The Effect of Tagging with Petersen Disc Tags on the Swimming Ability of Fingerling Steelhead Trout (Salmo gairdneri)

Abstract

Fingerling steelhead trout were given individual performance test in an experimental flume. Barriers confined the fish to a 10-foot (1 foot = 30.48 cm) testing section where they swam against a constant velocity of 2.5 feet per second. The end point of each test was reached when the fish was fatigued enough to allow itself to be impinged by the water flow on a net barrier. The study was designed to test what effect the application of Petersen disc tags had on swimming endurance, by comparing tagged, handled, and control groups. No permanent reduction of swimming endurance was experienced by the handled group (tag pin inserted, then removed). The tagged group experienced a permanent drop of about 50% in their swimming endurance due to the presence of the tag.