Tricaine used to separate phase‐I striped bass with uninflated gas bladders from normal fish

Tricaine (MS‐222) was used to separate striped bass (Morone saxatilis) with uninflated gas bladders from normal fish. Pond‐reared, phase‐1 striped bass (19–71 mm total length) were anaesthetized in a 12.5‰ saltwater solution containing 110–123 mg MS‐222/L. Fish with inflated gas bladders were neutrally buoyant or floated, whereas fish with uninflated gas bladders remained on the bottom. Dissection of buoyant and nonbuoyant fish indicated the procedure was 90–100% accurate. Eliminating fish with uninflated gas bladders will improve efficiency and quality of phase‐11 production.