Seasonal Crewmember Reflects on Work in the Field

by Paula Margerum

For the past six months I had the chance to work with Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group (SFEG) on their fish-wheel project on the Skagit River. The Canadian company, LGL Limited, has been involved in experimental research since 1971, and have been evaluating fish wheels since 1992. They have several on the Fraser River, as well as the Nass River in British Columbia and in Alaska. The wheel is built on a floating pontoon. It consists of three large baskets that rotate like a paddlewheel once they’ve been lowered into the water using pulleys and cables. As fish swim into these baskets, they are scooped up and dropped into live-tanks, located on either side of the baskets. The fish are then identified and measured as scale samples are taken. A spaghetti-tag is then inserted near the caudal fin and the fish is released unharmed.

The purpose of this mark-and- recapture program is to see when and where salmon populations are migrating. In comparison to the gill netting or beach seining methods to catch and tag fish, there are no mortalities when capturing salmon with a fish-wheel. SFEG, in collaboration with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and LGL, had a somewhat disappointing capture of chinook salmon this year. This was due in part to the water clarity in the Skagit River. Fish-wheels have been more successful on rivers that have a higher turbidity level.

I was also involved with several riparian projects and spawning surveys where I gained some valuable experience working with the crew. On a personal note, I would like to thank everybody at SFEG for giving me this opportunity.

Paula Margerum, SFEG seasonal crewmember.