to people in the stream doing the actual stocking.
 fish being stocked

The Atlantic salmon are stocked using the pour method.  Even with the water being near freezing, the salmon would swim out of the pail.

snow in woods

There is still some snow left in the woods.  The salmon were placed in areas having a rocky bottom to give the fish a place to hide from predators.




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