Amoskeag Fishway

Never heard of it? In Manchester, New Hampshire, this fishway provides a ladder for salmon to migrate around one of the dams on the Merrimack River. This facility provided a place to observe the fishladder and learn about the salmon migration and conservation efforts.You know you're there when you see the big salmon in the sky! The river provides a nice backdrop where ever you are

On our way into the visitor center, we peered over the edge to see if the fish were there.

We didn't spy a single one and were confused as advance information stated that fish had been 'stocked'.

Upon arrival, we found out that the staff had stocked a holding tank with several large salmon from a nearby fishery. The gates to the ladder and to the river were not open to allow the fish to maneuver as yet. Also, the season for migration begins in the fall - not spring. It's unlikely that the fish would have any desire to randomly climb the ladder out of sheer boredom!

We did have a chance to see the freshly stocked fish - if you could see through the murky river water. Ick! That is the true color of the water from the fishy point of view!

The boys clowned around with a 3-D mural of natural predators for the salmon.

The aquarium stocked with a few of the fryes was much more pleasant to view.

Now, we knew where to look in the tank. We could glimpse the salmon from above the holding area.

This photo shows more of the climb from the river to the higher river level upstream of the dam.

Once finished viewing the fish, we took a few minutes to enjoy the Merrimack.

And, here's the other side - downstream from the spillway.

Not a bad way to spend the day and learn about one of the most famous migration stories in our current world.