Effect of Dummy Telemetry Transmitters on Stamina of Atlantic Salmon ( Salmo salar ) Smolts

Effects of three different-sized, internally placed dummy ultrasonic transmitters and one size externally placed dummy radio transmitter on swimming performance of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts were determined. Critical swimming speeds were similar for fish in control groups and two of the gr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
Main Authors: McCleave, James D., Stred, Kristin A.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1975
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f75-071
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f75-071
Description
Summary:Effects of three different-sized, internally placed dummy ultrasonic transmitters and one size externally placed dummy radio transmitter on swimming performance of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts were determined. Critical swimming speeds were similar for fish in control groups and two of the groups tagged with internal transmitters. The widest internal dummy tag (19 mm long × 10 mm diameter) caused a significant (P < 0.05) decrement in swimming performance; the size representing the smallest available transmitters (33 mm long × 8 mm diameter) did not. Linear regression analysis of this latter group demonstrated that larger smolts carried the transmitter better than smaller smolts. Results indicated that fish longer than about 20 cm can successfully be tagged with the available transmitter. Externally placed dummy radio transmitters caused a highly significant (P < 0.01) decrease in swimming speed compared with that of controls.