The strength of juvenile black rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli, raised in different hatcheries for wild stock enhancement was evaluated in terms of resistance to an anesthetizing agent, tricaine methane-sulfonate (MS-222), and exposure to drying. The working dosage of MS-222 varied significantly with fish size and hatchery population. Smaller fish were less resistant to the chemical than larger ones. MS-222 effects also differed with fish growth history. The fish cultured in embanked populations showed stronger resistance, earlier recovery, and lower mortality, compared to those cultured in land-based tanks or collected from wild stocks. Similar results were seen in juveniles challenged to dry exposure. These results suggest that an embanked population of black rockfish is more resistant to anesthetic stress, expressed as anesthesia recovery and mortality, and that this population is healthier than others.