Scale to Length Ratio, Age and Growth of Atlantic Salmon in Miramichi Fisheries

• Published in: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
• Main Author: Kerr, Robert B.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1961
• Subjects: General Medicine; Atlantic salmon
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f61-008; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f61-008

The following quadratic equation relating fork length to scale radius is derived for Atlantic salmon taken in the Miramichi commercial fisheries:[Formula: see text]where L = fork length in cm; and S = anterior scale radius in mm. The value 2.40 represents the fork length in cm of the fish when the scales first appear. Smolt transformation occurs after the young have reached an approximately similar size (about 12 cm) regardless of age. Five-year-old fish with 3 river years and 2 sea years predominate in the catch. Repeat spawners constitute only about 1/20 of the catch of salmon larger than grilse.