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Common names for
the alewife are gaspereau, river herring, sawbelly, or kiack.
Physical Characteristics
The alewife is a member
of the herring family. Here are some things to look for:
-A slender, laterally compressed fish coloured greyish-green
on the back, and silvery on the sides and belly
-Gasperaux entering freshwater are often copper-tinged
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-A single black spot is present
on each side, just behind the head
-The eye is relatively large and has an obvious eyelid
-A row of scales, known as scutes, form a sharp edge along the
mid-line of the belly which is how the alewife came to be called
"sawbelly".
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Facts on Alewife
Alewife eggs, or roe, are canned and sold as a delicacy.
Despite the many thousands of eggs laid by spawning alewife
very few offspring actually survive. In some populations as
few as three young-of-the-year fish migrate downstream for each
female that spawned. |
The alewife in Nova Scotia
is usually 25-30 cm (10-12 in) long and weighs up to 340 gr
(12 oz). There is no lateral line.
Another species known as the blueback herring is very difficult
to distinguish from the alewife. They inhabit the same watersheds
and have similar natural histories. Many reports of alewife
probably include the blueback herring as well.
Distribution
The alewife is found in rivers and lakes along the eastern coast
of North America from Newfoundland to North Carolina and the
adults live in coastal marine waters 56-110 m (180-350 ft) deep.
Landlocked populations exist in several Ontario and New York
lakes. Since the Welland Canal was built in 1824, the alewife
has spread throughout the Great Lakes.
Natural History
In the Maritimes the alewife spends most of its life growing
in salt water feeding mainly on zooplankton, tiny invertebrates,
that live in the water column. Each spring from April to July
large runs of adult alewives migrate up coastal rivers to spawn
in freshwater lakes, ponds and streams (this movement from sea
to freshwater makes the alewife an anadromous fish). |
Alewives also spawn in
brackish water. Like trout and salmon, alewives use their sense
of smell to return to the streams and lakes where they hatched
or near by watersheds. Female alewives usually begin spawning
at age 4, repeat spawn each following year and may live to be
10. Male alewives often mature a year earlier than females.
About 75% of alewives entering Nova Scotia rivers are repeat
spawners. Alewives can move into coastal areas in late winter
but will not migrate into fresh water until river temperatures
begin to warm. Males enter the river first. Alewives only migrate
into freshwater during daylight hours. However spawning occurs
at night and can occur in standing, slow moving or fast mid-river
water. A single female can lay as many as 200,000 eggs.
|
Fishing Facts
During the spawning runs commercial fishermen set large trap
nets or enclosures called weirs in coastal rivers and estuaries
to catch migrating alewives. Major Canadian fisheries are on
the Shubenacadie, Miramichi, and Saint John Rivers.
The catch is used for fishmeal, lobster bait, pet food or it
is smoked, canned, salted or pickled. Although tasty, alewives
are not favoured locally for human consumption due to their
large number of bones. |
| |
After spawning the adults
begin the downstream migration to the sea within a few days.
Alewife eggs are about 1mm in diameter and are left to lie on
the bottom or float with the current. Depending on the water
temperature, the eggs hatch in about a week. After the yolk-sac
is absorbed the tiny, larval fish stay near the spawning grounds
preferring shallow, warm and sandy areas. They feed on tiny
species of zooplankton. From August to October young-of-the-year,
(sizes from 32-152 mm (1.25-6 in) migrate downstream in large
groups or schools to live in estuaries and coastal areas. Adults
over winter at sea in the George's Bank, Gulf of Maine or Nantucket
Shoals and as far south a Florida. Alewives can live at least
10 years.
Alewives are eaten by many species of fish and birds including
striped bass, salmonids, smallmouth bass, eels, perch, bluefish,
weakfish, terns and gulls.
|
| Smallmouth
bass (Micropterus dolomieui) |
 |
This fish,
a member of the sunfish family is also called northern smallmouth
bass, smallmouth black bass, black bass, and brown bass.
Physical Characteristics
The smallmouth bass has the following
characteristics:
-A robust, slightly laterally compressed fish
-Its colour varies from brown,
golden brown, olive to green on the back becoming lighter to
golden on the sides and white on the belly
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-It has 8-15 narrow, vertical
bars on the sides and dark bars on the head that radiate backwards
from the eyes
-Its head is relatively large, with a large red, orange, or
brown eye |
-Its lower
jaw protrudes
-Its two dorsal fins are joined; the front one is spiny and
the second one has 1 spine followed by soft rays -Its
pelvic fins sit forward on the body below the pectoral fins
-Three spines border the front of the anal fin and a single
spine is found on each pelvic fin
-Young fish have more distinct vertical bars or rows of spots
on their sides and the caudal or tail fin is orange at the base
followed by black and then white
Smallmouth bass can reach over 4 kg (9 lb) in parts of central
Canada but usually don't exceed 1.1 kg (2.5 lb) in Nova Scotia.
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Facts about
Smallmouth Bass
Some male smallmouth bass return to the same nest year after
year; over 85% of them build their nest within 138 m (150 yd)
of where they nested in earlier years.
The world record smallmouth bass was caught in Kentucky, U.S.A.
in 1955 and weighed 5.4 kg (11.9 lb). It measured 68.6 cm (27
in) long and 54.9 cm (21.7 in) in girth.
They have been seen "sunning" in pools with water temperatures
of 26.7 C. |
Distribution
The smallmouth bass is a freshwater
fish originally found in lakes and rivers of eastern and central
North America. As a result of widespread introductions, it now
ranges from southern Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, south to
Georgia, west to Oklahoma, north to Minnesota, west to North
Dakota and east from southern Manitoba to Quebec. It also occurs
in a few areas of western North America and has been introduced
in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Natural History
Smallmouth bass prefer clear,
quiet waters with gravel, rubble, or rocky bottoms. They live
in mid-sized, gentle streams that have deep pools and abundant
shade, or in fairly deep, clear lakes and reservoirs with rocky
shoals. Smallmouth bass tend to seek cover and avoid the light.
They hide in deep water, behind rocks and boulders, and around
underwater debris and crevices. Smallmouth bass prefer temperatures
of 21-27 C. As temperatures fall, they become less active and
seek cover in dark, rocky areas. In the winter they cease feeding,
remain inactive on the bottom, staying near warm springs when
possible. |
Spawning takes place from
late May to July in shallow (usually 0.3-0.9 m (1-3 ft) deep)
protected areas of lakes and rivers, when the water temperature
is 16 to 18 C. The male prepares a nest on a sandy, gravel or
rocky bottom by cleaning an area 0.3 to 1.8 m (1-6 ft) in diameter.
He defends the nest from other males and attracts a series of
females into the nest to spawn. After spawning the female leaves
and the male remains to guard the nest and fan the eggs. Females
usually produce from 5,000 to 14,000 eggs, depending on their
size. The eggs are from 1.2-2.5 mm in diameter and stick to
stones in the bottom of the nest.
The young are about 5.8 mm long when they hatch in 4-10 days
depending on the temperature. Hatching success can vary a lot.
Sudden changes in temperature or water level can cause the eggs
to die from shock or cause the male to abandon the nest, leaving
it open for predators. After hatching, the male remains with
the young for another 3-4 weeks while they absorb the yolk sac
and begin to leave the nest. |
Fishing Facts
Smallmouth bass are a fish of great sporting quality that have
been popular with anglers since the early 1800's.
This popularity led to widespread introductions and the culture
of smallmouth bass. It was harvested commercially until the
1930's but over-fishing led to its restriction as a sport fish.
Smallmouth bass can be taken with wet or dry flies, by trolling
or casting with live bait or lures, or still fishing with crayfish,
minnows or frogs. |
Young fish tend to stay
in quiet, shallow areas with rocks and vegetation. They begin
feeding on plankton (tiny organisms suspended in the water),
and switch to larger prey like water insects, amphibians, crayfish,
and other fish as they grow. (Crayfish are native to New Brunswick
but are not found in Nova Scotia). Two-year old bass are about
12.7 cm (5 in) long.
Older bass prefer rocky, shallow areas of lakes and rivers and
retreat to deeper water at high water temperatures. Most bass
do not travel great distances and those in streams spend all
season in the same pool. Smallmouth bass mature at ages 3-6
when they are about 17 to 28 cm (6.7-11 in) long. Males usually
mature a year earlier than females. They are known to live 15
years.
Some smallmouth bass predators are yellow perch, sunfishes,
catfishes, white suckers and turtles.
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| Striped Bass
(Morone saxatalis) |
|
Other common names for this
fish include: striper bass, striped sea bass, and striper.
Physical
Characteristics
Striped bass have the following characteristics:
-Its colour is olive green to blue or black on the back; the
sides are pale to silvery (sometimes with brassy reflections);
its belly is white
-It has 7-8 dark horizontal stripes on the sides
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-Both eyes
and mouth are relatively large and the lower jaw protrudes
-The pelvic fins sit forward on the body below the pectoral
fins
-The first dorsal fin (on the back) is spiny and the second
has one spine followed by several soft rays
-A single spine lies at the front of each pelvic fin and three
short spines precede the anal fin
-Young often lack stripes and have 6-10 dusky bars on the sides
Striped bass have been recorded as large as 56.7 kg (124.7 lb)
North Carolina, 1891). However most striped bass caught are
13.6 kg (30 lb) or less.
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Facts about
Striped Bass
A striped bass weighing 28.6 kg (62.9 lb) was caught near Reversing
Falls in the Saint John River, New Brunswick in 1979.
The world record (angling) striped bass weighed 35.6 kg (78
lb) was caught at Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1982.
A striped bass tagged and released in the Saint John River,
New Brunswick was recaptured 36 days later in Rhode Island,
U.S.A. 805 km (503 mi) away! (22.4km/day 14 mi/day)
After fertilization striped bass eggs swell to about three times
their original diameter to a size of 3.6 mm.
Surveys show the average striped bass angler on the Annapolis
River, Nova Scotia spends about 50 hours on each fish caught.
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The short (less than half the fin length) anal fin spines and
body stripes distinguish striped bass from white perch, the
other member of the temperate bass family found in Maritime
waters. The white perch lacks stripes and 2 of its anal spines
are longer than half the fin length.
Distribution
The striped bass is a coastal species found in rivers,
estuaries, and inshore waters of eastern North America from
the St. Lawrence River and southern Gulf of St. Lawrence to
northern Florida, as well as the northern coast of the Gulf
of Mexico. It was introduced on the Pacific coast of North America
over 100 years ago, where it now ranges from California to southern
British Columbia. Striped bass have been introduced and become
established in some landlocked lakes in the southern and central
U.S. |
Striped bass have been introduced
to parts of Europe and Asia.
Natural History
Striped bass is a schooling fish, living in the sea and returning
to fresh water to spawn (anadromous). It is most common in steady-flowing,
turbid rivers that have low slopes and large estuaries. During
their saltwater life many striped bass make long sea migrations.
However not all fish migrate and some populations do not migrate
at all. Some fish remain in the estuary of their home rivers.
Striped bass spawn in May and June after moving upriver the
previous fall, usually at water temperatures of 14 to 22 C.
The length of this journey can vary from a long journey inland
to just above the head of tide. Striped bass sometimes spawn
in brackish water. |
Fishing Facts
Historically valued both for food and for sport, stocks of striped
bass have been declining since the 1970's. This is probably
due to a combination of over fishing, habitat destruction, pollution
and natural population cycles.
The striped bass is becoming a popular sport fish in Canadian
waters and can be caught by casting, trolling, jigging, and
fly fishing. They are fished in the surf or along shorelines
and estuaries wherever schools of small food fishes are found
and best fishing is often in the evening at high tide. Striped
bass can be fished with live bait, lures (bucktails, Rapalas),
plugs and poppers (skipping bugs). Bait success depends on the
location and feeding habits of bass at the time but gaspereau,
eels and worms are popular.
It is not fished commercially in Nova Scotia. |
Striped bass produce many
eggs. In fact, more than three million have been recorded for
a 22.7 kg (50 lb) female! About 100,000 eggs is more typical
of bass in our rivers. Striped bass spawn near the water surface
in water 0.3-6.1 m (1-20 ft) deep. The eggs have a large oil
globule and are semi-buoyant. Ideally the current that prevents
them from getting silted over and smothered on the bottom carries
them along. The eggs hatch in 2-3 days depending on the temperature
(15-18.6 C).
Newly hatched fish are about 5 mm long. After absorbing yolk-sac,
they feed on zooplankton (tiny invertebrates suspended in the
water).
Striped bass are carnivores and take progressively larger prey
as they grow. They eat a variety of invertebrates such as insect
larvae, marine worms, and crustaceans as well as many kinds
of schooling fishes, especially herring and gaspereau.
Adults feed most actively just after sunset and just before
dawn and can be seen moving in with the tide, rolling and flashing
as they feed on smaller fish. Canadian striped bass grow fairly
rapidly and can be 14.5 cm (5.7 in) at age 1. They usually mature
at age 3-6 years when they are about 34-53 cm (13.4-21.7 in)
long. Males usually mature a year earlier than females, but
do not live as long. Striped bass can live to 31 years.
Other fish such as Atlantic tomcod, Atlantic cod, silver hake
and larger striped bass eat small striped bass. Adult striped
bass have few predators except humans.
Young striped bass form schools and spend their first two or
three years in the lower reaches of rivers and in estuaries,
preferably where there is a sand and gravel bottom and some
current. After this period, many leave their home waters and
make long sea migrations along the Atlantic coast. Striped bass
populations from North Carolina to the Bay of Fundy are typically
migratory and travel in large schools moving north in the summer
and south in the winter. They probably return to their home
rivers when they reach sexual maturity and are ready to spawn,
however mature fish do not necessarily return every year to
spawn. In general, most migrating striped bass are female. Some
of the large striped bass caught along the Maritime coasts probably
originate from U.S. rivers.
Striped bass populations go through cycles. Every so many years
the young-of-the-year offspring survive in particularly high
numbers and become what is called a dominant year class in the
population. Year class success is probably determined in the
first two months of life and may be related to environmental
conditions during this period.
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| Brown bullhead
(Ictalurus nebulosus) |
|
Physical
Characteristics
Nova Scotia's only member of the
freshwater catfish family is easy to identify with its distinctive
sets of whisker-like formations around the mouth. These are
called barbels and the bullhead has four pairs.
The following can also identify the bullhead:
-A thick rounded body, heaviest toward the front
-A broad, large, somewhat flattened head |
|
-Sharp, saw-toothed, spines
at the base of the dorsal and pectoral fins. These spines can
be "locked" in an erect position.
-The tail or caudal fin is square and there is an adipose fin
(small fin on the back in front of the tail) |
-Its colour is dark brown
to olive green on the back ; its sides are sometimes mottled
with dark blotches and the belly is cream coloured
-There are no scales but the skin has many taste glands
In Nova Scotia it seldom grows more than 30 cm (1 ft) long and
0.5 kg (1 lb) in weight. Bullheads weighing as much as 2.7-3.6
kg (6-8 lb) have been caught in Ontario.
Distribution
The brown bullhead is found in the fresh waters of eastern and
central North America, from the Maritime Provinces to Florida,
and westward to southern Saskatchewan, Missouri, and Texas.
It occurs across southern Canada from Saskatchewan to the Maritimes.
The brown bullhead has been introduced to western North America
and Europe. |
Facts about
Bullheads
The spines at the base of the dorsal and pectoral fins can be
"locked" into an erect position. This is thought to help protect
the bullhead against predators, making it much harder to swallow.
Brown bullheads take many kinds of bait and can be easily caught
by anglers. They are best fished with worms at dusk.
The flesh of the brown bullhead is very tasty. They are reared
commercially in the southern U.S.
Brown bullheads are extremely resistant to pollution. In areas
of heavy pollution they can be the only fish species present. |
In Atlantic Canada the brown
bullhead exists only in New Brunswick and mainland Nova Scotia.
Natural History
Brown bullheads usually live on the bottom in the shallow, weedy, mud-bottomed areas of lakes or large slow-moving streams. They tolerate higher water temperatures and lower oxygen levels than many other fish species.
They feed on the bottom at night, using their barbels to search for food. They eat a variety of foods including insects, fish eggs, leeches, mollusks, crayfish, worms, algae, plants, and small fishes. Young bullheads feed mainly on insects and plankton (tiny organisms suspended in the water).
Bullheads spawn in the late spring when water temperatures approach 21 C. One or both parents excavate a shallow nest in a protected area of mud or sandy bottom. Spawning occurs in the daytime and several thousand cream coloured eggs are deposited in the nest. The parents care for the eggs by fanning them with their fins and physically stirring them up. After hatching, the young catfish are jet black and resemble tadpoles. They swim in a "school" and are protected by their parents for several weeks until they are about two inches long.
The brown bullhead usually matures at age 3 and lives for 6-8
years. The chain pickerel and other members of the pike and
perch families eat them.
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| American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) |
Physical Characteristics
The American eel has a long snake-shaped body. It has no pelvic
fins and the fins along the top of the body are continuous.
The body is covered with mucus, which is where the expression
"slippery as an eel" comes from. Their colour changes as they
grow up and there are different names for eels at these different
stages.
"Glass eels"
are young eels approaching the shore at sea. Their bodies are
transparent with a distinct black eye |
|
"Elvers"
are eels that are just adapting to fresh water and are greyish-green
in colour.
"Yellow eels" are adults in freshwater.
Their colour varies from yellowish to greenish to olive-brown,
being darker on the back and lighter on the belly. |
"Silver,
bronze, or black eels" are
sexually mature eels which darken to a bronze-black hue on the
back with silver underneath.
American eels can grow to a size of 1270 mm (50 in) and weigh
up to 4.5 kg (10 lb).
Distribution
American
eels are found in freshwater streams and rivers, brackish coastal
waters and the Atlantic Ocean of eastern North America from
southern Greenland and Labrador to the Gulf of Mexico and northern
South America. It is the only member of the freshwater eel family
found in North America and is wide spread in the Maritime Provinces.
Natural History
|
Fishing Facts
Commercial fishermen harvest silver and yellow eels with many
kinds of gear including weirs, traps, otter trawls, nets, handlines,
eel pots and spears.
Eels are sold for human consumption and as bait for other fisheries.
Many are shipped fresh or frozen to Europe where they are considered
a delicacy and served smoked or jellied.
Elvers have been harvested for use in pond culture and grow-out
operations. The American eel is caught by recreational fishermen.
|
| The American eel goes on
long oceanic migrations to reproduce. Unlike fish such as Atlantic
salmon and alewife that return to freshwater to spawn, eels
are catadromous, which means they spend most of their lives
in freshwater lakes and streams, returning to sea to spawn.
No one has ever seen American eels spawn but it is believed
to occur in the Sargasso Sea, east of the Bahamas. |
Spawning occurs from February
through April and hatching probably occurs within a few days.
The tiny transparent eel larvae (known as leptocephali), only
a few millimetres long, drift with ocean currents to the coastal
areas of North America. They grow rapidly until the fall.
Once they are between 8-12 months old and about 55-65 mm (2.1-
2.6 in) long they transform into glass eels. At this stage,
eels actively migrate toward freshwater. As they enter brackish
and freshwater they begin to develop colour and are known as
elvers. Elvers and glass eels reach the Maritime coasts in April
and May. At first the elvers are active at night and rest near
the bottom during the day. They may stay in estuaries for some
time moving up and downstream with the tide as they physiologically
prepare to live in fresh water. When elvers begin to migrate
upstream they become active during the day and are thought to
use the current and the odour of brook water to find their way.
This upstream migration can take several years with distances
as far as 1000 km (600 mi) involved.
Elvers eat aquatic insects, small crustaceans and fish parts.
After a year in freshwater elvers are about 127 mm long (5 in).
Following this stage, eels enter a growth phase lasting many
years in which they are known as yellow eels. Some eels do not
migrate upstream as elvers but remain instead to live in estuaries.
Yellow eels are most active at night and spend the day concealed
in vegetation or burrowed in the bottom. Their diet includes
insect larvae, fish, crabs, worms, clams, and frogs. They also
feed on carrion and are able to tear pieces off food items too
large to be swallowed whole. |
Facts about Eels
Eels do not become definitely male or female until they are
20-25 cm (8-10 in) long!
What sex an eel becomes is thought to be partly determined by
environmental conditions such as crowding and food abundance.
In areas (southern U.S.) where food abundance and water temperatures
favour rapid growth rates, a higher percentage of male eels
are found. In cooler areas, such as Nova Scotia, where eels
grow more slowly but reach an overall larger size, there tends
to be more females. This is an advantage since larger females
produce more eggs and can contribute more offspring.
Eels can absorb oxygen through their skin and can travel overland
particularly in damp, rainy weather. |
In late summer and fall
some adult American eels in eastern Canada begin their spawning
migration to the Sargasso Sea. During this time they change
to the "silver eel" stage and become sexually mature. Males
can mature at age 3 but females mature later usually at ages
4-7. However eels can spend up to 40 years in fresh water. Female
eels produce from 0.5 to 4.0 million eggs. It appears that all
eels die after spawning. Adult eels are eaten by larger fish
such as sharks, haddock, and swordfish and also by gulls and
bald eagles.
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| White Perch (Morone americana) |
Oddly enough, the white perch is actually a member of the bass
family and is not a true perch. Other common names for the white
perch are silver perch, sea perch, silver bass, narrow-mouthed
bass, and bass perch.
Physical Characteristics
The white perch has
the following characteristics:
-A deep, thin body that slopes up steeply from the eye to the
beginning of the dorsal fin |
|
-Colours which can be olive,
grey-green, silvery-grey, dark brown or black on the back becoming
a lighter green on the sides and silvery-white on the belly
-The pelvic and anal fins (both on the belly) are sometimes rosy coloured
|
-The pelvic and anal fins
(both on the belly) are sometimes rosy coloured
-Like all members of the bass family it has two dorsal fins
on the back and the pelvic fins sit forward on the body below
the pectoral fins
|
Facts about
White Perch
The oldest known white perch lived 17 years.
The world angling record for white perch is a 2.15 kg (4.7 lb)
fish taken in Messalonskee Lake, Maine in 1949. |
-The first dorsal fin has
nine spines but the second one is soft rayed - there are three
spines at the front of the anal fin, and a single spine precedes
the second dorsal fin and each pelvic fin
-It has many small sharp teeth
-Its scales are relatively large and the lateral line is complete
It can grow to 48.3cm (19 in) and 2.72 kg (6 lb).
It is very similar in shape to the striped bass, also found
in our waters. The white perch has a deeper, less rounded body
than the striped bass. The anal fin spines of the striped bass
are less than one-half the fin length, but the second and third
anal spines in the white perch are greater than this.
Distribution
White perch are found in fresh and brackish waters along the
Atlantic coast from the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence to North
Carolina and inland along the upper St. Lawrence River to the
lower Great Lakes. It is present in all three Maritime Provinces.
Natural History
|
White perch is a fish that can live in
fresh or salt water and does best when summer water temperatures
reach 24 C. In the Maritimes, it occurs mostly in freshwater
lakes and ponds. Sea-run populations are found in some coastal
rivers and estuaries.
Spring spawning takes place when water temperatures are 11-16
C, late May-late July in shallow water over many kinds of bottom.
Males and females each spawn several times and the tiny 0.9
mm eggs become sticky after fertilization and attach to vegetation
and bottom materials. White perch are quite prolific; a 25 cm
(10 in) female can produce 247,700 eggs. |
Fishing Facts
The white perch has very tasty flesh and where it grows large
enough can be a popular sport fish. They are caught on bait
(worms, small minnows) lures, or streamer-type flies.
White perch are fished commercially in Chesapeake Bay, U.S.
and the lower Great Lakes. |
The length of time for hatching
depends on the water temperature. When the water is cooler,
hatching takes longer (4-4.5 days at 15 C versus about 30 hours
at 20 C). Newly hatched white perch are 2.3 mm long and feed
on plankton (tiny organisms in the water). They grow rapidly
and can reach 65 mm (2.5 in) by late summer.
Growth rates of white perch vary among regions and populations. Few studies have been done on Maritime populations. Most perch in our waters are less than 15 cm (6 in). Larger pan-sized white perch that weigh 225 to 450 g (0.5-1 lb) are taken in some Nova Scotia lakes. Lake Ontario fish can reach 33.5 cm (13.2 in) and 780 g (1.72 lb). Even larger sizes have been reported in some U.S. waters.
White perch in lakes are known to feed both during the day and at night. Fresh and saltwater populations move to surface (or inshore) waters at night, retreating to deeper water during the day. They perch eat mostly aquatic insect larvae when they are small. As they grow, many kinds of fish such as smelt, yellow perch, killifish, and other white perch are eaten. They usually mature at 3 years and live 5-7 years.
White perch are thought to compete with some game fishes for
food. In some places a lack of harvesting, either by anglers
or other species of fish, can lead to large populations of stunted,
small white perch. Smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, and large
trout will eat white perch.
|
| Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) |
This, the only true member of the perch family in Nova Scotia,
is also called perch, lake perch, and American perch.
Physical Characteristics
The yellow perch has the following characteristics:
-Its colour is black-green, to olive, to golden brown on the
back and extending down the sides in tapered bars
-The rest of the sides are yellowish becoming grey to white
on the belly
|
|
-It has two dorsal fins
(on the back), the first one has 13-15 sharp spines, the second
has only one spine followed by soft rays
-The pelvic fins with one spine sit forward on the belly almost directly below the pectoral fins |
-The pectoral fins are amber-coloured
and transparent whereas the pelvics are yellow to white and
opaque
-Eyes are yellow to green
-The scales feel rough to the touch
-The colour of a spawning male fish intensifies; its lower fins
can become orange to bright red.
-Young yellow perch are first transparent, then silvery or pale
green |
Facts about
Yellow Perch
Occasionally yellow perch are found with the unusual colouring
of grey-blue or red and the absence of dark bars on the side.
The yellow perch has been called "a good bold-biting fish" "the
most extravagantly handsome of fishes" "a ravager of all smaller
fish" and "bait-stealing little devils".
Students studying the anatomy of bony fishes most often use
the yellow perch. |
The yellow perch can grow
to 1.9 kg (4.2 lb) but in Nova Scotia it does not exceed 30
cm (12 in) and 450 g (1 lb).
Distribution
Yellow perch can be found in freshwater of North America from
Nova Scotia south along the Atlantic coast to Florida, west
from Pennsylvania to Missouri, northwest to Montana, north to
Great Slave Lake, southwest to James Bay and east to New Brunswick
and Nova Scotia. It has been introduced widely in the south
and western U.S.and has spread to southern British Columbia.
Yellow perch cannot be found in Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton
Island or Newfoundland. It is occasionally found in brackish
water along the Atlantic coast.
Natural History
The yellow perch is a schooling, shallow water fish that can
adapt to a wide variety of warm or cool habitats. They are found
in large lakes, small ponds, or gentle rivers but is most abundant
in clear, weedy lakes that have muck, sand, or gravel bottoms.
They prefer summer temperatures of 21-24 C. Yellow perch feed
on aquatic insects, crustaceans, and a variety of fishes and
their eggs. |
Spawning occurs from April through July,
but usually during May in Nova Scotia, at water temperatures
of 9-12 C. The adults move into shallow areas of lakes or up
into tributary streams. Males are first to arrive and the last
to leave. Yellow perch spawn at night or in early morning, most
often in areas where there is debris or vegetation on the bottom.
The female perch sheds her eggs in a long jelly-like spiral
or accordion-folded strand. Several males fertilize the eggs
during spawning. The egg mass can be as much as 2.1 m (7 ft)
long, 51-102 mm (2-4 in) wide and weigh 0.9 kg (2 lb)! |
Facts about Yellow Perch
The yellow perch is fished both for sport and for food. Anglers
can catch them in summer and winter with fish or worms as bait.
Yellow perch have been fished commercially in Canada for over
a hundred years and are sold both fresh and frozen. The flesh
is white and tasty.
Yellow perch are sometimes infected with the broad tapeworm
(Diphyllobothrium latum) that can be transmitted to humans if
the flesh is improperly cooked. |
Females produce an average
of 23,000 eggs but have been known to shed up to 109,000 eggs.
The egg masses are semi-buoyant and attach to the vegetation
or bottom material. They receive no parental care and can be
cast ashore during storms or eaten by predators. Yellow perch
eggs are 3.5 mm in diameter and hatch in 8-21 days, depending
on the temperature. Newly hatched perch are about 5 mm long.
Young perch grow quickly and remain near the shore during their first summer, swimming in large schools that often include other species. Perch in Nova Scotia waters do not grow as large as those living in the warmer, larger, or more productive habitats of central Canada. In general northern populations grow more slowly but live longer, and females grow faster than males.
Adults move in schools farther offshore than the young. They move between deeper and shallow water in response to changing food supplies, seasons, and temperatures. Perch feed in the morning and evening, taking food in open water or off the bottom. At night they rest on the bottom. Yellow perch remain active and feed during the winter.
Yellow perch can outbreed and out-feed speckled trout or other fish in a lake. This can sometimes lead to an overpopulation of small, stunted fish (less than 15 cm (6 in).
Other fish such as smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, and lake
trout eats yellow perch. Birds like mergansers, loons, kingfishers
and gulls also take them.
|
| Atlantic Salmon
(Salmo salar) |
One of the best-known members
of the salmonid family is the Atlantic salmon which is also
known as: grilse, grilt, fiddler; landlocked salmon, ouananiche
and grayling (all for landlocked fish); black salmon, slink,
kelt (all for post-spawning fish); smolt, parr, Kennebec salmon,
and Sebago salmon.
Physical
Characteristics
Salmon can vary in colour depending on the water they're in,
their age, and sexual activity. In fact there are so many different
physical looks in the life of a salmon that it can be confusing.
What follows are some of the common colour characteristics:
|
|
Salmon in saltwater:
blue, green or brown on the back and silvery on the sides and
belly. On the upper body you can find several x-shaped black
spots.
Salmon in freshwater:
bronze-purple in colour and sometimes with reddish spots on
the head and body.
Spawning males:
these fish develop a hooked lower jaw (kype)
Salmon finished spawning (kelts):
very dark in colour
Young salmon (parr) in freshwater:
8 to 11 dark bars on the side with a red spot between each one.
Young salmon leaving fresh water
for the sea (smolts): silvery
in colour and usually about 12 to 20 cm (5-8 in) long.
|
Facts on Salmon
The name salar comes from the Latin "salio" whish means to leap.
The Atlantic salmon can make leaps 3.7 m (12 ft) high and 5
m (16.3 ft) long!
Atlantic salmon are mentioned in the Magna Carta.
In the wild about 1 in 10 young salmon survive to become smolts
and in many rivers fewer than 1 in 25 of those will return to
spawn.
Most grilse are male.
Biologists can "read" the scales of salmon to determine how
old they are, how many years they spent in fresh water, how
many years they spent at sea and at what ages they spawned.
|
|
Atlantic salmon can be easily confused with both brown
trout and rainbow trout. However there are several characteristics
that can help you distinguish the different species. Rainbow
trout have a rows of spots on the tail (caudal) fin that is
not found in salmon and brown trout have a reddish colouring
on the adipose fin (the small fin in front of the tail on top
of the body). Some of the different characteristics can be observed
on the following pages in the line drawings. |
|
Salmon
Sizes
Sea-run salmon - can be as big as 1.5 m (59 in) and 36 kg
(79 lb) but most are 9 kg (20 lb) or less.
Biggest known fish ever caught in Canada: a 25.1 kg
(55 lb) fish caught in the Grand Cascapedia River, Quebec.
After two winters at sea: 2.7 to 6.8 kg (6-15 lb).
After one winter at sea (grilse): 1.4 to 2.7 kg (3-6 lb)
Landlocked Atlantic - 0.9 to 1.8 kg (2-4 lb). However a 16.1
kg (35.5 lb) specimen was taken in Sebago Lake, Maine over
50 years ago. |
Distribution
Atlantic salmon are native
to the North Atlantic Ocean and coastal rivers and can be found
on both sides of the ocean including parts of Russia, Portugal,
Iceland, and Greenland. In Canada and the U.S. they can be found
from Northern Quebec and Labrador to the Connecticut River.
Due to over fishing and the destruction of habitat, salmon no
longer can be found in much of its original range and the numbers
of fish have seriously declined. As an example, since the late
1800's, there has been no salmon in Lake Ontario. Landlocked
populations of Atlantic salmon exist in some lakes of eastern
North America, particularly in Newfoundland, Labrador and Quebec.
Natural History
Atlantic salmon spend part of their life feeding and growing
during long migrations in the sea, and then return to reproduce
in the fresh water stream where they hatched. This type of pattern,
moving from the sea to freshwater, is described as being anadromous.
Atlantic salmon that are ready to spawn begin moving up rivers
from spring through fall. These spawning runs are surprisingly
consistent and occur at the same time each year for each river.
Salmon populations are often spoken of as "early run" or "late
run". Salmon travel long distances, as much as 500 km (312 mi)
upstream and are known for their ability to leap small waterfalls
and other obstacles. During this journey, the salmon does not
eat, though it rises readily to an artificial fly. Landlocked
salmon living in lakes move up into tributary streams to spawn.
|
| Spawning occurs during October
and November usually in gravel-bottom riffles at the head or
tail of a pool. The female looks for places where the water
is seeping down into clean gravel. Spawning occurs in the evening
and at night. The female digs a nest (redd) 15-35 cm (6-14 in)
deep in the gravel by turning on her side, flipping her tail
upward and pulling the gravel up until a hole is excavated.
She then usually moves upstream and repeats the whole process.
After the female and male spawn in the redd the 5-7 mm eggs
are buried with gravel by the female and the whole process is
repeated several times until the female has shed all of her
eggs. Females produce an average of 1500 eggs per kilogram of
body weight (700 eggs/lb). After spawning the adults (now called
kelts) usually drop downstream to rest in a pool. Contrary to
some stories, adults do not die after spawning. Exhausted and
thin, they often return to sea immediately before winter or
remain in the stream until spring. Some will survive to spawn
a second time but few survive to spawn 3 or more times. |
Fishing Facts
The Atlantic salmon has been prized for centuries, both commercially
and for sport. However, dam construction in rivers has blocked
access to many spawning streams and siltation has destroyed
many others.
In addition pollution, acid rain, over fishing and poaching
have all contributed to a drastic decline in Canada's Atlantic
salmon stocks.
Today, except for small fisheries in Quebec and Labrador, Canada's
commercial fishery is closed. Recreational fisheries are very
closely regulated, and "hook and release" angling is increasingly
promoted.
Through salmon enhancement programs biologists and local community
groups are working to restore the production potential of many
salmon rivers. |
Salmon eggs develop slowly
(about 110 days) over the winter while water flowing through
the nest keeps the eggs clean and oxygenated. In most of our
rivers the eggs survive quite well and are protected from freezing
or silt. The eggs hatch in the spring, usually April, and the
young salmon (alvins) remain buried in the gravel for up to
5 weeks while they absorb the large yolk sac. It's at this stage
that many young fish are lost. Over the winter silt and sand
often move into the nest and can trap the young fish. If they
make it through this stage, the young salmon that emerge are
about 2.5 cm (1 in) long in May or June.
During this freshwater stage
before they migrate to sea they are known as parr. Salmon parr
are territorial and feed during the day. They eat mainly water
insects but will also eat other invertebrates when available.
Young salmon usually live in shallow riffle areas 25 to 65 cm
(10-26 in) deep that have gravel, rubble, rock, or boulder bottoms.
Salmon parr may be eaten by many kinds of predators including
trout, eels, other salmon, mergansers, kingfishers, mink and
otter. During their first winter the parr stay under rocks on
the bottom of the stream.
After two or three (but anywhere from 2 to 8) years in fresh
water salmon parr turn into smolts and prepare for life in salt
water. In the spring, these parr become slimmer and turn silvery.
During the spring run-off, as water temperatures rise, smolts
form schools and migrate downstream at night. It is during this
downstream migration that smolts "learn" or become imprinted
with the smell or other features of their particular river. |
| At sea salmon are known to travel long
distances. Many salmon from Maritime rivers travel as far as
the western coast of Greenland where the waters are rich in
food. Here, salmon grow rapidly, feeding on crustaceans and
other fishes such as smelt, alewives, herring, capelin, mackerel,
and cod. Salmon will stay at sea for one or more years. The
salmon will spend only one year at sea are smaller and called
grilse when they return to freshwater to spawn. At sea, salmon
are eaten by cod, pollack, swordfish, tunas and sharks but have
been known to live to 11 years. |
More Facts on Salmon
Salmon have been reared in hatcheries for decades to provide
smolts for river stocking programs.
Today they are commercially farmed in large ocean pens, a rapidly
growing industry in Atlantic Canada. |
| American Shad
(Alosa sapidissima) |
Physical
Characteristics
The American shad, like the alewife (gasperau), is a member
of the herring family and has the following characteristics:
-Slender and silvery-coloured with a blue-green metallic hue
on the back
-Has a black spot, similar to the alewife, located on the side,
just behind the head - on the shad, this spot is followed by
several smaller dark spots
-The eye has an obvious eyelid |
|
-A row of scales known as scutes form
a sharp "sawbelly" edge along the midline of the belly
-There is no lateral line
American shad can grow to 76 cm (30 in) and weigh 6.8 kg (15
lb). However, adults found in Canadian rivers are usually 45
to 50 cm (18-20 in) long and weigh from 1.4 to 2.7 kg (3-6 lb).
Distribution
American shad are anadromous (moving from the sea to freshwater)
fish found along the Atlantic coast of North America from Newfoundland
to Florida. Large spawning runs used to occur in the Shubenacadie
and Annapolis rivers (also Saint John, Petitcodiac and Miramichi)
but they are found in many Maritime coastal rivers. They have
been introduced along the Pacific coast and now range from Alaska
to California. |
Facts on Fishing
American shad were much more abundant in the past. During the
1800's a thriving fishery for shad existed along the Atlantic
coast supporting an annual catch as high as 23,000 tons (50
million pounds). Today small commercial fisheries exist but
numbers have greatly declined due to over-fishing and changes
in our rivers. Dams often block access to vast areas of spawning
habitat. Even where fishways provide access, many young shad
may not survive the downstream migration.
Shad are fished commercially in rivers during the spawning runs.
The eggs (roe) are most desirable so large numbers of mature
females are taken. The flesh is sold fresh and salted. Shad
are angled and considered a fine game fish. |
Natural
History
The American shad lives for several years at sea before returning to spawn in the stream where it hatched. Shad avoid cold temperatures and prefer to stay in water 8 C or warmer. Water temperature and currents determine much of their migration and behaviour.
Each spring, schools of shad, using their sense of smell, begin to migrate up coastal rivers and tributaries when water temperatures reach 12 C.
Spawning in the Maritimes occurs during June and July in water temperatures of 13-20 C. Migration stops in temperatures over
20 C. American shad do not usually travel as far upstream as the alewife. They spawn in rivers at night in mid-water in streams with a wide range of bottom types. The eggs are about 3 mm across and drift along with the current to hatch in 8-12 days depending on the temperature.
A female can produce anywhere from 60,000-600,000 eggs but shad in Canadian rivers usually produce about 130,000 eggs. Many shad in the Maritimes are repeat spawners, however shad in southern populations die after spawning.
Young shad spend their first summer in the river feeding on insects and crustaceans. They swim near the bottom in water as deep as 3.7 to 4.9 m (12-16 ft) but at night they are found near the surface. When they migrate to sea in the fall, they have grown to a size of 7.5 to 12.5 cm (3-5 in). They migrate to the sea as temperatures in the river drop.
At sea, shad live in schools and move according to the bottom temperatures, seeking areas that are 7-13 C. They stay near the bottom during the day, dispersing at night to all depths. Immature and spawned-out adults remain offshore in areas like the Bay of Fundy until winter, when they move farther out to sea in order to stay in preferred water temperatures. At sea they eat zooplankton (tiny invertebrates that live in the water), small bottom crustaceans, and occasionally small fish. Most shad mature at age 4 or 5 when they are about 48-53 cm (19-21 in) long. Shad can live up to 13 years.
Although not a major food source for other animals, shad are
eaten at sea by seals, sharks, blue-fin tuna, kingfish, and
porpoises. Young shad in freshwater are eaten by bass, American
eels, and birds.
|
| Rainbow smelt
(Osmerus mordax) |
Other common names are Atlantic
rainbow smelt, smelt, American smelt, freshwater smelt, Atlantic
smelt, leefish, and frost fish. This fish is one of two members
of the smelt family found in Atlantic Canada. The other member
found here is capelin.
Physical Characteristics
The rainbow smelt is a small slender fish that grows to about
25 cm (10 in). It has the following characteristics:
-Olive-green on the back, becoming lighter on the sides |
|
-Sides have a purple, pink and blue iridescence especially when
freshly caught
-The belly is silvery
-Relatively large mouth with fang-like teeth and a protruding
lower jaw
-The caudal (or tail) fin is deeply forked
-An adipose fin (small fin in front of the caudal fin on the
top) is present |
Facts about Smelt
Freshly caught smelt smell very much like cucumber! No doubt
this feature is responsible for the common name "smelt". This
odour disappears after preservation or freezing.
Males smelt are more abundant on the spawning grounds than
females. This is probably because they can spawn up to 8 consecutive
nights but females may spawn only 3 or 4 nights. |
-The lateral line is incomplete
-Spawning males are covered on the head, body and fins with
tiny bumps (nuptial tubercles)
-Smelt in freshwater are darker becoming almost black on the
back
Distribution
The rainbow smelt is found in rivers and coastal areas of eastern
North America from Labrador to New Jersey and on the west coast
from Vancouver Island around Alaska to the Arctic Ocean. Landlocked
populations also occur in lakes and ponds throughout the Atlantic
region. They have been introduced in the Great Lakes and have
increased their range to other Ontario drainages through unauthorized
introductions.
Natural
History
The rainbow smelt is a schooling fish, which grows and matures
in shallow coastal waters and migrates up freshwater streams
to spawn (anadromous). Smelt move into estuaries in the fall
and begin to move up the streams after the spring thaw. |
| Spawning occurs from February-June usually
at water temperatures from 4-10 C). Smelt do not necessarily
return to the stream of their birth to spawn, especially if
there are other nearby streams. Smelt in landlocked lakes swim
up tributary streams or in some cases spawn along the shoreline.
Spawning occurs at night in fast moving water. Several males
spawn with one female. The fertilized eggs become sticky and
attach to the bottom, sometimes forming a thick layer. One female
can produce as many as 93,000 eggs. After spawning the adults
return to the estuary during the day but may return upstream
to spawn again on subsequent nights. Some fish die after spawning.
The rest leave freshwater after spawning to spend the summer
in coastal waters. |
Fishing Facts
Smelt are fished commercially and for sport.
Winter fishing for smelt is a popular sport. Anglers take them
on lines through the ice, using worms as bait. In spring, anglers
dipnet or seine them in the spawning tributaries.
Commercial fisherman catch them in box nets, bag nets, gillnets
or by trawling.
The largest Maritime fishery occurs in the Miramichi estuary.
Smelt are sold fresh or frozen and are very tasty. |
Smelt eggs are about 1mm
in diameter and take anywhere from 11-29 days to hatch, depending
on the temperature. Smelt fry are 5 to 6 mm long when they hatch
and drift downstream to brackish water. They use water depth
for cover and feed near the surface at night. Young smelt feed
on plankton (tiny organisms suspended in the water), and may
grow to 5 cm (2in) by August.
Older fish eat larger invertebrates and other fish. Smelt grow most rapidly in their first year and can tolerate increasing amounts of saltwater, as they get older. They prefer temperatures of 6-14 C and stay close to shore, seeking cover in eelgrass beds or below the water.
Smelts in the Miramichi average 13.9 cm (5.3 in) at age 2, and 20.6 cm (8.1 in) by age 5, southern populations grow faster. Smelt in small landlocked lakes may only reach a length of 10.2 cm (4 in). Smelt usually mature at age 2 in the Maritimes and can live to age 17. Females live longer and grow larger than males.
Smelt are eaten by bluefish, striped bass, salmonids as well
as birds, and harbour seals.
|
| White Sucker
(Catostomus commersoni) |
This fish, the only member
of the sucker family found in Nova Scotia, is also called the
common sucker, common white sucker, eastern sucker, sucker,
black sucker, mud sucker, mookie and muckie.
Physical Characteristics
The white sucker has the following characteristics:
-A torpedo-shaped fish distinguished by its sucker-like mouth
located on the underside of its blunt, rounded snout
-Its mouth has thick lips covered with little fleshy bumps (papillae)
|
|
-Its colour varies from grey to coppery
brown to almost black on the back and upper sides, becoming
lighter on the lower sides to white on the belly
-During spawning, the darkness on the back intensifies and the
body becomes more golden in colour
-Spawning males develop coarse bumps (nuptial tubercles)on the
anal fin and lower tail (caudal) fin
-It has relatively large scales, one dorsal fin, no adipose
fin and the lateral line is complete
|
Fishing Facts
The flesh of the white sucker is bony but can be very tasty,
particularly when hot-smoked.
Young suckers are sold as bait but there is little other commercial
interest in the species. Suckers should not be used as bait
in lakes that do not already contain suckers.
White suckers are not a popular sport fish but they can be caught
on wet flies, small spinners and small hooks baited with dough
balls or worms. |
-Young white suckers from
5 to 15 cm (2-6 in) in length usually have three large dark
spots on the sides
They can grow to 63 cm (25 in) and more than 3.2 kg (7 lb) but
reach about 46 cm (18 in) in Nova Scotia.
Distribution
The white sucker is a North American species found in freshwater
lakes and streams from Labrador south to Georgia, west to Colorado
and north through Alberta and British Columbia to the Mackenzie
River delta. In Canada, it is absent from Newfoundland, eastern
Labrador, Prince Edward Island, south-western British Columbia
and much of the far north.
Natural History
The white sucker can adapt to a wide range of environmental
conditions but generally lives in the warm, shallow waters of
lakes and quiet rivers. They prefer summer temperatures of 24
C. In streams they are most abundant in pool areas with ample
underwater debris, streamside vegetation, and water depth to
provide cover. |
In lakes they are usually found in the
upper 6.2-9.2 m (20-30 ft) of water, moving to shallows to feed.
They are bottom feeders that browse the bottom, sucking in aquatic
insects, small clams, and snails, and then spitting out the
inedible sand and gravel. They feed mostly at dawn and dusk,
and are active year round.
White suckers spawn in the spring (May and June), migrating
upstream to spawning areas (small streams and tributaries) when
water temperatures are 10-18 C. |
Facts about Suckers
Spawning migrations of white suckers can be numerous and very
dense - 500 have been known to swim upstream past a single point
in 5 minutes.
Although examining the growth rings on their scales ages most
fish, this method is not always reliable for suckers older than
5 years. They are best aged using sections of their pectoral
fin rays. |
Suckers typically spawn in
shallow gravel riffles where the water is up to 30 cm (1 ft)
deep and where the speed is moderate. Lake populations of white
suckers with limited access to streams will occasionally spawn
on gravel shoals where there are waves. Although some spawning
occurs in daytime, most takes place at sunrise and sunset. One
female spawns with several males. Females usually produce 20,000-50,000
eggs, but can produce up to 139,000 eggs. Suckers do not build
a nest, but scatter their eggs, which stick to the bottom, or
drift downstream and attach elsewhere.
The eggs hatch in 8 to 11 days, depending on the temperature
(10-15 C). The young remain in the gravel for 1or 2 weeks and then migrate downstream at a size of 12 to 17 mm. Sometimes only 3% of white sucker eggs survive to this stage. Young suckers in lakes are found along shorelines with sand or gravel bottoms. In streams they prefer sand and gravel shallow areas with moderate currents.
At first white suckers do not feed on the bottom. Their mouth is at the end of their snout, and they feed near the surface of the water on plankton (tiny organisms suspended in the water). When they grow to about 16-18 mm (0.6-0.7 in), their mouths shift to the underside of the head and they begin taking food from the bottom. White suckers grow most rapidly during their first year and can reach a length of 17.9 cm (7 in) by age 1. Growth rates vary considerably in different areas, but in all populations females grow more rapidly than males, reach larger sizes, and live longer. They usually mature at ages 5 to 8, and males mature a year earlier than females. Suckers can live up to 17 years.
Although there is evidence that suggests that the white sucker
can compete for food with other sport fish, they can be a major
food item in the diet of other fish such as Atlantic salmon,
brook trout, pike and bass. Birds and mammals also eat them.
|
| Brook trout
(Salvelinus fontinalis) |
This salmonid is also called speckled trout, brook charr, brookie,
lake trout, square tail, sea-trout, Eastern brook trout, native
trout, coaster, and breac.
Physical Characteristics
The
brook trout is a handsome fish. Like salmon, their colour varies
depending on the water they are in and their sexual activity.
Here are some of the common characteristics:
|
|
Adult in freshwater:
Green
to dark brown and black on the back and sides. Light-coloured
wavy lines on upper back, dorsal fin and upper part of the caudal
(tail) fin. Red spots surrounded by blue halos and many light
spots are usually present on the sides. The belly is lighter,
white to yellow in females, or reddish in males. The leading
edges of the lower fins have a bright white border followed
by a black border and reddish coloration. |
Facts on Brook Trout
Larger brook trout that live in northern waters sometimes eat
small mammals such as mice, shrews and voles.
A 61 cm (24 in.) sea-run trout that weighed 3.4 kg (7.5 lb)
was caught in Halifax County Nova Scotia in 1871.
It can be seen today in the Nova Scotia Museum. |
During spawning:
colours intensify and males can become a deep orange-red on
the belly.
Adult in saltwater:
silvery on the sides and dark blue or green on the back. Pale
red spots may be visible on the sides as well as the white leading
edge on the fins. When returning from the sea these trout regain
their freshwater colours.
Young brook trout or parr:
8 to 10 dark vertical bars (called parr marks) on the sides.
The largest "brookie" on record was taken in Ontario in 1915
weighing 14.5 lb (6.6 kg) and 34 in (86 cm) long. Brookies in
Nova Scotia typically range from 15-35 cm (6-14 in) long.
Distribution
The brook trout is native to
eastern North America from the Atlantic seaboard to Massachusetts,
south along the Appalachian Mountains, west to Minnesota and
north to Hudson Bay. It is found in a range of waters from tiny
ponds to large rivers, lakes, and salt-water estuaries. Its
popularity as a sport fish has resulted in brook trout introductions
throughout the world. Widely distributed throughout the Maritimes,
brook trout are our most sought-after freshwater fish.
Natural History |
Brook trout prefer cool clear waters
of 10 to 18 C with a lot of cover. Usually they live in spring-fed
streams with many pools and riffles where they can use undercut
banks, submerged objects such as large rocks and stumps, deep
pools, and shelter from overhanging vegetation as hiding places.
Brook trout are meat-eaters (carnivorous). They eat mostly
water and land insects but will take anything they can swallow.
Larger trout will eat leeches, small fish, mollusks, frogs,
and salamanders.
Brook trout in Nova Scotia spawn in
October and November in shallow, gravelly areas of streams
where there is a clean bottom and good water flows. Spring-fed
headwaters are ideal but they'll also spawn in the gravel-bottomed
areas of lakes where spring waters occur. The female digs
a nest (redd) 10-15 cm (4-6 in) deep in the gravel with her
body. After the eggs have been laid and fertilized, they are
covered and left to develop slowly over the winter. |
Fishing facts
The brook trout is the most popular sport
fish in the Atlantic Provinces. It is taken with spinning
tackle, live bait or flies. Unfortunately many natural populations
of brook trout in Nova Scotia have declined. They are vulnerable
to over fishing and human practices that affect their habitat.
For example, siltation can smother developing eggs, dams can
block access to spawning areas, or the loss of trees along
a stream bank can reduce shade and cause summer water temperatures
to get too high.
Brook trout have been reared in hatcheries
for over a hundred years. Hatchery trout are widely stocked
in natural waters to supplement "wild" populations or to introduce
the brook trout to new areas. Sometimes trout are stocked
in small ponds or lakes near urban areas to provide "put and
take" sport fisheries. |
A 25 cm (10 in) female trout
can produce about 500 three to five mm eggs. Water flowing through
the redds keeps the eggs clean and oxygenated. Hatching occurs
in the spring and the larvae (alvins) remain still and undisturbed
in the gravel while they absorb the large yolk-sac.
Young trout (fry) emerge from the gravel at a length of 2.5-3.5
cm and begin feeding on aquatic insects. They prefer shallow
areas where the temperatures are 11-15 C and where rubble (rocks
of 10-40 cm (4-16 in)) on the stream bottom provides cover.
At the end of their first year, brook trout in Nova Scotia are
5-10 cm (2-4 in) long. Their growth depends very much on local
conditions.
Brook trout living in larger
rivers and lakes would probably be 25 or 30 cm (10-12 in) at
age 3, but those in small streams might only reach a length
of 15 cm (6 in). Trout usually mature at three years old and
rarely live past age 5.
Some populations of brook trout migrate to sea for short periods.
They move downstream in the spring or early summer and remain
in estuarine areas where there's lots of food. After about 2
months they return to freshwater. Brook trout probably migrate
to sea in response to crowded conditions, low food supplies,
or unfavourable temperatures in their home waters. Some over-winter
in estuaries, and there are shore movements along our coast.
Not all fish in a population migrate nor do they necessarily
go every year. Sea-run brook trout live longer and grow larger
than strictly freshwater trout. Brook trout predators include
mergansers, herons, kingfishers, mink, owls, osprey, otter,
perch, eels, and other trout.
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| Brown Trout
(Salmo trutta) |
The brown trout is also a
salmonid and is known as German brown trout, German trout, Lochleven
trout, European brown trout, or brownie.
Physical
Characteristics
Brownies" get their name from the brown or golden brown on their
backs. Here are some of their other characteristics:
-their sides are silvery and bellies are white or yellowish
-dark spots, sometimes encircled by a pale halo, are plentiful
on the back and sides
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-spotting also can be found
on the head and the fins along the back
-rusty-red spots also occur on the sides
-the small top fin in front of the tail has a reddish hue
-sea-run brown trout have a more silvery coloration and the
spotting is less visible.
They closely resemble Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout but
the salmon has no red coloration on the adipose fin and the
rainbow trout has distinct lines of black spots on the tail.
Young brown trout (parr) have 9-14 dark narrow parr marks along
the sides and some red spotting along the lateral line. |
Facts on Brown Trout
Apart from moving upstream to spawn, adults tend to stay at
the same station in a river with very little movement to other
areas of the stream areas. They can be found at these stations
day after day, even year after year!
The closest relative of the brown trout is the Atlantic Salmon
(Salmo salar). The brown trout's name (Salmo trutta) means salmon
trout.
The largest brown trout ever taken was hooked recently in Arkansas,
U.S weighing just over 40 pounds. |
Brown trout can grow
to be quite large, especially sea-run fish. Brown trout weighing
up to 31 kg (68 lb) have been recorded in Europe and a specimen
weighing 13 kg (28.5 lb) was caught in Newfoundland. Typically
they range from 2.3 to 3.2 kg (5-7 lb) but reach 5.9 kg (13
lb) in Guysborough Harbour.
Distribution
Brown
trout naturally occur throughout Europe and western Asia. They
range from Finland south to North Africa, west to Iceland and
as far east as Afghanistan. Introduced throughout the world,
they were first placed in Canadian waters in 1890. Today they
are well established in rivers, lakes and coastal areas in much
of North America and are found in all Canadian provinces except
Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, and the Northwest Territories.
Sea-run populations occur in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.
Brown trout are well established in several Nova Scotia watersheds.
They are no longer being stocked in areas that they inhabit.
Nova Scotia brown trout come from German and Lochleven (Scotland)
ancestral stocks.
Natural History |
Brown trout prefer cool
clear rivers and lakes with temperatures of 12-19 C. They are
wary and elusive fish that look for cover more than any other
salmonid. In running waters they hide in undercut banks, instream
debris, surface turbulence, rocks, deep pools and shelter from
overhanging vegetation. Brown trout are meat-eaters (carnivorous).
They eat insects from water and land, and take larger prey such
as worms, crustaceans, mollusks, fish, salamanders, and frogs
as their size increases.
Brown trout spawn in the fall and early winter (October to February)
at the same time or later than brook trout. They return to the
stream where they were born, choosing spawning sites that are
spring-fed headwaters, the head of a riffle or the tail of a
pool. Selected sites have good water flows through the gravel
bottom. |
Fishing Facts
Brown trout prefer very similar habitats to our native brook
trout except that they can tolerate slightly higher temperatures.
They often use the lower reaches of rivers and streams where
it is unsuitable for brook trout.
Biologists thought the brown trout out-competed and displaced
the native brook trout and stocking programs were discontinued.
Brown trout do live longer and grow larger than brook trout.
They have become quite popular with anglers and are caught in
estuaries with lures and streamer-type flies. There is no commercial
fishery. |
The female uses her body
to excavate a nest (redd) in the gravel. She and the male may
spawn there several times. A 2.3 kg (5 lb) female produces about
3400 golden coloured eggs that are 4-5 mm in diameter. Females
cover their eggs with gravel after spawning and the adults return
downstream. The eggs develop slowly over the winter, hatching
in the spring. A good flow of clean well-oxygenated water is
necessary for successful egg development.
After hatching the young fish (alvins) remain buried in the gravel and take nourishment from their large yolk-sacs. By the time the yolk-sac is absorbed, water temperatures have warmed to 7-12 C. The fish (now known as fry) emerge from the gravel and begin taking natural food.
Brown trout fry are aggressive and establish territories soon after they emerge. They are found in quiet pools or shallow, slow flowing waters where older trout are absent. They grow rapidly and can reach a size of 165 mm (6.5 in) in their first year.
Yearling brown trout move into cobble and riffle areas. Adults are found in still deeper waters and are most active at night. They are difficult to catch and are best fished at dusk. Brown trout living in streams grow to about 1.8 kg (4 lb) but lake residents and sea-run fish grow larger. Most mature in their third to fifth year and many are repeat spawners.
In sea-run populations, brown trout spend 2-3 years in freshwater
then migrate downstream to spend 1 or 2 growing seasons in coastal
waters near the river mouth. There they feed on small fishes
and crustaceans. Most return to their home streams to spawn
but some straying occurs. Brown trout live up to 14 years and
can spend as long as 9 years in the sea.
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| Rainbow Trout
(Oncorhynchus mykiss) |
This member
of the salmonid family is also called Steelhead, Kamloops trout,
steelhead trout, silver trout, or coast rainbow trout.
Physical
Characteristics
Like most other members of the salmonid
family, the appearance of rainbow trout varies.
Adults in freshwater: colour varies from metallic blue to green
or yellow-green to brown on the back becoming silvery on the
sides and light on the belly. Many small black spots cover the
head, back, sides and fins, and spots on the tail are in obvious
rows. |
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The adipose fin (small fin
in front of the tail on the back) has a black border. Mature
fish have a distinctive rosy stripe along the side that extends
from the gill cover to the caudal fin.
Adults in saltwater: sea-run rainbow trout (steelheads) are
more silvery in colour, may lack the rosy stripe, and show less
spotting on the sides.
Young rainbow trout (parr): have 5-13 well-spaced dark parr
marks on the sides and show less spotting on the body than adults.
|
Facts on Rainbow
Trout
The largest rainbow trout was caught in Alaska in 1970 and weighed
19.10 kg (42 lb).
The rainbow trout is commonly used as a laboratory animal for
water quality testing. |
Rainbow trout may look very
similar to Atlantic salmon and brown trout, but can be distinguished
by the regular rows of spots on the tail, the lack of any coloured
spots and the absence of red in the adipose fin.
Rainbow trout can grow as big as 25.8 kg (57 lb) but in Nova
Scotia usually grow up to 2.7 kg (6 lb).
Distribution
Rainbow trout are actually native to the eastern Pacific Ocean
and fresh waters of western North America. They naturally ranged
from Mexico to Alaska and inland to the Rockies. However, they
have been widely introduced throughout the world, and now occur
across central North America to the eastern coast. Rainbow trout
were first introduced to Atlantic Canada in the late 1800's.
Today they are stocked in rivers and lakes throughout Nova Scotia
and are known to reproduce in the Bras d'Or Lake watershed.
Natural History
Different populations of rainbow trout may have very different
life history patterns. Rainbow trout may live in lakes or ponds,
they may be stream dwellers or they may spend part of their
lives at sea before returning to freshwater (anadromous) to
reproduce.
They prefer water temperatures of 12-18 C and do well in clear,
cool, deep lakes or cool, clear, moderately-flowing streams
with abundant cover and deep pools. They spawn in the spring
(usually from March to May in Atlantic Canada) in small tributaries
of rivers, or in inlets or outlets of lakes. Rainbow trout usually
home to the streams where they hatched. |
Spawning occurs in shallow riffles with
gravel bottoms. The female uses her body to dig a nest (redd)
in the gravel. One or two males will spawn with her in the nest,
after which she buries the fertilized eggs. She repeats this
process until all her eggs are used. Most female rainbow trout
produce about 1,000-4,000 eggs. The eggs are 3-5 mm in diameter
and hatch in 4-7 weeks depending on the temperature. In another
3-7 days the young absorb the yolk sac and emerge from the gravel.
The young of lake-dwelling fish may move into the lake by the
end of their first summer. Some stay in a tributary up to 3
years before entering the lake. Young rainbow trout seek cover
and prefer slow- moving shallow stream areas where rubble, rocks,
instream debris and undercut banks provide shelter. Older trout
move into faster and deeper stream waters. Rainbow trout that
migrate to sea (steelheads) spend from 1-4 years in freshwater
before they transform into smolts to prepare for life in salt
water. Rainbow trout smolts lose their parr markings and become
silvery. They migrate to sea in spring and remain there for
a few months to several years before they return to fresh water.
|
Fishing Facts
A popular sport fish, rainbow trout are fished with wet and
dry flies, lures or natural bait.
The flesh is tasty and may be prepared many ways.
Rainbow trout have been reared in hatcheries for decades to
support stocking programs. They are also reared commercially
in ponds for food and for sport, and more recently in salt water
pens. |
Rainbow trout take a wide
variety of foods, but in freshwater they eat mainly insects,
crustaceans, snails, leeches, and other fish if available. At
sea they eat mainly fish, crustaceans, and squid. Rainbow trout
growth varies widely depending on their habitat, diet and life
history pattern. Generally fish that go to sea or live in large
productive lakes, grow largest and live longer. Rainbow trout
usually mature at ages 3 to 5 at sizes that range from 15-40
cm (6-16 in) long. Many will spawn repeatedly. Rainbow trout
can live to 11 years.
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