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      PREHISTORIC FISH II 
Scott Morrison DNR Fish Biologist "At one time paddlefish were common in West Virginia, but its thought that the polluted water and the construction of the locks and dams eliminated the population. In the late 50s and early 60s, it was extremely rare to see a paddlefish." For ten years the DNR has been aggressively working to restore this great fish. This is where it all starts, the Palestine Fish Hatchery. Scott Morrison "One hundred percent of the paddlefish program is run out of Palestine. The natural water we get out of the Little Kanawha River is more suitable for paddlefish." Producing fish begins by herding them with giant nets. These adults are filled with sperm and eggs and a hormone is injected to begin ovulation. The sperm is taken from the males and eggs from the female.
DNR Hatchery Technician "The eggs will just come pouring out." Each female will produce about 100,000 eggs. The sperm and eggs are mixed and taken to the hatchery jar where they will hatch in about five days. Rodney Knoll "When they hatch they will swim out of the jar, just the force of the water will carry them out to the trough. All the fish will be in the troughs just like this. The oldest fish in here right now are only 24 hours old."
The hatchery process is not perfect and out of the 300,000 fish, around 5,000 will hit our rivers, but that is variable. Rodney Knoll "You've got all the elements against you. Everything feeds on them from birds, snakes to craw dads, you name it. The weather can ruin you." It's the year in year out stockings that are paying off. Scott Morrison "Survival of those fish is pretty good. There is not much in the river that would prey on paddlefish." Each fish is tagged. A cooperative effort with other DNRs tracks and measures success.
Scott Morrison "I'm confident this will be a successful program and in probably ten years we won't need to stock anymore. We're hoping to reestablish this fish, so we can once again open the season." The DNR stocks paddlefish in the Ohio, Kanawha, Little Kanawha and Monongahela rivers. And yes, they are probably swimming right under the Capitol. Links to learn more Sport Fish Of West Virginia USGS FAQ about Paddlefish W.Va. DNR Special Fishing Rule Get your hunting or fishing license online: W.Va. Hunt WCHS-TV8 Online brings you the current Fishing Conditions Report updated every week. |
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GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA'S WILDLIFE  
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