Fish were netted, killed by cranial impact and
immediately sampled. CVP was performed
by introducing a 0.8 x 35 mm needle along the
ventral midline posterior to the anal fin into the
subvertebral caudal vessels. Blood was sampled
into a 2 ml plastic syringe, then immediately
transferred to a plastic vial containing the anticoagulant.
Transection of the caudal peduncle
was done 5 mm behind the adipose fin, after
wrapping the fish in a paper towel in order to
blot the surface and prevent contamination
from the vent. No pressure was applied to the
body, and blood was allowed to drip freely into
a plastic vial containing the anticoagulant.