Atlantic salmon fish scale, #8197 4658, June 2009
Atlantic salmon fish scale
The purpose of scale reading is to interpret the age of an Atlantic salmon and sea trout from features on its scales including determination of river-age and sea-age. The examination of an adult salmon scale reveals two distinct parts. This can be defined as river and sea life and reveals different types of bands from winter, summer, homeward migration and spawning marks.
This drawing tells us that this salmon was 51cm long and was two years before it spent one winter at sea and returned to the river. This particular scale came from an angler on the river Tyne in June 2008. Fish scales are examined by the Sampling and Collection team at the Environment Agency.
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