This smolt trap is used to count outwardly migrating salmonid species, such as ocean-run coastal cutthroat trout, steelhead, Coho or Silver salmon, Chum and King salmon. Pictured in this photo are an Evergreen College/Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group intern that is majoring in Fisheries Biology and myself.
Here we have Chris Taylor, President of Trout Unlimited, Kitsap/Bainbridge Island Chapter 383 and the intern doing DNA testing on some of the outwardly migrating fish and cataloging DNA samples to monitor genetic stock and hybridization. We've seen hybridization between ocean-run cutthroat and steelhead stock as indicated by physical genetic identification and examination.
These fish are tranquilized and ready for DNA sampling. A few scales are scraped off each fish and a very small cutting off the tip of one of the fins is taken. Then the fish are weighed and released, healthy, back into the river system. The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group is dedicated to ethical and ecological restoration, study and monitoring of Hood Canal fresh water tributaries as well as Hood Canal estuaries and wetlands.
The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group is seeking volunteers for many of its projects. If you would like to help out, please contact them at 360-275-3575. They are located in Belfair.
