Physical Characteristics and Behaviour of Pink Salmon Fry at McClinton Creek, B.C.

High temperatures appear to shorten and low temperatures lengthen the incubation period of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) eggs. The fry migrate to sea during spring when the yolk sac is almost completely absorbed. There is no significant difference from year to year in qualitative description...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
Main Author: Pritchard, A. L.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1944
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f42-026
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f42-026
Description
Summary:High temperatures appear to shorten and low temperatures lengthen the incubation period of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) eggs. The fry migrate to sea during spring when the yolk sac is almost completely absorbed. There is no significant difference from year to year in qualitative description or in certain countable physical characters. Migration is usually swift and vigorous. The effect of light is demonstrated by the fact that movement is limited to the hours of darkness and slowed by direct moonlight. Rainfall does not initiate migration but causes fry already in motion to proceed more quickly. Small temperature variations have little effect. Oxygen content and pH of the water vary coincidentally with rainfall.