The Golden Shiner Grading Assessment and Development of Assessment Calculator

Golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas are typically graded in concrete vats having a rectangular cross section. Aluminum frames fitted with panels of uniformly spaced, vertical rods (bar graders) are used to separate golden shiners having similar weight and length from a mixed-size aggregation.  Investigation revealed that no quantitative method for estimating bar grader effectiveness existed, so a Microsoft^© Excel application was developed.  The golden shiner assessment model presents product quality information for graded golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas. Quality assurance data includes an estimate of fish ∙ kg^-1, kg ∙ 1,000^-1 fish, and an assessment of grading effectiveness. Standard weight (W_s) calculations give benchmark weight to length criteria for graded golden shiners, whereas relative weight (W_r) provides a general indicator of health, and a means to estimate the effectiveness of a feeding regimen. This model serves as an assessment tool for researchers, a management tool for producers, and a source of important product information for purchasers.