Trout Nova Scotia - Keji trout census

PESKOWESK BROOK 2003

Evaluating No-Kill, Catch and Release Angling Regulations

A Peskowesk Brook male brook trout showing the bright colors, pronounced humped back and deepening of the body with associated lateral compression often apparent in spawning male chars. Photo by Reg Baird

Field Report

Reg Baird,
Fly Fishing Consultant, Retired Fishing Guide and
Kejimkujik National Park Fish Management Volunteer Coordinator 2003

Acknowledgments

The following are volunteers who gave freely of their time and abilities in helping to monitor the brook trout population in Peskowesk Brook:
Robbie Emin, Lyle Goldberg, Peter Hope, Doug Parker, Mike Parker, Robin Olsen and Jamie Steeves; your contributions were greatly appreciated.
Thanks also to Park Wardens, Rick Brunt and Norm Wentzel for their time and expertise in the field.
Special thanks go to Gary Corbett, Parks Canada Fish and Wildlife Biologist and Project Supervisor, Cliff Drysdale, Kejimkujik National Park Ecosystem Science Manager; Chris McCarthy, Kejimkujik National Park Conservation Biologist; Bob Thexton, Chief Park Warden; and Sally O-Grady, Ecosystem Database Manager for their much appreciated support.

Purpose

To continue to monitor the population of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in Peskowesk Brook in order to evaluate what effects no - kill, catch and release regulations are having on the population.

Area Monitored

The monitoring took place on a 1 km section of Peskowesk Brook and encompassed the waters from the foot of Peskowesk Lake down to and including the pool below the Peskowesk Brook bridge.

Methodology

The monitoring was conducted by a select group of fly fishermen and the trout were all caught by means of fly fishing only.
As fish were caught they were placed in plastic holding tubs which had holes drilled in the sides to allow water to flow through and to keep replenishing the oxygen supply.
All the fish were measured (fork length), weighed, scale samples taken and then tagged in the right gill plate with a small, numbered, monel, metal tag. The fish were released immediately following the recording of these data.

Overview

Peskowesk Brook was monitored for at least two hours each day on a total of forty one different field days ( May 7 thru Oct 21 ). Data were collected from a total of 143 brook trout with 65 collections in the spring and 78 collections in the fall. There were also 43 recaptures ( 24 spring / 19 fall) for a total of 186 trout.

Data Analyses

As has been noted in previous studies (Eel Weir 1994 - 1996 Census and Peskowesk Brook 1996 - 2002 Evaluation of No-Kill Regulations) the statistics from 1+ brook trout are not considered in these analyses due to bias. To make the following figures comparable the data from six 1+ trout were deleted leaving the data from 137 brook trout to be examined.
The catch per unit of effort (C.P.U.E.) was 1.72 fish per hour.
The total of trout in each age group, their percentage of the total population and the average length and weight of each age group (in brackets) is as follows:
4 / 6+ or 2.9 % (36.7 cm. / 586 grams), 15 / 5+ or 11% (33.0 cm. / 442 grams), 30 / 4+ or 21.9% (29.2 cm. / 342 grams), 48 / 3+ or 35% (25.7 cm. / 247 grams) and 40 / 2+ or 29.2%. The mean length of the 137 trout was 26.4 cm., the mean weight was 269 grams and the average age was 3.12 years.
The mean length and weight of the six year old trout (4) is 36.7 cm (34.3 cm - 40.0 cm.) and 586 grams ( 450 grams - 710 grams). One was a recapture in the spring and the other three were tagged in the fall.
The mean length and weight of the five year old trout (15) is 33.0 cm (31.5 cm - 34.0 cm.) and 442 grams (345 grams - 500 grams). Although the spring fish averaged .5 cm shorter in length than their fall counterparts they outweighed them by an average of 71 grams ( 492 grams to 423 grams ).
The mean length and weight of the four year old trout (30) is 29.2 cm (26.2 cm - 31.5 cm) and 342 grams (250 grams - 450 grams). The spring fish averaged .75 cm shorter in length and nine grams heavier in weight than the fall fish.
The mean length and weight of the three year old fish (48) is 25.7 cm. (22.5 cm - 29.0 cm) and 247 grams (180 grams - 350 grams) with the fall fish averaging .8 cm longer and three grams lighter.
The mean length and weight of the two year old fish (40) is 21.6 cm. (18.8 cm - 25.0 cm) and 145 grams (95 grams - 225 grams) with the fall fish averaging .6 cm longer and weighing the same.

There were 43 recaptures from Peskowesk Brook in 2003 of thirty four different brook trout with two different trout being recaptured as many as three times. Of this total 33 were same year recaptures and 10 were recaptures of trout tagged in 2001 and 2002.

The record of Recaptures is as follows:

#15 was tagged June 8, 2002 above the dam when it measured 21.8 cm and weighed 160 grams. No scale samples were taken.
Recaptured May 7, 2003 above the dam it measured 28.5 cm and weighed 345 grams. Scale samples determined the fish to be 4+.
Recaptured May 16, 2003 above the dam it measured 28.8 cm and weighed 345 grams.
Recaptured again on May 20, 2003 #15 measured 29.3 cm and weighed 355 grams.

#10 was tagged May 26, 2002 above the dam, a 2+ trout measuring 21.8 cm and weighing 170 grams.
Recaptured May 8, 2003 above the dam it measured 27.0 cm and weighed 275 grams.
Recaptured again on May 13, 2003 in the Dam Pool it measured 27.5 cm and weighed 300 grams.

#984 was tagged May 10, 2002 below the lake, a 3+ fish measuring 22.0 cm and weighing 165 grams.
Recaptured May 22, 2002 below the lake, it measured 22.5 cm and weighed 165 grams.
Recaptured May 16, 2003 below the lake, #984 now 4+ measured 29.0 cm and weighed 350 grams.

#24 was tagged Sept. 17, 2002 at the lake when it measured 23.5 cm.
Recaptured May 16, 2003 below the lake #24 measured 29.0 cm and weighed 350 grams.

#862 was tagged May 24, 2002 below the lake, a 4+ fish measuring 27.5 cm and weighing 350 grams.
Recaptured May 22, 2003 below the lake #862 now a 5+ fish measured 31.5 cm and weighed 500 grams.

#48 was tagged May 7, 2003 and recaptured again on May 8, 2003 and showed no change at 19.5 cm and 105 grams.

#57 was tagged May 7, 2003 in the Deadwater Pool, a 3+, 25.7 cm fish weighing 250 grams.
Recaptured May 9, 2003 in the DwP it measured 26.0 cm and weighed 265 grams.
Recaptured May 16, 2003 in the DwP it measured 26.0 cm and weighed 300 grams.
Recaptured again May 22, 2003 still in the DwP #57 showed no change. However, tag #57 tore out of the gill plate and was replaced by #91.

#66 was tagged May 10, 2003 below the lake, a 22.0 cm fish weighing 155 grams.
Recaptured May 13, 2003 at the same location it measured 22.5 cm and still weighed 155 grams.

#47 was tagged May 7, 2003 in the Deadwater Pool, a 3+, 23.0 cm fish weighing 170 grams.
Recaptured May 16, 2003 in the DwP it measured 23.5 cm and weighed 195 grams.

#69 was tagged May 13, 2003 in the Deadwater Pool a 4+, 28.5 cm trout weighing 400 grams.
Recaptured May 19, 2003 in the DwP it measured 28.8 cm and weighed 405 grams.

#80 was tagged May 16, 2003 below the lake, a 27.0 cm fish weighing 300 grams.
Recaptured May 19, 2003 in the same location it measured 27.3 cm and weighed 305 grams.

#81 was tagged May 16, 2003 in the Dam Pool, a 4+, 29.7 cm fish weighing 400 grams.
Recaptured May 19, 2003 in the same location it measured 29.8 cm and weighed 425 grams.

#68 was tagged on May 10, 2003 in the Dam Pool, a 3+, 24.5 cm fish weighing 210 grams.
Recaptured in the Deadwater Pool on May 20, 2003 it measured 24.6 cm and weighed 220 grams.
Recaptured again in the DwP on May 28, 2003 it measured 24.7 cm and weighed 225 grams.

#86 was tagged May 20, 2003 below the Peskowesk Brook bridge, a 23.0 cm fish weighing 190 grams.
Recaptured on May 22, 2003 it showed no growth but had moved upstream to the Deadwater Pool.

#73 was tagged on May 16, 2003 in the Deadwater Pool and was recaptured on May 22, 2003 in the DwP and showed no change from 28.5 cm and 350 grams.

#93 was tagged May 22, 2003 in the Deadwater Pool, a 24.5 cm fish weighing 270 grams.
Recaptured on May 29, 2003 it measured 26.0 cm but was not weighed.

#907 was tagged October 23, 2001 in the lake to the right of the Cobrielle carry, a 4+ female measuring 29.3 cm.
Recaptured on September 17, 2002 in the same location, a 5+ fish measuring 32.2 cm and weighing 450 grams
Recaptured again in the Boulder Pool at Poison Ivy Falls on May 29, 2003, #907 is now a 6+ fish measuring 34.3 cm.

#84 was tagged May 19, 2003 in the Deadwater Pool, a 3+, 27.2 cm trout weighing 310 grams.
Recaptured above the bridge at Poison Ivy Falls on May 29, 2003 # 84 measured 28.0 cm but was not weighed.

#20 was tagged September 20, 2002 in the lake to the right of the Cobrielle carry, a 5+ female measuring 34.0 cm and weighing 450 grams.
Recaptured September 6, 2003 at the head of the lake run, #20 is now a 6+ female measuring 35.6 cm and still weighing 450 grams.

#90 was tagged May 22, 2003 below the lake, a 23.0 cm fish weighing 170 grams.
Recaptured September 6, 2003 in the same location it measured 24.5 cm and still weighed 170 grams.
Recaptured again on October 9, 2003 in the Bend Pool it still measured 24.5 cm but weighed 200 grams.

#1 was tagged May 25, 2002 below the lake, a 2+, 22.8 cm fish weighing 190 grams.
Recaptured September 11, 2003 below the lake it measured 28.0 cm and weighed 300 grams.
Recaptured again on October 12, 2003 #1 measured 28.0 cm and weighed 290 grams.

#99 was tagged May 23, 2003 below the lake, a 2+, 25.0 cm fish weighing 225 grams.
Recaptured September 11, 2003 above the dam it measured 25.0 cm and weighed 190 grams.
Recaptured again on October 12, 2003 at the lake #99 measured 25.0 cm and weighed 175 grams.

#987 was tagged May 10, 2002 below the lake, a 3+ fish measuring 24.5 cm and weighing 190 grams.
Recaptured October 14, 2003 in the Dam Pool #987 measured 28.0 cm and weighed 250 grams.

#35 was tagged October 9, 2002 in the Deadwater Pool, a 2+, 20.2 cm fish weighing 195 grams.
Recaptured October 14, 2003 in the Dam Pool #35 measured 25.5 cm and weighed 280 grams.

#940 was tagged November 5, 2001 in the Deadwater Pool, a 2+ male in full spawning colors measuring 20.5 cm.
Recaptured on October 16, 2003 in the lake run, #940 now a 4+ male measured 28.7 cm and weighed 300 grams.

#S40 was tagged September 7, 2003 in the Deadwater Pool and recaptured on September 9, 2003 showing no change at 28.5 cm and 300 grams.

#S42 was tagged September 7, 2003 below the lake and recaptured September 11, 2003 showing no change at 27.0 cm and 250 grams.

#S33 was tagged August 29, 2003 above the dam and recaptured September 13, 2003 showing no change at 27.8 cm and 280 grams.

#S43 was tagged September 7, 2003 in the lake run, a 33.8 cm male trout weighing 500 grams.
Recaptured on September 12, 2003 showed no change.

#S60 was tagged September 13, 2003 above the dam and recaptured on October 4, 2003 showing no change at 22.6 cm and 150 grams.

#S66 was tagged September 29, 2003 above the dam and recaptured October 12, 2003 at the lake showing no change at 32.0cm and 375 grams.

#S50 was tagged September 11, 2003 above the dam and recaptured October 13, 2003 showing no change at 22.0 cm and 145 grams.

#87 was tagged May 20, 2003 in the Bend Pool, a 25.9 cm trout weighing 235 grams.
Recaptured October 16, 2003 above the dam it measured 26 .1 cm and weighed 195 grams.

#55 was tagged May 7, 2003 at the Bend Pool a 28.0 cm trout weighing 350 grams.
Recaptured on October 16, 2003 in the Lake Run it measured 28.8 cm and weighed 320 grams.

Discussion

The C.P.U.E. at 1.72 fish per hour suggests good angler success and can be compared directly to the 1.23 fish per hour recorded on the Eel Weir in 2003 as the same expert fly fisherman collected the data from both locations. The higher success rate at Peskowesk Brook suggests the no-kill regulations may be making more fish available to be caught.
The mean length of 26.4 cm is 2.1 cm. higher than the 2003 Eel Weir mean of 24.3 cm and 2.2 cm higher than the 1994 - 1996 Eel Weir mean of 24.2 cm. This higher mean length may be due to the improved survival rates of trout in the no-kill area.
The mean age of 3.12 years is .28 years higher than the 2003 Eel Weir mean of 2.84 years and .21 years higher than the 1994 - 1996 Eel Weir mean of 2.91 years.
The mean weight of 269 grams is 51 grams heavier than the 2003 Eel Weir mean of 218 grams and 60 grams heavier than the 1994 - 1996 Eel Weir mean of 209 grams.

Thirty six per cent (35.8% to be exact) of the 2003 brook trout population in Peskowesk Brook is made up of fish four years old and older (6+ 2.9%, 5+ 11% and 4+ 21.9%). In comparison four year and older fish make up only twenty five percent (25.3% to be exact - 5+ 4.2% and 4+ 21.1%) of the 2003 Eel Weir population.
In the 1994 - 1996 Eel Weir census four and five year old fish made up only 20% of the population ( 5+ 2.3% and 4+ 17.9%).
With water levels reaching flood proportions in August, trout moved out of the summer holding pools and in to the running water in late August. This made for excellent fishing and the fall catch more than doubled over last year.
The 71 gram (15%) average less weight noted in the 5+ fall trout in 2003 is consistent with the percent of loss (16%) recorded over summer in the 2002 5+ fish. Significant weight loss was not apparent in any of the other age classes. It would appear, for whatever reason, the 5+ trout are having to invest some of their physical resources in maintenance over summer.
Of the nineteen readily identifiable male (hooked jaw and bright spawning colors) trout captured in the fall of 2003 only one had the noticeable hump back and deepening of the body usually associated with spawning male chars. In fact this was a first for the author until another was captured at Mill Falls. Neither of these fish gave up any scale samples but were considered to be only four years old.
There were a number of recaptures that are of interest.
#15 was recaptured three times showing continuing growth at each recapture.
#57 was also recaptured three times showing continuing growth.
#24 was tagged on Sept. 17, 2002 when it measured 23.5 cm. It was recaptured on May 16, 2003 showing a growth of 6.5 cm (29.0 cm./ 350 grams).
#907 is of special interest, not only because it is a 6+ fish and has shown up in the Peskowesk data three consecutive years, but it also has the distinction of being the first brook trout ever tagged at Peskowesk Brook and recaptured at Poison Ivy Falls.
#84 is also of special interest as it has the distinction of being the second brook trout tagged at Peskowesk Brook and recaptured at Poison Ivy Falls. Traveling a distance of 8.5 km in ten days.
#90 is the first recorded incidence at Peskowesk Brook of a fish gaining weight (30 grams) in the fall. However, with the high water allowing the fish to hold in the runs, numerous smaller trout were observed feeding at the surface on caddis and flying ants.
#99 on the other hand, a fish of the same length, lost 15 grams during the same time period.
#940 tagged on November 5, 2001 when he was a 2+ male in full spawning colors was back again in 2003 as a 4+ spawning male.

It would appear the five and six year old fish do little, if any, feeding during their pre-spawning migration. Most of the large fish were caught on an Orange Mickey Fin streamer pattern which is tied to imitate a small trout in full spawning colors. The success of the fly on spawning trout is credited to the theory male trout hit it because it poses a threat and females hit it because it is to small to mate with. Seeing that none of the fish tried to ingest the fly, and all were hooked lightly at the edge of the mouth, I would suggest there is a bit of science behind the theory.

EEL WEIR 2003

Acknowledgments

The following are volunteers who willingly gave of their time and abilities in helping to make this second year of the volunteer creel census a success:
Bob Boudreau, George Duff, Robbie Emin, Pat Donoghue, Lyle Goldberg, Gerald Graham, Peter Hope, Tom Lee, Robin Olsen, Doug Parker, Mike Parker, Jim Pinhey and Mike Wade.
To all of the above: your contributions were greatly appreciated.
Thanks also to the anglers who took the time to return tags and related information.
Thanks as well to Park Wardens, Richard Brunt and Norman Wentzel for their time and expertise in the field.
Special thanks go to Gary Corbett, Parks Canada Fish and Wildlife Biologist; Cliff Drysdale, Kejimkujik Nation Park Ecosystem Science Manager; Chris McCarthy, Kejimkujik National Park Conservation Biologist; Bob Thexton, Chief Park Warden; and Sally O-Grady, Ecosystem Database Manager; for their much appreciated support.
I would also like to thank Barb, my partner in life, who graciously covered for me at home allowing me to contribute full time to this project.

Purpose

To catch a minimum sample of 100 brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in order to continue deriving some statistics which could determine the present status of brook trout populations on the Mersey River, Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site (KEJNPNHS).

Study Area

The study was conducted on the portion of the Mersey River known as the Eel Weir and encompassed the waters from the lower end of George Lake down to the foot of the first still water below where the run known as the Dump is located. The area has a distance of approximately 1.5 km and the average width is approximately 35 metres.

Methodology

The census was conducted again this year by the Kejimkujik National Park Fish Management Volunteer Contributors.
This group, with a core of dedicated and experienced fly fishermen, has been instrumental in the collection of much of the valuable brook trout data from park waters over the past six years.
The trout were caught by means of fly fishing only and as many as possible were tagged. Tagging allows for the charting of fish migration data as well as establishing that the same fish are not being caught repeatedly.
All the trout were measured (fork length) and scale samples were taken from a sampling of fish in each size range to establish the age of the population.
As fish were caught they were placed in plastic holding tubs which had holes drilled in the sides to allow water to flow through and keep replenishing the oxygen supply.
The fish were measured, weighed and then tagged on the right gill plate with a small, numbered, monel tag. They were released immediately following the recording of this data.
All the trout were caught by the volunteer fly fishermen who gave freely of their time and expertise.

Results

A total of sixteen different fishermen took part in the Eel Weir Census. They fished a total of 177.5 hours over a period of 40 fishing days. Individual volunteer hours varied from a low of 2 hours to a high of 44 hours.
The total catch was 219 trout of which 17 were recaptures. Data was taken from 185 different trout and a total of 142 were tagged.
There was only one volunteer boat fisherman this year and he caught a total of 34 trout with the wading fishermen catching the other 185.

Analyses

It has been noted the statistics for the second and third years of the previous three year Eel Weir census (1994 - 1996) contains data from only seven brook trout under 20 cm. and no data from any brook trout 19 cm and under.
The apparent reason for this being anglers were releasing the smaller fish in hopes of catching and retaining larger trout as part of their daily bag limit.
To make 2003 data comparable the stats from the 43 brook trout under 19 cm will be deleted from this report.
(It should be noted, however, this presence of smaller 1+ fish is an indicator of a healthy and successful spawning population.)
The data from a total of 142 brook trout will be examined.
The catch per unit of effort ( C.P.U.E.) average is 1.23 fish per hour. The boat fisherman averaged 1.42 fish per hour and three different wading fishermen averaged over 1.5 fish per hour.
The total of trout in each age group, their percentage of the total population and the average length and weight of each age group (in brackets) is as follows:
6 / 5+ or 4.2% (32.3 cm./ 533 gr), 30 / 4+ or 21.1% (28.3 cm./ 314 grams), 51 / 3+ or 35.9% (24.8 cm./ 220 gr.) and 55 / 2+ or 38.8% (21.0 cm./ 130 gr.)
The mean length of the 142 trout is 24.3 cm. while the mean length of the boat caught fish is 26.0 cm.
The mean age of the 142 trout is 2.84 years.
A total of 142 trout were tagged. Seventeen fish were recaptured with sixteen being same year recaptures and one a recapture from 2002.
The record of recaptures is as follows:

#203 was tagged May 1/2003 above the Eel Weir bridge, a 3+ fish measuring 25.0 cm. and weighing 200 grams.
Recaptured 0n May 4/2003 above the bridge it measured 25.3 cm and weighed 210 gr.

#207 was tagged May 1/2003 below the Eel Weir bridge, a 3+ fish measuring 26.0 cm and weighing 200 grams.
Recaptured May 13/2003 below the bridge it measured 26.8 cm and weighed 290 grams.
Recaptured May 18/2003 and released again with the angler estimating the length at 27.0 cm.

#202 was tagged May 1/2003 above the Eel Weir bridge, a 4+ fish measuring 29.5 cm and weighing 350 grams. Fish killed May 13/2003 when it measured 30.0 cm but was not weighed.

#212 was tagged May 2/2003 above the Eel Weir bridge, a 4+ fish measuring 28.0 cm and weighing 250 grams.
Recaptured May 14/2003 above the bridge it measured 28.0 cm and weighed 300 grams.

#223 was tagged May 3/2003 above the Eel Weir bridge, a 4+ fish measuring 27.8 cm and weighing 300 grams.
Recaptured May 16/2003 below the bridge it measured 28.2 cm. and weighed 325 grams.

#214 was tagged May 2/2003 below the Eel Weir bridge, a 3+? fish measuring 26.1 cm and weighing 250 grams.
Recaptured May 16/2003 below the bridge it measured 26.6 cm and weighed 290 grams.

#211 was tagged May 1/2003 below the Eel Weir bridge, a 3+ fish measuring 23.5 cm and weighing 200 grams. Fish killed May 19/2003 below the bridge with no data given.

#261 was tagged May 15/2003 above the Eel Weir bridge, a 4+ fish measuring 29.5 cm and weighing 350 grams. Fish killed at the Black Rattle on the park boundary May 19/2003.

#242 was tagged May 14/2003 above the Eel Weir bridge, a 2+ fish measuring 19.2 cm and weighing 105 grams.
Recaptured May 26/2003 above the bridge it measured 20.0 cm and weighed 115 grams.

#113 was tagged May 17/2002 above the Eel Weir bridge, a 2+ fish measuring 18.2 cm. Fish killed May 26/2003 above the bridge when it measured 26.7 cm.

#205 was tagged May 1/2003 below the Eel Weir bridge, a 3+ fish measuring 25.8 cm. and weighing 250 grams.
Recaptured May 26/2003 below the bridge it measured 27.0 cm and weighed 325 grams.

#201 was tagged April 30/2003 above the Eel Weir bridge, a 3+ fish measuring 22.8 cm and weighing 170 grams.
Recaptured May 31/2003 and released with no data taken.

#221 was tagged May 3/2003 at the Dump, a 3+ fish measuring 23.0 cm and weighing 170 grams. Fish killed May 31/2003 with no data given.

#254 was tagged above the Eel Weir bridge on May 15/2003, a 3+ fish measuring 23.0 cm and weighing 170 grams. Fish killed May 31/2003 with no data given.

#P16 was tagged May 30/2003 at the Dump, a 3+ fish measuring 26.5 cm and weighing 300 grams.
Recaptured on June 7/2003 showed no change.

#P41 was tagged June 23/2003 above the Eel Weir bridge , a 2+ fish measuring 20.8 cm and weighing 120 grams.
Recaptured September 22/2003 above the bridge it still measured 20.8 cm but weighed only 100 grams.

Discussion

The mean length of the 142 trout is 24.3 cm., higher than last years 23.54 cm. and slightly higher than the 1994 -1996 mean of 24.2 cm. The mean length of the boat caught fish is up from 24.8 cm last year to 26.0 cm this year which appears to support the perceived notion boat fishermen are more successful on the Eel Weir.
In comparing mean lengths and weights in the various age groups, the 2003 fish, with the exception of the 2+ fish, are slightly longer and heavier than those in the 1994 - 1996 ( 481 records -including 386 scale ageing records) census. The following is the mean length and weight from each age group with the 94 - 96 mean in brackets:
5+ 32.3 cm / 533 gr. ( 31.7 cm / 443 gr.), 4+ 28.3 cm. / 314 gr. ( 28.0 cm. / 302 gr.), 3+ 24.8 cm. / 220 gr. ( 24.2 cm. / 209 gr.), 2+ 21.0 cm. / 130 gr. ( 21.7 cm. / 140 gr.).
As mentioned earlier there is potential for bias in the two year old trout numbers from the 94 - 96 census. Anglers who keep their limit of fish tend to keep as large a run as possible. (For example only ten 2+ trout were recorded in the second year (1995) of that study.)
The mean age of 2.84 years compares closely with the 2.91 mean in 94 - 96.
The CPUE of 1.23, when compared to .9 in the last study, would indicate excellent fishing.
The percentage of the population for each age group is as follows with the comparable percentages from 1994 - 1996 ( 481 records ) in brackets:
5+ / 4.2 % ( 2.3 % ), 4+ / 21.1% ( 17.9 % ), 3+ / 35.9 % ( 48.4 % ) and 2+ / 38.8 % ( 31.4 % )

It would appear the extra 5+ and 4+ fish translates into strong year classes likely as a result of good spawning and rearing conditions four and five years ago. With survival into age four and five being good, it would also appear angling had little, if any, effect as they became catchable as two year old fish.
It is interesting to note the significant length and weight gains of all the trout tagged early in the season and recaptured again after a week or two of prime time feeding. Certainly a testimonial to the productivity of the Eel Weir habitat during the month of May.
Another interesting recapture was also noted - #261, the 4+ fish that moved down river approximately 5 km in four days.
Tag returns from bait fishing and boat anglers on the Eel Weir were very disappointing as numerous tagged fish were caught but no effort made to return tags. Two recaptures were reported to the author and in both cases tags were thrown away when the fish were cleaned. Five recaptures were reported after the fact to Park Warden, Norman Wentzel but in each case fish had been cleaned or released and tag numbers not recorded. Various other second and third hand reports of anglers catching tagged fished early in the season filtered in as well but were never substantiated.

Conclusion

The statistics of this the second year of the 2002 - 2004 census compare favorably with those of the 1994 - 1996 census and would indicate we are looking at a stable trout population. An increase of survival into four and five year old fish indicates a population that is not being over harvested. This survival, coupled with the increased lengths and weights of all fish 3+ and older would indicate an ample food supply as well.
Concerns had been expressed that the exceptionally dry summers of 2001 and 2002 could have adverse effects on brook trout populations. With the 2003 numbers and percentages being what there are it would appear such was not the case.

Recommendations

Would recommend a recognition of some sort for the long standing volunteers. A personal ID pin would be ideal or maybe a cap with AFish Management Volunteer@ inscribed on it would serve the purpose even better.
A concentrated effort is needed to impress upon anglers the importance of tag returns.

	KEJIMKUJIC TROUT CENSUS
	TNS - Conserving Nova Scotia's Trout