Fishing Gear & Equipment Salmonid Incubator

The Jordan Scotty Salmonid Egg Incubator Users Guide

For use by everyone who is interested in enhancing salmon and other fish runs in any stream, river or lake.

The Jordan/Scotty incubator, sometimes referred to as the Salmon Condominium, is a Scientifically designed and tested plastic incubation unit and was developed to provide an efficient aid in the stream incubating of salmon or trout eggs. The unique design either eliminates or minimizes most of the problems experienced by natural spawning. Fungus infection is virtually eliminated and eggs are protected from predators and silt suffocation. Pilot testing indicates that survival rates from egg to fry is often better than 90% as compared to natural spawning survival rates of between 5% and 20%.

The original prototype was designed and tested by Mr. Fred Jordan, a Salmonid Technician for many years and he conceived this idea for stream enhancement during the 1980's. Mr. Jordan is now retired. The success of these early experiments with this unit led to R & D and further design of the incubator by Scott Plastics Ltd. This modern unit is extremely efficient and very compact. Being relatively simple to use, it does not require any expensive costs. Depending on the availability of eggs, these incubators link well with the good work of stream keepers for starting up streams with restored habitat for both Salmon and Trout. Buried in the right gravel many other small streams can increase and raise safely their eggs from alevins to fry while in these incubator plates. The incubators are suitable for Salmon and most Trout eggs.

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Why is this J.S.I Being Made Available for Use at this Time?

The critical need to enhance our stocks is well documented. Natural spawning has declined dramatically over the past 50 years for many reasons. Many of our spawning areas no longer exist. Many of the spawning areas that still exist are only partially effective and many of our original Salmon stocks are now extinct. The need for increased Salmon enhancement programs by volunteers has never been greater. The availability of the Jordan/Scotty Incubator, a simple yet effective incubation unit, can be of great help for our precious Salmon stream stocks and their eventual recovery. We urge you to become involved.

The Jordan/Scotty Incubator - What does it do?

A single set (2 plates) is designed to hold 200 eggs or more. A pair of Coho Salmon will provide between 2,000 and 2,500 eggs, which can be accommodated in 10 plates. Each incubator is made up of two plates, held together by two nylon nuts and bolts. Incubation units can be joined together by using the adjustable nylon bolts (supplied). These assembled egg units can be anchored in streams by securing them to re-bar stakes or some other permanent holders. A pair of Coho Salmon will provide 2,000 and 2,500 eggs between 10 and 12 units will be required to accommodate this number of eggs. It is possible, however, to accommodate more than one egg in a single compartment. Salmonid eggs vary in size; thus we have made two types of incubator plates with different sized escape holes. The different sizes are identified by their Red or Green colour. Coho have egg sizes approximately 7.0mm in diameter, Pink Salmon - 6.8mm, Sockeye - 6.0mm, Steelhead - 5.2mm, Rainbow Trout - 5.2mm, Eastern Trout - 4.5mm, The Red colored plates were designed for these type of Salmonids. Chinook (King) Salmon have eggs averaging 8.0mm to 12mm, Chum (Dog) Salmon - 8.0mm, we recommend using the Green plates for these species.

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How to Load an Incubator?

A special loading plate is submerged in a tray of fertilized or eyed eggs floating the eggs over the plate until each cell is filled. The loading plate is covered with one side plate of an incubation unit and then turned upside down so that the eggs fall into the compartments. A second side plate is placed over the loaded side plate and anchored together by nylon bolts or by other means.

Locating the Incubator in the Stream

It is most important that:

1. The units of fertilized eggs are placed in the stream gravel so that they are continually covered by a flow of water passing through the gravel and the cells.
2. The units must be 'planted' so that the escape holes of the compartments are at the bottom of each cell. This is essential to assure that any sand particles wash right through the compartment. If the escape holes remain on top sand and silt will eventually build up and block the unit.
3. Incubator units must be securely anchored to ensure that they remain in position. Place them in a stream location that is not in danger of flash flooding, for example, downstream from a large boulder that is not likely to move or securely attached to re-bar which is firmly embedded in the stream gravel.

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Where and When to Obtain Eggs?

Surplus eggs may be obtained from most hatcheries in the fall when the Salmon runs head for the rivers. Contact any local hatchery in your area with your request and explain how you intend to use the surplus eggs. For further assistance in obtaining eggs, contact your D.F.O. Community Advisor. A list of the community advisors is available for your information from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Canada - Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca) and through the Department of Fish and Wildlife in the United States.

How to Obtain Jordan/Scotty Incubators

The development of the Jordan/Scotty Egg Incubator by Scott Plastics Ltd. is the direct result of the desire of Scott Plastics to make a contribution to the enhancement of Salmon stocks in the large number of creeks and streams in B.C. and elsewhere that have over the years lost their natural Salmon spawning capabilities. To date the entire cost of research and development of the Jordan/Scotty Incubator has been borne by Scott Plastics Ltd. These units are available at a nominal price to cover minimum raw material and labor costs. There is the choice between the 200-cell unit of two plates or a complete set of 10 plates for 1000 eggs. To obtain incubator units and pricing for your own use, please contact our Incubator Department at 1-800-214-0141.

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Care of the Incubator Units after Location in the Stream

If possible incubators should be located in places where they are protected from vandalism or curiosity. During the incubation period the incubators should be checked regularly to ensure that:

1. They remain in position.
2. They are free of debris.
3. They are covered with a continuous flow of water.

Checking Your Results

At the end of the incubation period, the fry will swim out of the incubators and bury themselves in the surrounding gravel until they reach a fully developed fry state at first only leaving at night. When each unit is opened you will be able to count any eggs that may have failed to hatch. Please report your results to your D.F.O. Community Advisor, the Hatchery that provided the eggs or Scotty Plastics Ltd. This is a volunteer project of over five years of very positive reports. They are available on request, but we do very much need your report also.

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Care and Storage of Incubators for Future Use

At the conclusion of the use of these incubator units wash them thoroughly and dry them before storage. With proper care the Jordan/Scotty Incubator units can be used season after season.

Important Points to Remember about Using the Jordan/Scotty Egg Incubator

1. Locate them in stream locations where water flows will be adequate.
2. The incubators are suitable for 'Green' or 'Eyed' eggs.
3. Conceal the location of these units in your stream so as to discourage vandalism.
4. Check the units on occasion, but do not disturb or open the units until all the fry have passed through the escape holes (usually in April or May).

For more Information on Incubators and Obtaining Salmonid Eggs

SCOTT PLASTICS LTD.
2065, Henry Avenue. West
Sidney, B.C.
Canada V8L 5Z6
Tel; (250) 656-8102 Fax; (250) 656-8126
e-mail: incubator@scotty.com

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Salmon/Trout Incubator Dept. Community Involvement
400-555 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, B.C.
Canada V6B 5G3
Tel; (604) 666-6614 Fax; (604) 666-0292

*Note: Booklets with Greater Detail are Available from Scott Plastics Ltd. along with any further Information Required.

Dear Mr. Scott,

The members of the Victoria Rods and Reels would like to express their sincere appreciation for the use of the Scotty/Jordan incubator cassettes at O'Donnell Creek. The rehabilitation has been greatly enhanced by the ability to grow trout in the stream, and we hope to have returning trout to spawn naturally in the future.

We believe that your development of these cassettes will yield immeasurable results for stream enhancement in the future, and congratulate you on your public spirit.

Thank you.
Yours truly,
Jim Humphreys
President - The Victoria Rods and Reels Society

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Mr. Scott

The Pacific Rim Fish and Game Association at Ucluelet and Tofino used your hatch boxes to set 10,900 Coho eggs in local streams this winter. We once again are very pleased with the results. We had success rates in some boxes as high as 98%. Overall we managed to achieve an 89% success rate, or over 9654 more Coho fry in local streams.

Thank you very much for your support. We look forward to putting even larger numbers of eggs out in the coming season.

Sincerely,

J.M. Jones

Excerpt from the 'Toronto Star' Wednesday, January/8/1997

OUTDOORS - John Powers

Reflections on a year in the great outdoors

In many ways and for many people, 1996 was a tough one. But now it's finally behind us and it's time to look ahead.

Metro East Steelheaders, with the help of dedicated biologist Mark Heaton are proving that a few willing hands can make a lot of difference, even growing trout on a golf course.

Parkview Golf Club owner Jim Bamford and a dozen fellow steelheaders hatched and released 23,000 rainbows in the spring and now have 76,000 brown trout flourishing in upwelling incubation boxes set in a tiny stream on the property flanking the Rouge River. Many were hatched in unique and inexpensive Jordan/Scotty egg incubators manufactured in B.C. by Scott Plastics...

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