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v4.2 Jan 2021| Page 7
2
Getting Started
2.1
Keep it clean!
The Multishot
MUST BE CLEAN
to operate properly. The Multishot uses specially manufactured coded
wire that is only 0.25 mm in diameter. This wire advances through a tiny hole in a cutter, the tag is cut,
and then the tag is pushed through a needle with an inside diameter of 0.3 mm. The tag is pushed by the
push wire, also only 0.25 mm diameter. There is little clearance for dirt and the Multishot will not work
smoothly if fish slime builds up in the needle, in the cutter, or on the push wire.
The Multishot should be rinsed with fresh water regularly during use to remove fish slime and other dirt.
It is also advised that after each hour of use the following sequence should be followed: The unit should
be submersed in a bucket of fresh water; the cut lever depressed and held down; and then the push rod
advanced and retracted a dozen times (this sequence requires only a few seconds and is well worth the
effort). This action works the push wire through the cutter and the needle causing a surging of fresh
water through the system to dissolve any fish slime. A small amount of liquid detergent will help the
cleaning. If you find that the push rod is not advancing smoothly it is likely one of two problems—either
the needle is not seated properly or the unit needs cleaning!
Detailed cleaning procedures are described in section 3.2.
2.2
Needles
The Multishot uses a 1.55 inch (3.94 cm)
needle. This needle will accommodate the use
of head molds or a needle clamping nut with
support tube (see Figure 6: needle clamping nut
with support tube, see also discussion of head
molds). Proper needle selection is important to
the success of the tagging operation.
The Multishot needle is available as either
“etched” or “non-etched” (figure 2). The non-
etched needle has a constant outside diameter
(0.0225 inch, 0.57 mm) from its base all the
way to the beginning of the beveled tip. The etched needle is necked down to a smaller outside
diameter (0.0185 inch, 0.47 mm) beginning approximately 0.3 inches (0.76 cm) from the beginning of
the bevel. The etched needle makes a smaller injection hole in the fish and has been very successful
with head molds for Pacific Salmon. The etched needle will not work as well (i.e., it has a greater
likelihood of bending) with fish of tougher tissue such as steelhead, nor will it work as well with most
“body” tagging such as the cheeks of smallmouth bass, the scutes of sturgeon, or the rostrum of
paddlefish. For this type of tagging, the non-etched needle in a needle support tube is often the better
combination for penetration and tag placement.
Figure 2: Etched and non-etched needles
Non-etched
Etched
