This study examined the movement, habitat utilization, growth, and survival of hatchery incubated chinook salmon (<i>Oncorhynchus tshavvytscha</i>) fry stocked above a barrier falls on the Indian River, Chichagof Island, southeast Alaska. The Indian River contained significant potential salmonid rearing habitat, but was devoid of anadromous fish upstream of the barrier falls near tidewater. Approximately 50,000 and 260,000 chinook fry were stocked into Indian River in 1986 and 1988, respectively. The stream was divided into reaches which were stocked with equal numbers of fry. In 1988, fry also were stocked into beaver ponds connected to the stream. Each group of fry contained coded-wire tagged individuals, identified by stocking location. Fry movement was almost entirely downstream, with a substantial emigration during a spring flood immediately after the 1988 stocking. Most emigrating fry had been stocked in the lower stream section. / Master of Science

Electrofishing is a sampling tool commonly used by fisheries researchers. While much is known about the effects of electroshock on fish physiology, consequences to the immune system and disease progression have not received attention. To understand the effects of electroshock on immune function we undertook a comparison of electroshock and handling stress in regards to selected immune functions and disease progression in juvenile spring chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). The handling stress treatment was included to insure the responsiveness of the fish. Our objectives were to determine the effects of electroshock on immune function, determine the mechanism of any observed alteration, and to determine the effects of electroshock on disease progression. Skin mucous lysozyme concentrations were not affected by exposure to electroshock. Respiratory burst activity may be enhanced in leukocytes immediately after an in vitro electroshock. Any effect in vivo, however, appears to be brief given the lack of differences observed 3 h after exposure. The specific immune response, measured as the ability of anterior kidney leukocytes to generate antibody producing cells (APC), was suppressed 3 h after electroshock, but recovered within 24 h. This response was similar in timing and magnitude to that of fish subjected to an acute handling stress. The mechanism of suppression is hypothesized to be via elevation of plasma cortisol concentrations. The ability to generate APC may be suppressed 7 d after electroshock, but it is not evident what mechanism is responsible for this suppression. There was some evidence that the progression of a Renibacterium salmoninarum (RS) infection was altered after exposure to an electroshock. Exposure to electroshock did not have a clear affect on the severity of infection or the number of mortalities, but may have accelerated the time to death in infected fish that died. The limited duration of specific immune suppression and lack of effect on mortality in RS infected fish lead us to conclude that electrofishing under the conditions we tested is a safe procedure in regards to immunity and disease. / Graduation date: 2000

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 158-169).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2002. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Canterbury, 2008. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (p. 116-124). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1998. / Includes bibliographic references (leaves [97]-124).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Canterbury, 2008. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (p. 123-146). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2009. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-111).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 1996. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-138). Also available on the World Wide Web.