Tubes were 10 in PVC ventilated with 1 to 1 1/2 holes perforating the entire tube caps both ends. The move in the boat was in a portable tank out of water time 10 to 20 seconds. Net pen was brought to shore so it was a 100 ft move from net pen to tanker truck. The entire work area was lit up by halogen flood lights. If experienced other than the capture the fish were kept in ideal conditions. The process worked well for years in all efforts with this exception, Staging & high stress environment you will loose fish with hens taking the biggest hit.

Think of it this way. Fish start transition in the bay from salt to fresh but where they pull up and stage waiting for eggs to develop and optimum spawning conditions to materialize differs greatly. It could be low in the river or much further right to the spawning reach. Never the same each year and not all do the same thing which means the only way to reduce the hen mortality is get as close to the spawning area as possible.