Quantification of the maximal swimming performance of Australasian glass eels, Anguilla australis and Anguilla reinhardtii, using a hydraulic flume swimming chamber

The swimming performance of Australasian glass eels Anguilla australis Rich ardson and Anguilla reinhardtii Steindachner was measured within an hydraul ic flume over a range of water velocities. Individual swimming performances were characterised as either maximum sustained, steady prolonged, rapid pr olonged, or burst. The maximum sustained swimming speeds for A. australis ( mean total length (MTL) = 54.2 mm) and A. reinhardtii (MTL = 51.2 mm) were 29 and 32 cm s(-1) respectively. The maximum burst speeds for A. australis and A. reinhardtii were 79 and 75 cm s(-1) respectively. Regression analysi s revealed two points of inflection corresponding to definite changes in th e level of swimming effort occurring at 35 and 64 cm s(-1) for A. australis , and 42 and 63 cm s(-1) for A. reinhardtii. Observed differences in the sw imming performance of these two species was not significant (P < 0.05). To allow free passage for migrating glass eels in Queensland's regulated river s, this study recommends that mean and maximum fishway velocities not excee d 30 and 75 cm s(-1) respectively, and/or fishway cells be designed to inco rporate elements specifically designed to permit glass eel passage.