• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.262-272
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• 2009

Upstream behavior of glass eels was examined in an experimental eel-ladder at a laboratory of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute from March to May in 2008. The study was made under various environmental factors and conditions affecting the upstream migration of glass eels in order to design a functional ladder that would allow the passage of glass eels. The experimental eel-ladder consisted of an upper freshwater chamber and a lower sea water chamber; glass eels in sea water can move up to the upper freshwater chamber through the slope (eel-ladder) between them. The optimal condition of the eel-ladder was estimated by comparing the number of glass eels that moved upstream depending on various conditions. Since the glass eels actively moved up the slope to river water rather than to reservoir water or tap water, the experiment was realized using river water. A significantly higher number of glass eels moved up during the spring tide than during the neap tide, and during night than during the day. Upstream movement was significantly higher during high tide than during low tide. Glass eels effectively moved up through a slope of less than $30^{\circ}$ and water-flow velocity lower than 0.4 m/sec. The fish preferred a coarser ladder bed covered with small gravels, brush or carpet.