Mr.

Leo Rose
BIOL (MSCI) 537

HARVESTING HAULING, MEASURING AND

STOCKING

1
Hatchery Methods
 Egg handling and counting
 Estimating and counting fry numbers
 Estimating and counting fish numbers
 Safe hauling density
 Marking and treating fish

2
Egg Handling and Counting
 Sorting (good and bad)
 Counting
 Treating

3
Egg Handling and Counting
Estimating Egg Numbers
 Direct counts
 Von Bayer
 Water volume displacement
 By weight
 Volume extrapolation

4
Egg Handling and Counting
Direct count
 Manual Egg Sorting
 Mechanical Egg Sorting

5
Egg Handling and Counting
Manual Egg Sorting
Traditional egg grading done manually
over an illuminated picking table. Each
person grades 4000-5000 eggs an
hour.

6
Egg Handling and Counting
Mechanical Egg Sorters
This machine sorts eggs into three
categories: bad, unsure and good at a
speed of 130,000 eggs an hour.

The machine will sort eggs into unfertilized, micropthalmic and normal egg groups.

7
Jensorter egg sorters
with counters

8
Egg Handling and Counting
Von Bayer
A method of measuring fish eggs
(H. von Bayer, 1908)

9
Returns the number of
eggs per quart

10
Egg Handling and Counting
Von Bayer
 Returns the number of eggs per unit volume (quart)
 Useful for non-adhesive eggs
 Trout, American shad
 Works best with even sized eggs
 For best results remove dead or non-viable eggs first

11
Egg Handling and Counting
By Weight (Weight/Count)
 Often used with catfish (Sticky egg mass)
 Accurately weigh the egg mass
 Accurately weigh 1 - 3 subsamples
 Count eggs in subsamples
 Calculate total estimate of eggs

12
Egg Handling and Counting
By Weight (Weight/Count)
Weights Counts
Total egg mass: 316.8g Sample 1: 36
Sample 1: 1.5g Sample 2: 35
Sample 2: 1.6g Sample 3: 41
Sample 3: 1.9g
Total Sample 1-3: 112
Total Sample 1-3: 5g

112 𝐸𝑔𝑔𝑠 22.4𝐸𝑔𝑔𝑠

=
5𝑔 1𝑔
22.4 𝐸𝑔𝑔𝑠 × 316.8 = 7,096 𝐸𝑔𝑔𝑠

13
Egg Handling and Counting
Volume Extrapolation
Just like the weight count method but use volume instead of
weight.
 Accurately measure the total egg volume

 Accurately measure 1 - 3 subsamples of the egg volume in a small

graduated cylinder
 Count eggs in subsamples

 Calculate total estimate of eggs

14
Egg Handling and Counting
Volume Extrapolation
Very useful when eggs are incubated in a McDonald Jar
 A McDonald jar has a known size radius (r)

 A ruler in the jar can easily determine height (h)

Solve for Volume:

V=πr2h

Easy to get total volume without disturbing the eggs.

15
Egg Handling and Counting
Volume Extrapolation
Sphere packing problems
 Spheres don’t pack tight in cylinders that
are too small.
 If your graduated flask for your
subsamples is too small you will under-
estimate egg numbers.

16
 Must use a known
Egg Handling and Counting number of eggs (e.g. 50).

Water Displacement

Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Fish Hatchery Management; 1982

17
Egg Handling and Counting
Egg Disinfection
 Eggs are disinfected to prevent the growth
of fungus.
 Usually treated with formalin.

PARACIDE-F (formalin). Consists of 37-40% formaldehyde by weight. Formalin is

considered 100 percent active. It is approved (FDA) as a paracide for use on trout,
salmon, catfish, largemouth bass and bluegill. Paracide-F is also approved for use as a
fungicide on trout, salmon and esocid eggs. Paraformaldehyde is a toxic derivative of
formalin. Paraformaldehyde has a milky-white appearance and forms if the formalin
is too old or if it is exposed to temperatures lower than 40°F. Ounces in the table
refer to weight, NOT FLUID OUNCES. Each 5 ppm formalin added to the water
removes 1 ppm oxygen. Avoid its use when dissolved oxygen is low, or be prepared to
aerate. Never leave the 1-hour treatment unattended. Flush the formalin from the
water if the fish show signs of stress before 1 hour is up, If water temperature is
greater than 70°F, do not treat with more than 167 ppm formalin. Eggs should not be
treated when they are within 24 hours of hatching because they tend to concentrate
the chemical inside their shells at this stage of development, resulting in death.

18
Egg Handling and Counting
Egg Disinfection

19
Counting Fry
Dewatering fry is generally a bad idea. Therefore culturists are
limited in techniques available to count fry.
 Viable egg hatch estimation method

 Fry counters

20
Counting Fry
Viable Egg Hatch Estimation
 Estimate the number of viable eggs prior to
hatch.
 Assume that all viable eggs hatch.

21
Counting Fry
Fry Counters
 Do not require dewatering (but can if you like)
 Historically slow (but getting better)

Multiple channels Minimum: 0.2g Minimum: 1µm

22
Estimating Fish Numbers
In the pond At harvest
 Feeding Observation and  Weight count and weigh
Estimation Method  Water volume displacement
 Careful record keeping (historical  Direct count
records)
 Estimated Weight Method
 Estimated Numbers Method
 Farm Management Software (Like
Fishy)
 Pass Depletion Method

Unfortunately, we do not have an accurate, cost-effective method for counting fish in

ponds. Though sonar counting devices may someday provide a fast and accurate way
to inventory fish ponds, for now, harvesting and completely draining a pond is the
most reliable method for determining fish inventory. There are, however, ways to
improve pond inventory estimates. These include feeding observation, careful record
keeping, farm management software, and the pass depletion method.

23
Estimating Fish Numbers – In Pond
Feeding Observation
 Observe fish at feeding
 Use information about
consumption, feeding rate, fish
size, health, temperature and DO
to estimate fish number.
 Not particularly accurate
 Good for presence/absence
 Easy way to tell if you have had a
catastrophic failure

Theoretically, it should be possible to calculate the total number and total weight of
fish in a pond if one knows the maximum quantity of feed that the fish of different
sizes will consume under a given set of conditions. The accuracy of this method
depends on detailed knowledge of how feeding response varies according to: fish
species, fish size, fish health, temperature, and oxygen concentrations. Researchers at
Auburn University are currently evaluating the precision and accuracy of inventory
estimates based on feeding response. Initial studies indicate that the feeding
response method yields extremely variable results. Inventory estimates based on
feeding response predicted by models of catfish feeding behavior have varied from
actual inventories by 50 percent or more.

24
Estimating Fish Numbers – In Pond
Careful Record Keeping
 Record the number/weight of fish stocked
 Track the number/weight of fish added
 Estimate mortality based on previous year’s
yields (e.g.. 80% return expected on catfish)
 Record the number/weight of fish harvested

25
Estimating Fish Numbers – In Pond
Careful Record Keeping
 More accurate than visual estimation alone.
 Might be good enough for business/economic reporting/tracking

26
Estimating Fish Numbers – In Pond
Pass Depletion Method
Used for catfish ponds. Not that useful for intensive raceway
culture.
 Seine the pond three times

 Enumerate the fish each time

 Estimate total pond population

The depletion method allows fish producers to estimate the weight and number of
fish in ponds without completely draining and scraping the population. This method
involves seining a pond three times with a small mesh seine. The fish caught on each
seine pull must be weighed, the average weight determined, and the fish removed
from the pond. Each seine pull must be performed in the same direction and manner
to take out seining as a variable. The remaining inventory in the pond is calculated
through a linear regression program. This method has been tested on research ponds
at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff with inventory estimates varying from the
actual inventory by -0.1 to -7.7 percent. In 17 commercial ponds, 82 percent of the
depletion estimates were ± 15 percent of the actual fish biomass inventories (Engle et
al. 1997). The depletion method is one tool that could be used on selected ponds
every 4 or 5 years to adjust Fishy inventories and calculate improved feed conversion
and mortality values without draining and scraping production ponds. A depletion
estimating program is available through the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Program
at Pine Bluff.

27
Estimating Fish Numbers – In Pond
Pass Depletion Method
Hypothetical Catfish Seine Haul on a 1-acre Pond
Numbers Per Haul
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
Seine 1 Seine 2 Seine 3 Seine 4 Seine 5

28
Estimating Fish Numbers – At Harvest
Weight Count
This is the industry standard for
estimating harvest numbers and
sales numbers.
 Weigh a sub-sample.
 Count all the fish in the sub-sample.
 Weigh all the fish.
 Estimate the total number from the total
weight and the fish per pound in the sub-
sample. Same method as with eggs…
but bigger.

In the sample-counting method, the total number of fish is obtained initially by counting and weighing
the entire lot. In subsequent inventories, a sample of fish is counted and weighed and either the
number per pound or weight per thousand is calculated. To calculate the number per pound, divide
the number of fish in the sample by the sample weight. To calculate the weight per thousand, divide
the sample weight by the number of fish (expressed in thousands). The total weight of fish in the lot
then is estimated either by dividing the original total number of fish (adjusted for recorded mortality)
by the number per pound or by multiplying it (now expressed in thousands) by the weight per
thousand. This method can be inaccurate, but often it is the only practical means of estimating the
weight of a group of fish. To assure the best possible accuracy the following steps should be followed:
(1) The fish should be crowded and sampled while in motion.
(2) Once a sample of fish is taken in the dip net, the entire sample should be weighed. This is
particularly true if the fish vary in size. The practice of weighing an entire net full of fish will obtain
more representative data than that of weighing preset amounts (such as 5 or 15 pounds). Light net
loads should be taken to prevent injury to the fish or smothering them.
(3) When a fish is removed from water it retains a surface film of water. For small fish, the weight of
the water film makes up a larger part of the observed weight than it does for larger fish. The netful of
fish should be carefully drained and the net bottom wiped several times before the fish are weighed.
(4) Several samples (at least five) should be taken. If the calculated number of fish per pound (or
weight per 1,000) varies considerably among samples, more samples should be taken until there is
some consistency in the calculation. Then the sample values can be averaged and applied to the
total lot; all samples should be included in the average. Alternatively, the counts and weights can be
summed over all the samples, and an overall number per pound computed. Larger samples are
required for large fish. Even with care, the sample-count method can be as high as 15-20% inaccurate.
Some fishery workers feel it is necessary to weigh as much as 17% of a population to gain an accuracy
of 5-10%.

29
Estimating Fish Numbers – At Harvest
Weight Count
Can use either a wet method or a dry method

30
Estimating Fish Numbers – At Harvest
Water Volume Displacement
8 pounds of fish will displace 1 gallon of
water
 Fill a hauling tank to a known volume

 Harvest (dry method) into the tank

 Note the volume of the displacement

As an easy guide, 12 gallons of water are

displaced per 100 pounds of fish weight.

31
Grading fish
 Hand Sorting
 Passive graders
 Bars, Nets, etc…
 Active graders/counters
 Fish pumps, optical computerized
counters/sorters

32
Fish Grading
Passive Graders
Passive graders sort fish into size
groups by gravity through
bar/box graders or by filtering
fish through sized mesh graders.

33
34
Fish Grading
More Passive Graders
 Selective sized seine nets
 Panel graders
 Flexible panel graders

35
Fish Grading
Active Graders
Fish pumps and graders come in many
varieties and sizes. They are very useful
in automatically moving, counting and
sorting fish.

36
Fish Grading
Active Graders
In pond horizontal bar grader.

A). 8-inch water pump

B). Eductor box
C). Floating platform grader

An in-pond horizontal bar grader consists of an 8-inch water pump (A), an eductor
box (B), and a floating platform grader (C) (Fig. 4a). This system does not require the
fish to be lifted or placed into the grader. Once the fish have been seined and placed
into a live car or harvest sock, the net is attached to the eduction chamber. Water is
pumped through the eduction chamber, which directs fish and water up and onto the
floating platform grader (Fig. 4b). Smaller fish escape through the grader and return
to the pond, while larger fish swim off the end of the grader and into a separate live
car. The bar spacing on the floating platform grader is adjustable from 2 inches down
to ½ inch. For a more detailed description see SRAC Publication No. 3901,
Components and Use of an In-Pond Fish Grading System.

37
Safe Hauling Density

38
Safe Hauling Density
A little too dense

39
40
Safe Hauling Density
Example question
A bluegill fingerling harvest (from fingerling harvest method) yielded 250 lbs from three distinct size classes
(including the brood fish).

A weight count sample was taken on each of the three sizes. The smallest fish returned 152 fish from a
sample weight of 1/10 lb. The middle sized fish returned 210 fish from 1/4 lb of fish. The largest fish were 1/2
lb each (brood).

After all the fish were weighed in the fish house it was determined that there was 108 lbs of the smallest fish,
72 lbs of the medium sized and 70 lbs of brood.

1. What was the total number of fish harvested from the pond?
2. What was the average number per pound for the whole harvest?
3. Assuming that a fish hauling truck can hold 250 gal, what is the minimum number of trips it would take to
stock these fish at three different locations (each location receiving a different size fish)?

41
 Size Total Sample Sample #/lb Total #
lbs Count Weight
Small 108 152 1/10 lb 1,520 164,160
Medium 72 210 1/4 lb 840 60,480
Large (Brood) 70 1 0.5 lb 2 140
Totals: 250 899/lb 224,780
787

Size #/lb Max Load Rate Max Total Number 250 gal
(table) lbs/gal lbs/load lbs of trips
truck
Small 1,520 0.25 62.5 lbs 108 2
Medium 840 0.33 82.5 lbs 72 1
Large (Brood) 2 1 250 lbs 70 1
Total: 250 4

Number/lb = Total number (from weight count) / number of lbs in weight count
Max lbs/load = 250 gal tank (from question) X maximum load rate (from table)

44
Marking Fish
Marking a fish as a hatchery reared fish can be a very useful tool for
fisheries biologists.
Marking methods include:
 Biological
 Parasitic, Morphological, Genetic, Chemical
 Physical
 Mutilation, Internal tags, External tags

44
Marking Fish
Biological
When stocking for conservation, marking fish is one of the hatchery
managers jobs.
 Parasitic Marks
 Morphological Marks
 Thermal
 Genetic Marks*
 Chemical Marks*

*Most important for stocking programs

45
Marking Fish - Biological
Chemical Marks
Chemical marking generally uses low cost mass marking
methods. Not good at marking individuals.

Methods Chemicals
 Immersion  Alizarin (ALC)
 Many fish at once  Low mortality; Expensive
 Injection  Oxytetracycline (OTC)
 Takes skill and time  Reliable marks; Cheap;
 Feeding Equipment and training to
identify mark
 Works in labs. Fish must be
feeding. Some dyes are  Calcein
successful  Not reliable; High mortality

46
Marking Fish - Biological

Oxytetracycline (OTC)
Methods
 200 – 800 ppm OTC immersion
treatment
 OTC requires a buffer to keep pH neutral
(Tris)
 Treat for 4 – 8 hours
Marking rainbow trout in an
oxytetracycline chemical bath

OTC is an antibiotic that stains calcium/bones yellow.

47
Otoliths are bones in the fish’s inner ear that they use for balance.

48
Marking Fish
Otoliths marked with OTC

49
Marking Fish
Otoliths marked with thermal
fluctuations

50
Marking Fish
Physical Marking - Mutilation
 Clipping Fins
 Punching Fins
 Branding
 Visible Implant Elastomer (VIE)

 Note: Sometimes fins regenerate

51
Marking Fish
Physical Marking - Tags
External
 T-bar Anchor (Floy)
 Peterson disc
 Dart tags
 Spaghetti
 Carlin
 Bachelor button
 Strap
 Dangler tags
Internal
 Body cavity
 Subcutaneous
 Coded wire tags
 Microtags
 Passive integrated transponder (PIT)
 Radio tags
 Sonar
 GPS

52
Marking Fish
T-bar Floy Tag (Anchor Tag)

53
Marking Fish
Coded Wire Tag

54
Marking Fish
Physical Marking - VIE
Visible Implant Elastomer
VIE tag implanted behind
 Injected as a liquid that cures to a the eye of a coho salmon
pliable biocompatible solid.
 Implanted beneath transparent
tissue

VIE tag in a salamander

under UV light

55
Treating Fish and their Water
Calculating Concentrations
 Medicinal treatment
 Treating the fish
 Formaldehyde
 Algaecide
 Treating the water
 Salt
 Anesthetics
 MS-222, Clove-oil, CO2, etc…

Every fish farmer has to occasionally use chemical treatments to remove fish, alter
water quality, cure disease and control aquatic vegetation. The fish farmer must
follow treatment directions carefully, know the proper amount or concentration of
chemical to use and know the pond area and/or volume.

Regulation and/or approval of chemicals for aquatic use is confusing to fish farmers
and fisheries professionals, alike. Aquatic chemicals are regulated federally by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
An oversimplified statement of their missions would be that the EPA regulates
chemicals applied to water while FDA regulates chemicals applied to fish.

56
Treating Fish
Calculating Concentrations
 Usually expressed in parts per million (ppm)
 For example, 1 pound of potassium permanganate dissolved in
999,999 pounds of water gives a concentration of 1 ppm

57
 Treating Fish
Salt as a stress reliever

This is a salt (NaCl-Sodium Chloride) table used to calculate salinity for each unit in
the SCDNR hatchery hauling fleet. It was calculated using a 17% water impurity in the
salt mix based on the assumed impurity in the salt mix. To determine the actual
impurity for a more accurate calculation, it is possible to measure the impurity of
your salt mix yourself. All salt mixes contain some water content. If 35 grams of a
given salt mix is collected, typically 4 - 7 of these grams turn out to be water. To
estimate the water content of your salt mix, add 35 grams of salt mix to RO/DI water
to give a final volume of 1 liter (965 grams?) and measure the resulting salinity in
parts-per-thousand. Subtract this number from 35 to get your water content (in
grams). For example, you add the salt to the water and measure a salinity of
29.05. 35 - 29.05 = 5.95g of water in your salt (or 17%).

SALT (NaCl-Sodium Chloride). Coarse-grain, meat-curing grade is given with volumes

for common table salt in parentheses ( ). Approved (FDA-GRAS declaration) for use on
food fish as an osmoregulatory enhancer. Salt by its osmoregulatory action causes
fish to release large amounts of mucus from their skin and gills. The release of mucus
removes and/or kills (at high salt concentrations) some external parasites on the fish.
At low concentrations salt reduces osmotic stress during handling, holding and
hauling. Ounces in the table refer to weight, NOT FLUID OUNCES. Level all spoon and
cup measurements.

58