Collection, Preservation, and Identification

This chapter begins by discussing the permits and gear required for fish collection. A discussion on fish preservation follows, including the preferred chemicals, concentrations, and containers. A description of fish identification using a dichotomous key then ensues, along with the equipment required and the general descriptions of fish morphological features. This chapter describes how to use meristics, the counting of quantitative features, to identify fish. A guide to how to properly measure fish is also included. This chapter ends with a brief description of fish dissection.