July 9, 2010 First Tow
16:15, hazy, no wind, air temp appx 75º F (23ºC), down from much higher right before the overcast came in, water temp 43ºF (6ºC) at about 15 cm deep.
The first tow, just east of the dock, netted lots of herring. Compare last month, when we got lots of salmon and no herring.
A guy from Fish and Wildlife Fund, which funds KWIAHT was out taking photos. Every five years, they ask for more funding from Congress and these photos may be part of that presentation.
The first tow, just east of the dock, netted lots of herring. Compare last month, when we got lots of salmon and no herring.
A guy from Fish and Wildlife Fund, which funds KWIAHT was out taking photos. Every five years, they ask for more funding from Congress and these photos may be part of that presentation.
First Tow Fish Count; 16:15
Greenling: 1
Gunnel: 1
Herring: 1,619, ranging in size from 46 mm to 56 mm
Gunnel: 1
Herring: 1,619, ranging in size from 46 mm to 56 mm
Salmon: 1 long-dead one, about 150 cm
Sand Lance: 12
Sculpin, Great: 1
Sculpin, Staghorn: 1
Perch, Shiner: 1
3-spined Stickleback: 6 or more
Kelp Crabs
Moon Jellies: 17, ranging in size from 3cm to 22cm.
Sculpin, Great: 1
Sculpin, Staghorn: 1
Perch, Shiner: 1
3-spined Stickleback: 6 or more
Kelp Crabs
Moon Jellies: 17, ranging in size from 3cm to 22cm.
Helmet Crabs
Glen R. notes that the herring here are smaller than those he measured at Pt. Hammond July 1 and 2, which were 62 - 65mm.
Second Tow Fish Count; 16:50
This tow was at roughly the same place as the first one.
Gunnel, Red: 1
Herring: 126
Perch, Shiner: 2
Perch, Striped: 3
Rockfish, spp: 1
Rockfish, Copper: 1
Salmon, Pink: 2
Salmon, Chinook: 2 or 3
Sand Lance: 13
Sculpin, Staghorn: 1
Tubesnout: 1
Gunnel, Red: 1
Herring: 126
Perch, Shiner: 2
Perch, Striped: 3
Rockfish, spp: 1
Rockfish, Copper: 1
Salmon, Pink: 2
Salmon, Chinook: 2 or 3
Sand Lance: 13
Sculpin, Staghorn: 1
Tubesnout: 1
Third Tow Fish Count: 18:15
By now the weather had gotten chilly. David went to look for schools of juvenile salmon and found them closer to Pt. Disney, but it seemed worth a try to do it again near the dock where it is easier to work. For this count, people kept track of herring and sand lance, but not everybody reported other species. There were more fish than recorded below, though the herring and sand lance count is probably accurate.
Herring 4
Salmon: 8 - 10, at least 1 coho and around 8 chinook
Sand Lance: 6
Sculpin: 3
Smelt: A very large one, about 20 cm or more
Stickleback: 9
Tubesnout
moon jelly
comb jelly
helmet crab
rock crab
Herring 4
Salmon: 8 - 10, at least 1 coho and around 8 chinook
Sand Lance: 6
Sculpin: 3
Smelt: A very large one, about 20 cm or more
Stickleback: 9
Tubesnout
moon jelly
comb jelly
helmet crab
rock crab
Herring DNA
Glen R measured and took tissue samples from about 15 herring for DNA tracking. Some measurements: 55 mm, 55, 52, 55, 54, 53, 53, 63, 50, 55, 56, 53, 52.
Fish Lavaging
We lavaged not only salmon (who ate mostly sand lance and crab megalopae), but also the two rockfish from the second tow. This was partly to see if they compete with the salmon for food. The rockfish had small shrimp in their guts, which suggests that they don't.
Rockfish have a sphincter which holds their esophagus closed, unlike salmon. In order to lavage them, you use a larger plastic tube instead of the metal tubes we use for the smaller salmon. You wait for them to open their enormous mouths, and insert the tube above the tongue. Once in, hold the fish upside-down over the tray and shake it while syringing the seawater into its gut. This is a move requiring some physical dexterity!
Rockfish have a sphincter which holds their esophagus closed, unlike salmon. In order to lavage them, you use a larger plastic tube instead of the metal tubes we use for the smaller salmon. You wait for them to open their enormous mouths, and insert the tube above the tongue. Once in, hold the fish upside-down over the tray and shake it while syringing the seawater into its gut. This is a move requiring some physical dexterity!
Glen R's notes
2010 July 9 Beach Seine GR S. of Cowlitz Dock. Lo tide -2.0 @ 9:42 am. High tide 8.2 @ 18:30. 14:40 notes: Air temp at 14:30 = 27 C. Water temp @ dock float shade 30 cm deep= 15 C. Salinity same spot =1.019. Water dark but clear visibility to 3 meters.
Extremely little sign of plankton. Saw 3 pigeon guillemots far out.
In beach seines got 1 smelt@ 182 mm 2 Sand Lance: 78, 85 mm. 1 helmet crab 56 mm standard crab measuring method across carapace between 1stoutside notches. Several thousand herring (18 sampled) between 47 and 63 mm., most about 50 mm.