Raritan river fish ladder:

[AndyS]

Closed for the season. Found some interesting items at the entrance to the fish ladder, 2 tires and a mattress. I don't think the mattress is there so the fish can take a rest. Great thing when you have a company like New Jersey American Water in charge of a freshwater fishery.

[acabtp]

Originally Posted by AndyS

Closed for the season.

i don't understand why the ladder is not kept open until ice begins forming on the river? or even year round? not sure if it would freeze up or not with the flow through it

[Skunk City]

The apex seasonal migrants don't come around til November. Why block them from doing their thing?

[AndyS]

If the American Shad and River Herring go through the ladder in the spring to spawn up river, then how do the baby fish return to the ocean ?

[Mark B.]

Originally Posted by AndyS

If the American Shad and River Herring go through the ladder in the spring to spawn up river, then how do the baby fish return to the ocean ?

The babies, and the adults, go over the dam.

[ChaosStarter]

So why can't they remove the tire and mattress and reopen the ladder?

[AndyS]

I don't recall during my outings fishing near dams ever seeing fish swimming OVER the top of one, sorry.
New Jersey American Water is in charge of maintaining the ladder and the surroundings, looks like they just can't be bothered with such trivial things such as fish migration.

[acabtp]

Originally Posted by AndyS

I don't recall during my outings fishing near dams ever seeing fish swimming OVER the top of one, sorry.

it def happens, that's what all those stripahs and wallys are munching on while they hang out below the falls...
still no reason to not have the ladder open longer though

[Mark B.]

Originally Posted by AndyS

I don't recall during my outings fishing near dams ever seeing fish swimming OVER the top of one, sorry.
New Jersey American Water is in charge of maintaining the ladder and the surroundings, looks like they just can't be bothered with such trivial things such as fish migration.

Down in the meadow in a
little bitty pool
Swam three little fishies
And a mama fishie too
"Swim," said the mama fishie,
"Swim if you can."
And they swam and they swam all
over the dam

Boop boop diten datem whatem choo
Boop boop diten datem whatem choo
Boop boop diten datem whatem choo
And they swam and they swam
right over the dam

"Stop!" cried the mama fish,
"Or you will get lost."
But the three little fishies
didn’t want to be bossed
The three little fishies
went off on a spree,
And they swam and
they swam right out
to the sea

Sorry,.....but there a lots of things we terrestrial humans don’t see in the water world. For the 38 years I’ve worked for the Division, I honestly can’t say that I’ve witnessed a fish swimming over a dam.

The ladder was built for the upstream spawning migration of A. shad & river herring.

No concentrated upstream migration occurs this time of year, & through the winter. Keeping the ladder closed prevents ice damage, & more debris from accumulating in the ladder. Clearing it out in the spring is BIG job.

[acabtp]

hahahaha
here for anyone who wants some musical accompaniment as they read the lyrics
http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/games/song...fishiesmp3.htm