The Model EA-1000A Electroanesthesia System is the culmination of nearly two decades of research and development by Smith-Root.  It is widely used in various federal and state fish hatcheries to sedate groups of 40 or more adult salmon or steelhead during gamete collections at these fish production facilities.  Whereas the prototype unit built by a competitor in the early 1990’s resulted in fish injury, the EA-1000A safely sedates fish such that they are often reused for multiple spawnings and broodstock purposes.  The key to eliminating fish injury is the two-stage process while administering the DC voltage gradient.  Stage 1 excites fish and prepares nerve endings prior to the stronger Stage 2, which immediately sedates fish for safe, easy handling by hatchery workers.  Some hatcheries have also used the EA-1000A for safe, humane euthanization of surplus salmon and steelhead.  One of the biggest advantages of using the Model EA-1000A is that costly chemical anesthetics are avoided, there is no chemical disposal bath issue, and fish can be released to all environments without the 21-day “withdrawal” period that is mandated when certain chemicals are deployed for anesthesia.