Date of Award

5-17-1992

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

I exposed 240 northern pike Esox lucius to four levels of pulsed direct current (PDC). Incidence of spinal injury for 30 Hz was 5.0% at 100 V and 10.0% at 400 V; and for 60 Hz was 8.3% at 100 V and 11.7% at 400 V. Injury rates were not significantly different among treatments (P=0, 58) . I also electroshocked 140 fish with 120-Hz PDC at 300-600 V; spinal injury increased to 29% (P<0.01). These fish were held for 1 month in ponds to compare survival with 70 unshocked fish; survival was 91-92% for both groups (P=0.57). During field trials I captured about three northern pike with 60-Hz PDC for every one caught with DC and 30-Hz PDC (P=0.08). Conventional electrofishing (i.e., 60-Hz PDC at 100-400 V) did not cause significant injury in adult northern pike but did capture them efficiently. PDC at frequencies above 60 Hz should be avoided.

Handle

http://hdl.handle.net/11122/14803

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