Muscular Fatigue and Mortality in Troll-Caught Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

Authors:
  • RPRobert R. Parker
    Robert R. Parker
  • EBEdgar C. Black
    Edgar C. Black
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Abstract
Blood samples were analyzed for lactic acid from 66 troll caught chinook salmon after from zero to 103/4 hours of rest. Fish were held in a live box aboard a trolling vessel. During the course of the experiment 22 individuals died. Analysis of these data indicate a general response of blood lactic acid comparable with results of other experiments. The typical response is a gradual increase of blood lactic acid to high levels in the third and fourth hours, followed by a general decline. Death is strongly associated with high blood lactic acid. The level of lactic acid response is not significantly increased with more than 10 minutes of vigorous exercise nor is it significantly affected by the size of the fish within the ranges sampled in this experiment. Mortality rate is estimated at 71% with 95 percent binomial confidence limits of 40% and 86%.