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A Review of Sodium Cyanide for Use in Sampling Stream Fishes
Author(s) -
Wiley Robert W.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1984)4<249:aroscf>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - cyanide , sampling (signal processing) , sodium cyanide , fishery , environmental science , chemistry , biology , computer science , inorganic chemistry , telecommunications , detector
Sodium cyanide was used to sample several streams in Wyoming and Utah representing a range of water quality conditions: alkalinity, 12‐1,540 ppm; pH, 7.3‐8.4; water temperature, 45‐70 F, and flows of 2‐300 cfs. The material was used to collect fish (through anesthesia) for length‐weight analysis, stock estimates, and to remove fish completely from study sections. Sodium cyanide (NaCN) was effective in sampling streams which had proven difficult to sample by more conventional electrofishing techniques. Laboratory tests using cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki) showed that all test fish recovered from exposure to 1 ppm CN for 10, 15, and 20 minutes. During 6 months of observation, they continued to eat and gain weight as would be expected for unexposed fish of the same species and age.