Movements of Cutthroat Trout after Different Periods of Retention Upstream and Downstream from their Homes

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Abstract
A homing experiment of cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki) was carried out in Gorge Creek, a small trout stream more or less typical of the streams of the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta. A half-mile portion of the stream was screened off and, into the enclosure thus formed, 105 trout were transferred from above and 104 from below. Each of these was given a numbered tag and the home locality was recorded. The transfers were made from June 24 to August 13. On August 15 the screens were removed; from September 3 to 5 most of the experimental area was poisoned with Fish Tox and the localities of tagged fish recorded. It was found that most of the trout that had been confined for 30 or more days remained in the enclosure area, i.e., they had adjusted to new homes. The exceptions appear to be the result of random movements. Trout of upstream origin, confined for less than 30 days, move toward their original home territory. Trout of downstream origin, confined for less than 30 days, show very much less ability to move toward or to find their homes. The hypothesis is put forward that trout are guided by smell in finding home.A few observations on size of home territory suggest that it is small, perhaps not more than 20 yards of stream. Trout may inhabit the same area of stream for at least three years.

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