Overwinter Survival of Fingerling Brook Trout with Single and Multile Fin Clips

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Abstract
In an evaluation of overwinter survival of fin‐clipped and unmarked brook trout in a reclaimed pond in Maine, 10,000 fall fingerlings were divided into 20 treatment groups, 19 of which were marked by the removal of either single or multiple fins. Analysis of returns from creel and trap‐net sampling indicated that: (1) survival of unmarked, unanesthetized trout was significantly higher than that of marked, anesthetized fish; (2) survival of trout with multiple fin excisions was lower than that of fish with single fin excisions; (3) removal of the adipose fin had little or no effect on survival; and (4) removal of a pectoral fin was no more detrimental than the removal of a ventral fin. Spring recaptures indicated that fish of all groups were equally vulnerable to both sampling methods. Overwinter survival was low for all groups.