Camden Middle School Fish Stocking 


Children line up along the creek

On June 4, 2014 students from the Camden Middle School located in Camden, NY got the opportunity to help stock Atlantic salmon and brook trout in the Mad River, a tributary to the West Branch of Fish Creek.  As part of TU's (Trout Unlimited) program of Trout in the Class Room, two hatching tanks were set up in the school.  One was provided by the Mohawk Valley Chapter of TU and the other was provided by the Fish Creek Atlantic Salmon Club.  The brook trout eggs were provided by TU and  salmon eggs were provided by the Atlantic salmon club.  The students were brought down to the stream in groups of 20 or so.  One group of children got to see a fisherman catch a brown trout to the right in the photo above.

Camden Middle School
Camden Middle School
The Science Laboratory
The Science Laboratory
Paul Miller to the right is packaging the fish for transport to the stream.  Ice is first placed in the bottom of the pail.  Then some newspaper is placed on the ice.  A heavy plastic bag is then placed into the pail and water is added.  After the fish has been put in the bag, the air is squeezed out of the bag.  A tube is then placed in the bag and oxygen is added, inflating the bag.  The bag is then sealed with a strong rubber band and the pail with the fish is ready for transport to the stream.
Brook Trout
One of the brook trout raised by the Camden Middle School.  The dark spots on the side of the brookie are parr marks and help to camouflage the fish when it is in the stream.  The brook trout were larger than the Atlantic salmon because they were older.
Special boys
Special boys
The club got a lot of help from the two boys on the right.  They carried the fish out of the school and helped with getting everything ready for stocking the fish. The water in the pails had to be termpered with the water from the stream so not to shock the fish when they were placed in the stream.  The boy on the left had an injured leg but he got to stock fish as well.
Passing out the fish
Each student was given a plastic cup with water.  Mike Mercodie is shown here putting fish into each child's cup.
children lined up on the stream
Students were then asked to line up on the bank of the stream before placing their fish into the stream.  About 120 children from the school participated in the exercise.

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