3 OCTOBER. WASHINGTON STATE (U.S.): FISH

The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife has an "El Niño Watch" program that encourages fishers and citizens to report their sighting of unusual fishes. If rare, people can donate their frozen specimen to the University of Washington's Fish Collection. A good photograph along with pertinent collection information would also be of use. Contact Wayne Palsson, WDFW at (425) 379-2313 or e-mail at "palsswap@dfw.wa.gov" Besides of species already reported to this forum, an Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) has been reported off Vashon Island, south of Seattle on 24 September 1997. This record is as far south as any have been reported in Puget Sound. A likely basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) was reported in Pickering Passage in southern Puget Sound, but several have been reported in this region in previous years. Numerous reports of Brown Pelicans have also been received from many places in Puget Sound, the San Juan Archipelago, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.--Wayne Palsson PALSSWAP@dfw.wa.gov

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