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One radio type was monitored for over one year. Mercury-powered modules <br />rated for 1~ years of life averaged 260 days, and five (330) functioned for <br />over one year (455 to 542 days). In spring ,1985, a fish was recaptured (after <br />12 months) with a defective radio. When this radio was removed from the fish <br />and pounded on a table it began to pulse again and was reimplanted in another <br />fish. The radio was still transmitting after 499 days, when contact with it <br />was lost. <br />Water conductivities during the prime tracking months of May-September, <br />1980-85, varied from 205 to 950 umho (at 25 °C) and averaged about 540 umho. <br />Fifteen modules experienced temperature extremes from 0 to 25 °C during May <br />1984 to September 1985. <br />Radiotracking under high conductivities (greater than 700 umho) was <br />marginal, and this contributed to the lack of success in some cases, <br />particularly in deeper water (Tyus 1982) and for razorback suckers, which used <br />deeper habitats in the spring. The relative success of tracking in the Green <br />River was due, in part, to its shallow conditions. In addition, I was able to <br />retune search receivers to obtain greater sensitivity at the expense of not <br />having separate channel bands, and this resulted in better contact success. <br />Highest water conductivities occurred at lowest water levels, and the shallow <br />water levels partially compensated for declining signal strengths. Under <br />these marginal conditions it was necessary to check antenna connections and <br />coaxial cable condition frequently, Poor cable linkages, damaged cables, and <br />connector shorts were the largest contributors to tracking failure. In 1984, <br />all receiving units were refitted from "bnc" to the larger "coaxial" connector, <br />and this aided in reducing connector failure. Simple whip antennas were <br />proven preferable for riverine work, and difficulties in mounting the large 40 <br />MHt Yagi antennas were avoided. Since rivers produce natural boundaries, a <br />directional antenna was not needed until after the general location of, the <br />fish was obtained, After a fish was located by the whip antenna, a small loop <br />antenna was adequate to triangulate fish location. <br />The absolute accuracy of the fish locations from triangulation is unknown. <br />However, individual fish were visually observed in shallow water, and although <br />the fish could not be observed in deep water, depth measurements at the signal <br />source always disturbed the fish. Visual observations and movements of the <br />fish indicated that the signal source accurately pinpoints fish location. <br />Untrained trackers should test their ability to pinpoint transmitter location <br />by using a weighted transmitter. This method was used in training new <br />personnel. <br />The effects of temperature fluctuation on the radio modules was a <br />potential trouble area. The single known instance of transmitter failure <br />occurred during the winter when water temperatures dropped to near 0 °C. I <br />noted deviations in transmitted frequencies (drift) a:~d pulse rates with radio <br />modules. This could have resulted in tracking failure if wildlife-type <br />tracking receivers were used, since these usually have separate and, in some <br />cases, nonoverlapping receiving bands. All SR units were adjusted for maximum <br />signal detection. Although some fish frequencies overlapped, different pulse <br />rates enabled identification of individual fish. Once a radio implanted fish <br />was detected, I was able to tune any 40 MHz frequency with the RF unit and <br />thus confirm each identification. <br />141 <br />