The main crayfish survey concluded yesterday with a total catch for the six days of just shy of 900.  When the recaptures are added in then well over a thousand creatures came into the traps.  This is a staggering total and well over twice as many as were recorded the last time a population density survey was done here in 2002.

Those members who visit the Tarn over the next few days will notice a number of coloured pegs set around the margins of the tarn.  These are marking out 25 and 50 meter intervals so that exact locations can be plotted.  The plan is to lamp the Tarn late one evening this week, probably Thursday and record the number of crayfish active between each peg.  This data will show how well the population is distributed at the Tarn and whether the population total extrapolated from the trapping results is skewed due to traps being set at the most densely populated locations.  The pegs should cause no interference with fishing so please be patient and leave them in place.

It's back to the very depleted river this morning as we plan to electrofish one of the riffles upstream from Austin's pools.  I am not aware that any electrofishing has ever been done this far up the Ribble so the results whatever they show will be interesting.

We seem to have a fair number booked for the Hot Pot Supper on Friday, but there is still time to get your name in to Michael if you wish to attend.  It should be an enjoyable evening.

Ian