Marking Juvenile Pink and Chum Salmon with Hot Brands in the Form of a Binary Code

Abstract Hot brands in the form of a binary code were applied to identify individual juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and chum salmon (O. keta). The time needed for application of the marks averaged less than 30 s/fish. In both species, the lesions healed within 2 weeks, and the brands were visible by reflective contrast around the brand scars for up to 12 months. For juvenile pink and chum salmon weighing more than 2.0 g, branding had no effect on subsequent survival or growth. Hot branding in the form of a binary code is a suitable and inexpensive method for marking individual pink and chum salmon.