TROUT UPDATE 3

Subj: fishsticks
Date: 11/13/98
To: EZHIFI, jstoliar, apstoliar, Reefdoctor@webtv.com
Trout Update #3

On the weekend of November 7th some friends and I were camping up in Roscoe, NY (a.k.a. Trout Town, USA) it was fun but cold and I was there on both business and pleasure.

I had the fortunate opportunity to meet up on the river with some true conservationists and armed with my "License to Collect" from the NYS Fish & Wildlife Agency, via T.G.F., I was able to go invertebrate hunting.

Mike Ellmauer and his son gave up some of their Saturday-Chores time to meet and act as guides. Also in attendance was Dr. Dickson Despommier (who landed a stunning 13" adult brown trout in its full mating plumage) and a fellow Science Teacher and future angler, Charles Simic (who was a huge help since my knee was less than functional). We were out for mayflies and caddisfly nymphs (the less predacious of the lot) and collected some decomposing leaves and branches to increase the bio-diversity in the Trout Stream System back at IS 318

All of the specimens collected were housed for transport in a large cooler with fresh steam water bubbled by a battery-operated air pump.

When students returned on Monday they were given the job of sorting through the samples. Although we intended on only bringing back certain species, when collecting leaves many critters hitch a ride.

In the end we placed nymphs of 47 Caddis flies, 33 May flies, 1 Midge, 1 Hellgrammite, a aquatic sowbug and a water boatmen into the Trout Tank. Flora included 84 maple leaves, 10 willow and a long branch which is now rising out of the water from the bottom of the tank. Leaves too difficult to identify were left out.

The fry are becoming very active and we have only lost 2 since our last update. It is difficult to tell if they are taking food but we anticipate that we will begin regular feedings on Monday.

Hope all is well in your streams.

ra, IS 318