,• •
)
MariLe
O.reon
I
I
L,vI
Research on
on Anadromous
Anadromous Fish
Fish in
in
Research
Coastal
Coastal Watersheds
Watersheds of
of Oregon
Oregon
by
by
Alan M.
M. McGie
Annual
Report
Annual Report
July 1,
1, 1974
1974 to
to June 30,
30, 1975
1975
Fish Commission of Oregon
Division
and Research
Research
Division of
of Management
Management and
Coastal Rivers
Rivers Investigation
Investigation
Coastal
National Marine
Marine Fisheries
Fisheries Service
Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National
United States
States Department
Department of
of Commerce
Commerce
United
Anadromous
Anadromous Fish
Fish Act
Act
Project Number AFC-67,
AFC-67, Segment
Segment 22
Contract Number 04-5-208-7
04-5-208-7
July
July 1975
1975
URY
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CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Page
.......... .
...................................... .....
INTRODUC1IONS.S
INTROOOCTI
ON • •••••••••••••••••
Reports
Prepared .••••••••
ReportsPrepared.......
.........................................
1974
FISH SURVEYS
SURVEYS •••••.•..
1974 SPAWNING
SPAWNING FISH
..........................................
Trends of
of Abundance •••••••...•
.......................................... ...
.................. .
.
. . . . . ..
............................................
....................................................
Fall
Salmon.........................
........
....
Fall Chinook
chinook and
and Coho
Coho Salmon
PRIVATE
HATCHERIES ••••••••
PRIVATE SALMOI,.1
SALMON HATCHERIES
Chum
Salmon • •••••••••••••••
Chum SalmOJ'l
COASTAL RESERVOIRS
..
COASTAL
RESERVOIRS ...................
...................................................
McGuire
McGuire Reservoir,
Reservoir, Nestucca
Nestucca River
River..................
Barney
Trask River
River ..•..
Barney Reservoir,
ReservoirTrask
...................................
COASTAL LAKES
• .......................
COASTAl.
IJAKES
.......................................................
Tenmile Lake .....................................................
................ .
TeninileLake
Coho Spawning Population.................................
CohospawningPopulation
Trap Catch in
in South
South Tenmile
Tenndle Lake
Lake ..
.
Trap
...........................
Food Habits
Habits-- Largemouth
Largemouth Bass
Bass .....
.
Food
.........................
Emigration
Emigration of
of Coho
Coho Sinolts
Smolts (1972
(1972 Brood)
Brood)......................
FlorasLake
Floras Lak.e •••••••••••••••••••••••••••
...................................................
Growth of
of Fall
Fall Chinook
Chinook .••••
Growth
.....................................
Emigration and
and Survival
Survival •••...••
Emigration
..........................
Sport
Fish Census
Census in
in New
New River
River .•••
Sport Fish
.............................
.......... .
11
11
1
1
22
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
55
55
55
5
5
55
6
6
7
7
7
7
7
7
88
8
8
TRANSPLANTS
OF HATCHERY SALMON
•••.
8
8
TRANSPLANTSOFHATcHERYSALMON
.......................................
Coho
Salmon
..••••.•..........
8
Coho Salmon
............................................
8
8
Surplus Adults ............................................
••••••••.
SurplusAdults
Unfed Fry
(1974 Brood)
Brood)...................... 99
tJnfed
Fry and
and Fingerlings
Fingerlings (1974
Coho
Smelt Transplant
Transplant Study
Study (1971
(1971 Broodj
Brood).................... 9
Coho Smolt
Fall Chinook Salmon .............................................
••.•
9
Pall
Coos Bay
Bay .••••.••••
................................................. 99
10
Coquille
River.............................................
•••••••.•.
csuil1eRiver
10
10
Tillamook
Bay •••••.•
Tillaniook Bay.
.......................................... 10
10
Spring
Chinook Salmon...........................................
••••
SpringChinookSalmon
10
....
. .
FALL CHINOOK
CHINOOK ECOLOGY.
ECOLOGY.
FALL
10
................ . 10
..............................................
Elk River ••.••••••
ElkRiver
..................................................
.
10
10
Population
Population Estimates
Estimates ...•
...................................... 10
11
Sport
Fishery Survey.....................................
.••.••...•.••.
SportF1.sherSurvey
..11
Accelerated Incubation
Incubation and
and Release
13
Release ..
Accelerated
........................ 13
1973 Brood
Brood ......................
..
13
Hatchery
13
Hatchery Rearing
Rearing Program
Program -- 1973
14
14
Che teo River.
River • • • • • • • • • ...........................................
• •• • . •. •
Chetco
14
14
Jack Creek
Creek Trap •••••••••
Jack
....................................... . . . .
15
15
Hatchery
Rearing Program
Program-- 1973
1973 Brood
Brood .•...................
.
Hatchery Rearing
16
16
Sport Fishery Survey .......................................
•..
16
16
Pistol
River ••••••••••••••••
Pistol River
.................................................
. . . . . . .
.....
........
...........
.......... .
.............. .
COASTAL
FALL CHINOOK STOCK ASSESSMENT...............................
••••.•.•.•.•••.••••••••••••••••• 16
16
COASTALFALLcHINOOKSTOCKASSESSMENT.
I.
CONTENTS (Continued)
(Continued)
Page
SAI.P4C)N
RESBARCii,................................................
• • • • • • • . . . • • • . • . • • • • . . • • . . . . . . . . • • .. . . . . . . • • • • • . 17
17
SALMON RIVER RESEARCH
SHAD .AND
STRIPEDBASS
BASS.................................................
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 17
ANDSTRIPED
18
1974 Comme:rcial
Fishery Statistics
Statistics...............................
• • • . . • . . . . • . . . • . . • • • • . • • • • • . • 18
Commercial Fishery
SetNets
Set
Nets.........
. . . . . . . . . ..........................................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Shad and Striped Bass Landings .............................
Catch/Effort ...............................................
Biological Sa¥les
Sarrples.........................................
.........................................
Changes
in Regulations
Regulations.......
...................................
Changesin
..........................................
Biological
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AND
AND HABITAT
HABITAT MANAGEMENT
~~NAGE~ffiNT ......................
•..................... 19
19
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
TABLES
TABLES
Table
Table
11
22
33
by Coastal
Coastal Rivers
Rivers Investigation's
Investigation's Staff,
Staff,
Reports Submitted by
FY1975
FY 1975.......................................................
.......................................................
22
Comparison Between
Between 1974
1974 Fish/Mile
Fish/Mile Counts of
of Spawning
Comparison
Salmon
Salmon and
and the
the Annual
Annual Counts
Counts...................................
. . • •. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . •• . • . . •. .
3
3
Species Composition
Composition of
of Fish
Fish Caught
Caught in
in aa Floating
Floating Trap,
Trap,
Tenmile Lake,
Lake~ 1974-75
1974-75.........................................
.........................................
6
Numbers of
of Fish
Fish Captured
Captured per
per Net
Net Day
Day in
in Templeton
Templeton Arm,
Arm,
South Tenmile Lake,
Lake, July through
through December,
1969-74 •..•.••..•..
December, 1969-74
............
77
S
S
Adult Coho
Coho Salmon
Salmon Stocked
Stocked in
in November 1975
1975 ....................
....••....•••••..•..
8
8
6
6
Estimated Survival
Survival of Hatchery Fall
Fall Chinook Salmon
Salmon to
to Elk
Estimated
River, 1974
19 74 .....................................................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . 12
12
River,
77
Survival Rate
Rate of 1970-Brood
197~-Brood Fall
Fall Chinook Released into
into Elk
Survival
River. .........................................................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
13
River
88
Fall Chinook Salmon (1973
(1973 Brood)
Brood) Reared
Reared and Released into
into
Fall
ElkRiver
Elk River ......................................................
..................................................... 14
99
Fall Chinook
Chinook Salmon
Salmon (1973
(1973 Brood)
Brood) Reared
Reared at
at Elk
Elk River
River Hatchery
Fall
and Released into
into the
the Chetco
Chetco River
River.............................
. . . . • . . . • . . . . • . . . . . . • . . . . . • 15
15
10
10
Fall Chinook Salmon
Salmon Released
Released
Distribution of 1973-Brood Fall
into
the Chetco
Chetco River,
River, October
October and
and November
November 1974
1974 ..............
..•••..•••.••. 16
16
into the
11
11
Number of
of Fall
Fall Chinook
Chinook Salmon
Salmon Smolts
Smolts (1973
(1973 Brood)
Brood) Marked
Number
with Coded
Coded Wire Tags
Tags and
and Released
Released at
at Trask,
and Elk
Trask, Alsea,
Alsea, and
44
River Hatcheries, 1974
1974 ........................................
17
........................................ 17
\
Research on
on Anadromous
Anadromous Fish
Fish in
in
Coastal Watersheds
Watersheds of
of Oregon
Oregon
Coastal
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Salmon,
Salmon, shad,
shad, and
and striped
striped bass
bass populations in
in Oregon's coastal
coastal draindrainages have been managed
managed by
by the
the Coastal
Coastal Rivers
Rivers Investigation
Investigation since
since 1947.
1947.
Program headquarters
headquarters is
is located
located in
in Charleston
Charleston near
near Coos
Coos Bay.
Bay. Field stations
stations
Program
or
are located
located in
in Tillaiiiook,
Tillamook, Newport,
or Qffices
offices are
Newport, Port
Port Orford
Orford (Elk
(Elk River
River Salmon
Salmon
Hatchery), and
and Brookings.
Brookings. Eight biologists,
one
researcher,
a
technician,
Hatchery),
biologists,
technician,
and
and a secretary
secretary staff
staff the
the Investigation.
Investigation. Senior
Senior staff
staff biologists,
biologists, assigned
assigned
to specific
specific geographical
geographical regions,
regions, coordinate
coordinate resource
resource management
management activities
activities
to
and investigate
investigate environmental
environmental problems
problems affecting
affecting fishery
fishery resources.
resources. In
and
In
addition,
for applied research projects
addition, staff members primarily responsible for
projects
are stationed
stationed at
at Tillamook,
Tillamook, Charleston,
Charleston, and
and Port
Port Orford.
Orford.
A synopsis
synopsis of
of work
work accomplished
accomplished by
by Coastal
Coastal Rivers
Rivers Investigation
Investigation includes:
includes:
A
spawning fish
fish surveys;
surveys; rearing
rearing salmon
salmon in
in reservoirs,
reservoirs, lakes,
lakes, and
and estuaries;
estuaries;
transplanting salmon;
salmon; evaluating private
private salmon
salmon hatchery applications
applications and
and
monitoring permits;
permits; managing the
the commercial
commercial shad
shad fishery;
fishery; investigating
investigating
monitoring
environmental problems;
problems; and miscellaneous
miscellaneous short-term investigations
investigations on
on
anadromous fish
fish resources.
resources. Federal
Federal cooperation
cooperation has
has enlarged the
the scope
scope of
anadromous
activities to include detailed research of fall
fall chinook
chinook salmon,
salmon, effects
effects of
chemically treating
treating the Tenmile
Tenmile Lake
Lake system to increase
increase production
production of coho
coho
salmon, monitoring experimental
experimental releases
releases of salmon
salmon in
in Floras
Floras Lake,
Lake, salmon
salmon
salmon,
stock assessment
assessment studies,
studies, and
and research
research on
on Salmon
Salmon River.
River.
The work
work was
was partially
partially financed
financed with federal
federal funds
funds under
under provisions
The
of the
the Anadromous Fish
Fish Act
Act (P.L.
(P.L. 89-304).
89-304). The operating contract budget
for FY 1975
1975 was $232,100
$232,100 and
and the
the federal
federal share
share was
was $116,050.
$116,050. The
The federal
federal
for
funds
funds were matched with State General and Daily Ocean
Ocean Salmon Angler
Angler License
License
(DOSAL) revenues. A
(DOSAL)
A separate unmatched DOSAL fund of $25,141 brought the
total operating budget to
to $257,241
$257,241 in
in FY
FY 1975.
1975.
Prepared
Reports Prepared
Reports
Results of our research were presented in
in a numbered series
Results
series of mimeomimeographed "Information
"Information Reports."
Reports." In
Information Reports
Reports and
and
In FY
FY 1975,
1975, nine
nine Information
graphed
submitted to
to Management and Research
one progress report were prepared and submitted
1). The reports were
were distributed
distributed to
to interested
interested perperHeadquarters
(Table 1).
Headquarters (Table
sonnel
agencies.
sonnel and agencies.
1974 SPAWNING FISH
FISH SURVEYS
SURVEYS
Standard index
index streams
streams are
are surveyed
surveyed each
each year
year to
to measure
measure the
the wild,
wild,
mature salmon
salmon escapement
escapement into
into coastal
coastal drainages following
following intensive
intensive sport
mature
and commercial harvests.
harvests. A
few standard
standard surveys
surveys were redefined in
in 1974
1974
A few
corrected to
to compute
compute accurate
accurate fish-per-mile
fish-per-mile statistics.
statistics.
and their distances corrected
The corrected
corrected total
total survey
survey distances
distances are
are 30.8
30.8 miles for
for fall
fall chinook,
chinook, 38.5
38.5
The
miles for
for coho,
coho, and
and 7.4
7.4 miles
miles for
for chum
chum salmon.
salmon.
miles
Surveys
November 12,
12, 1974,
1974, and
and terminated
terminated January
January 16,
16, 1975.
1975.
Surveys began
began on
on November
The staff
staff completed
completed 163
163 surveys
surveys totaling
totaling 156.4
156.4 miles
miles in
in 1974-75.
1974-75.
The
\
2.
Table
Table 1.
Reports Submitted
Reports
SubmittedbybyCoastal
CoastalRivers
RiversInvestigation's
Investigation's
Staff,
FY 1975
1975
Staff, FY
Bender, R.E.
Bender,
R.E. 1975. The
hatchery and
and wild
wild fall
fall chinook
chinook
The sport
sport harvest
harvest of hatchery
salmon
1973. Fish Comm.
Comm. Oreg.,
salmon from
from Elk
Elk River
River in 1973.
Oreg., Coastal
Coastal Rivers
Invest.
Info. Rept.
Rept. 74-10.
74-10. Mimeo. 11
Invest. Info.
11 p.
Berry, R.L.
Berry,
R.L. 1974a. Rearing
Rearing spring
spring chinook
chinook salmon
salmon ininM.H.
M.H. McGuire
McGuire ReserReservoir, Nestucca
Nestucca River,
River, Oregon,
Oregon, 1973.
1973. Fish Comm.
Comm. Oreg.,
Oreg., Coastal
Coastal Rivers
voir,
Invest. Info.
Invest.
Info. Rept.
Rept. 74-4. Mimeo. 9 p.
1974b. Status of
of the
the native
nativechum
chum salmon
salmon run
run in
in selected
streams of
ofOregon,
Oregon, 1973.
1973. Fish Comm.
Comm. Oreg.,
coastal streams
Oreg., Coastal
Coastal Rivers
Invest.
Info. Rept.
Rept. 74-5.
74-5.
Invest. Info.
Mimeo.
15
15 p.
1975. Status of
of chum
chum salmon
streams
salmonruns
runsinin selected
selected coastal streams
of Oregon,
Oregon, 1974.
1974. Fish Comm.
Comm. Oreg.,
Rept.
of
Oreg.,Coastal
CoastalRivers
RiversInvest.
Invest. Info. Rept.
75-2. Mimeo. 15
15 p.
Cummings,
T.E. and
and L.
Cummings, T.E.
L. Korn.
Korn. 1975. Status of
of private
privatesalmon
salmon hatcheries
hatcheries
in Oregon,
Oregon, 1973-74.
1973-74. Fish Conm.
Cornm. Oreg.,
Oreg.,Coastal
CoastalRivers
RiversInvest.
Invest. Info.
Rept.
Rept. 75-1.
75-L
Mimeo.
8 p.
Hostick, G.A.
G.A. 1975. Numbers
Numbersofoffish
fish captured
captured in
in beach
beach seine
seine hauls
hauls in
Coos Rive1·
Oregon, June
JtDle through
throughSeptember
September 1970.
1970. Fish
FishComm.
Comm.
Coos
River estuary,
estuary, Oregon,
Oreg.,
Coastal Rivers
Info. Rept.
Rept. 74-11.
74-11. Mimeo. 22
Oreg.. Coastal
RLves Invest.
Invest. Info.
22 p.
Hostick, G.A.
ancl A.M.
McGie.
.A. and
A. LieGie.
1974. Sport fishing
fishing census
census ofofNew
New River
River
estuary, 1973.
1973. Fish
Comm. Oreg.,
Rept.
Fish Comm.
Oreg.,Coastal
CoastalRivers
RiversInvest.
Invest. Info.
Info. Rept.
74-8,
Mimeo. 7 p.
McGie, A.M.
McGie,
A.M. 1974. Research
watersheds of
Research on
on anadromous
anadromousfish
fishinin coastal
coastal watersheds
Oregon. Fish Comm.
Comm. Oreg.,
Invest. Annual
Annual Rept.
Rept. July
Oreg.,Coastal
Coastal Rivers
Rivers Invest.
1, 1973
1973 to June
June 30,
30, 1974.
1974. Mimeo. 22
22 p.
Mullen, RE.
Mullen,
R.E. 1974. Tagging
bassininthe
theUmpqua
Umpqua River,
River, 1971-73.
1971-73.
Tagging of
of striped
striped bass
Fish
Comm. Oreg.,
Rept. 74-7. Mimeo.
Fish Comm.
Oreg.,Coastal
CoastalRivers
RiversInvest.
Invest. Info. Rept.
25
25 p.
Skeesick, D.G.
D.G. 1974. Spawning
watersheds, 1973.
1973.
Spawningfish
fish surveys
surveys in
in coastal watersheds,
Comm. Oreg.,
Rept. 74-6.
74-6. Mimeo.
Fish Comm.
Oreg.,Coastal
CoastalRivers
RiversInvest.
Invest. Info.
Info. Rept.
32
32 p.
ofAbundance
Abundance
Trends of
In 1974
1974 the
chinook in six
sixcoastal
coastaldrainages
drainages averaged
averaged
In
the count
count of
of fall chinook
27 fish/mile
fish/mile (Table
27
(Table 2). The
The fall
chinook index
index was
was 10
10 fish/mile below
below the
fall chinook
22-year average (1952-73).
(1952-73). The
The coho
coho salmon
salmonindex
indexwas
was1717fish/mile
fish/mile in
in eight
drainages
1974 compared
compared totoan
comriled over
over 24
24
drainages in 1974
an average
average of
of 31
31 fish/mile comriled
years (1950-73).
coho salmon
salmon index
index has
has remained
average since
(1950-73). The
The coho
remained below
below average
since 1966
1966
except
1971 when
when the
exceeded the long-term
long-term average.
average. The
except in 1971
the count
count slightly
slightly exceeded
3.
3.
peak count
count of
of chum
chum salmon
salmon in
in three
three drainages
drainages was 335
335 fish/mile
fish/mile or 38
38 above
peak
the
26-year average
average (1948-73).
(1948-73). The
The auxiliary count
count in
in five
five Tillamook
Tillamook Bay
Bay
the 26-year
index
areas was
was 691
691 fish/mile.
fish/mile. The count
count in
in auxiliary
auxiliary surveys
surveys was the
the highest
index areas
recorded since surveys were
were established in
in 1960 and
and exceeded
exceeded the
the 14-year
14-year
average by 376
376 fish/mile.
fish/mile.
Table
2.
Table 2.
Comparison Between
Between 1974 Fish/Mile Counts
Counts of Spawning
Spawning
Salmon and the Arnual
ffinua1 Counts Y
1/
Fai
I Cthnooi
Fall
Chinook
Fish
Fish Species
SEecies
Co
no
Coho
Clium
t.ftuin
1974 average fish/mile
fish/mile
27
(2)
27(2)
17
(4)
17(4)
335
335 y
2/
691 y
691
3/
Long-term average
37(7)
37(7)
31 (3)
31(3)
297
297
315
315
13-1,251
13-1,251
75-691
75-691
+38
+38
+376
+376
Range
Range
Departure
Departure of 1974 from
from
the average
average
the
14
(2) -59 (8)
l4(2)-59(8)
-10
12
(2)-71 (6)
12(2)-71(6)
-14
-14
1/ Preaocial
the averages.
Precoc-iaimales~
males, in
in parentheses~
parentheses) are
are included
included in
in the
averages.
2/ Count
count in
2!
in standard
standard survey
survey units.
units.
3;
Auri liapY count
count in
in Tillamook
Ti ZZamook Bay
Bay tributaries.
tributaries.
3/ Auxiliary
The average
average count
count in
in Nestucca
Nestucca Bay
Bay tributaries
tributaries was
was 167
167 chum/mile,
chum/mile, the
the
The
highest recorded since
since surveys
surveys began
began in
in 1950.
190.
Four-year-old chum salmon
salmon from
from the
the 1970
1970 brood dominated the run into
into
Tillamook
Tillamook Bay
Bay in
in 1974.
1974. The age composition
composition was
was 35%
35% age
age 33 and
and 65%
65% age
age 4.
4.
A few
few 5-year-old
5-year-old chums
chums were
were also
also present.
present.
A
PRIVATE SAL10N
SALMON HATCHERIES
HATCHERIES
The 1971
1971 Oregon Legislature
Legislature enacted
enacted aa law
la\v fURS
(ORS 508.700
508.700 to
to 508.745)
508. 745)
authorizing private chum
chum salmon
salmon hatcheries.
hatcheries. The
The law
law was
was amended
amended by
by the
the
1973 legislature
legislature to include not more than four
four permits
for propagating
1973
permits for
chinook and
and coho
coho salmon
salmon during
during the
the 1973-75
1973-75 biennium.
biennium. Permits
Permits for
for coho
coho and
and
Inc. on the Columbia River
chinook salmon were issued to Anadromous,
chinook
Anadromous, Inc.
River in
FY 1975. Permits
for propagating chinook and coho were previously granted
Permits for
to Oregon Aqua-Foods (Yaquina
(Yaquina River).
River). Six
Six permits
permits have
have been
been issued
issued to
to
private chum
chum salmon
salmon hatchery
hatchery operators
operators since
since 1971.
1971. No
No chum
chum salmon
salmon hatchery
hatchery
permits
permits were
were issued
issued in
in FY
FY 1975.
1975.
Chum
Chum Salmon
Private chum
chum salmon
salmon hatcheries
hatcheries are
are modeled
modeled after
after the
the prototype
prototype "stream"streamPrivate
side
incubator" designed
designed by
by Oregon
Oregon State
State University
University on
on '1hiskey
Whiskey Creek,
Creek,
side incubator"
Netarts Bay.
Bay. Surplus
Surplus chum
chum eggs
eggs at
at Vhiskey
Whiskey Creek
Creek were
were sold
sold to
to private
hatcheries
hatcheries according
according to
to prescribed
prescribed priorities.
priorities.
4.
In FY 1975,
1975, the
the state
state sold
sold Keta
Keta Corporation
Corporation (Sand
(Sand Lake)
Lake) 1,017,500
1,017,500
In
eggs,
million were
were sold
sold
eggs, Alfred
Alfred Hampson
Hampson purchased
purchased 7,500
7,500 chum
chum eggs,
eggs, and
and 1.0
10 million
to Siuslaw Fisheries
Fisheries from
from Whiskey
Whiskey Creek.
Creek. Keta Corporation also
also purchased
to
287,500 chum
chum eggs
eggs taken
taken from
from the
the native
native run
run in
in Jewell
Jewell Creek,
Creek, Sand
Sand Lake.
Lake.
287,500
Oregon State
State University
University placed
placed 10,000
10,000 chum
chum eggs
eggs from
from Whiskey Creek in
in the
the
Oregon
Harris-Kelly hatchery
hatchery (Tillamook
(Tillamook Bay)
Bay) for
for experimental
experimental purposes.
purposes.
Harris-Kelly
The Fish
Fish Commission
Commission signed
signed cooperative
cooperative agreements
agreements with Oregon AquaAquaFoods (Yaquina
River) and Ceratodus
Ceratodus Fisheries
Fisheries (Siuslaw
River) to
to rear
rear
(Yaquina River)
(Siuslaw River)
Foods
500,000 chum
chum eggs
eggs at
at each
each station.
station. The
The eggs
eggs were
were obtained
obtained from
from the
the Quilcene
Quilcene
National Fish
Fish Hatchery
Hatchery in
in Washington
Washington State.
State. The
The agreement
agreement requires
requires the
the
National
companies to
to supply the state with a portion
portion of the
the eggs
eggs from
from returning
returning
adults to
to supply
supply other
other hatcheries.
hatcheries.
Fall Chinook and Coho Salmon
Oregon Aqua-Foods,
Inc. purchased 750,000 coho
Aqua-Foods, Inc.
coho eggs,
eggs, 126,000 spring
chinook eggs,
35,000 fall
fry from the
eggs, and 35,000
fall chinook
chinook fry
the Fish
Fish Commission's
Commission's Alsea
Alsea
hatcheries in
in FY
FY 1975.
1975. The
The company
company plans
plans to
to rear
rear the
the salmon
salmon at
and Trask hatcheries
their freshwater facility on Wright
their
Wright Creek and in saltwater rearing pens
pens
adjacent to
to Yaquina
Yaquina Bay.
Bay. The
The majority
majority of
of these
these fish
fish will be reared
reared to
to
pan
pan size
size for
for harvest
harvest under
under the
the company's
company's private
private trout
trout license.
license. Relatively
small
small numbers
numbers of coho and fall
fall chinook
chinook will
will be
be reared
reared for
for release
release under
under the
the
salmon permits.
permits.
COASTAL RESERVOIRS
RESERVOIRS
Reservoirs
Reservoirs storing water for
for the
the cities
cities of Hillsboro
Hilisboro and
and McMinnville
McMinnville
are respectively
respectively located
located on
on the
the headwaters
headwaters of
of the
the Trask
Trask and
and Nestucca
Nestucca rivers.
rivers.
J.
W. Barney
Barney Reservoir
Reservoir on
on Trask
Trask River
River has
has 205
205 surface
surface acres
acres at full
full pool
J. W.
compared to
to 130
130 surface
surface acres
acres in
in McGuire
McGuire Reservoir
Reservoir on
on the
the Nestucca
Nestucca River.
River.
Each reservoir
reservoir is
is approximately
approximately 60'
60' deep
deep at
at maximum
maximum poo1
pool elevation.
elevation.
Barney Reservoir was
was stocked with 248,000 spring chinook
chinook fingerlings
fingerlings
at
355 fish/lb
fish/lb on
on February
February 19,
19, 1974.
1974. McGuire
McGuire Reservoir
Reservoir received
received 156,000
156,000
at 355
Routine
spring chinook fingerlings
fingerlings at
at 344
344 fish/lb
fish/lb on
on February
February 20,
20, 1974.
1974. Routine
limnological
limnological and
and biological
biological data
data were
were collected
collected from
from the
the reservoirs
reservoirs after
after
the
the chinook
chinook were
were released.
released.
McGuire Reservoir,
Reservoir, Nestucca
Nestucca River
River
McGuire
Spring chinook grew from 51 mrn
length in February to
mm fork
fork length
to 129 mm
mm in
in
November in
in McGuire
McGuire Reservoir.
Reservoir. The
growth increment (78
(78 mrn)
The growth
mm) was
was smaller
November
than that for the
the 1972
1972 brood which gre\v(99 mm)
than
grew from 49 mm to 148 mm (99
mm) the
the
previous year.
year. However,
However, the
the stocking
stocking density
density was
was nearly four
four times
times greater
greater
previous
Twenty-three percent
in
1974 than
than in
in 1973.
1973. TWenty-three
percent of
of the
the smolts
smolts were counted
in 1974
trap placed
placed below
below McGuire
McGuire Reservoir.
Reservoir. The total
total
through aa downstream
downstream migrant
migrant trap
through
estimated number of emigrants was
57,000 fish
fish or 36.8% of the
was 57,000
the fingerlings
fingerlings
stocked.
spring chinook smolts were heavily parasitized with Suctoria
stocked. The spring
(genus
attached to
to gill
gill membranes.
membranes.
(genus Triahophrya)
Trichophrya) attached
McGuire Reservoir was restocked with 150,000
150,000 spring
spring chinook fingerlings
fingerlings
with an
an average
average weight
weight of
of 205
205 fish/lb
fish/lb on
on March
March 18,
18, 1975.
1975.
with
5.
5.
Barney Reservoir,
Reservoir, Trask
Trask River
River
Linutological conditions
conditions and
and growth
growth of
of spring
spring chinook were monitored
Limnological
in Barney
Barney Reservoir
Reservoir through
through August
August 1974.
1974. We
We were
were unable
unable to
to sample
sample after
after
in
August when
when the
the pool
pool level
level subsided
subsided below
below the
the boat
boat launching
launching site.
site. The
spring chinook
chinook grew
grew from
from 47
47 mm
mm fork
fork length
length to
to 119
119 mm
mm in
in late
late August,
August,
spring
increase of
of7272nun.
mm. The growth
growth increment
increment was
was 13
13 nun
mm larger than
than that
that
an
an increase
for
chinook stocked
stocked in
in 1973.
1973. The
The increased
increased growth
growth
for the
the 1972-brood spring chinook
was surprising
surprising since
since the
the stocking
stocking density was nearly five
five times
times greater
in 1974.
1974.
Barney Reservoir stabilized
stabilized at
at aa depth
depth of
of 20'
20' after
after August
August 1974.
1974. The
The
reservoir was
was sampled
sampled in
in mid-October
mid-October 1974,
1974, and
and only one
one spring
spring chinook
chinook was
was
recovered. The
The fish
fish were
were apparently
apparently diverted
diverted through a drain tube
tube into
into
the Tualatin River
River (Willamette
(Willamette River
River system).
system). The problems associated with
severe drawdown
drawdown were discussed
discussed with municipal employees,
employees, and they agreed
severe
to
to maintain the
the pool level
level above
above 30'
30' if
if possible
possible during
during late
late summer.
summer.
Barney Reservoir was restocked
restocked with
with 250,000
250,000 spring
spring chinook
chinook fingerlings.
fingerlings.
One
One half
half of the
the total
total was liberated
liberated on
on Harch
March 19,
19, 1975,
1975, at 191
191 fish/lb
fish/lb and
the remainder on April 9-10,
the
9-10, at
at 139
139 fish/lb.
fish/lb.
COASTAL LAKES
LAKES
Tenmile Lake
Lake
The Fish
Fish and
and Game commissions
commissions attempted
attempted to
to eradicate
eradicate large
large populations
of stunted
stunted brown bullheads,
bullheads, yellow
yellow perch,
and bluegill
bluegill sunfish
sunfish in
in the
the
of
perch, and
Tenmile Lake
Lake system
system in
in September
September 1963.
1968. Native
Native coho
coho salmon
salmon were
were salvaged,
salvaged,
and following
following rotenone
rotenone treatment
treatment of
of the
the syste;
syste~were
restocked in
in the
the lakes.
lakes.
and
were restocked
The project was only partially successful
successful since
since some
some bluegills and brown
bullheads survived.
survived.
In FY 1975 we
In
we continued to
to monitor changes
changes in
in the
the coho
coho and
and warm-water
warm-water
fish
fish populations.
Coho Spawning
Spawning Population.
Population. Annual numbers of jack and adult coho
Coho
escaping into
into the
the Tenmile
Tenmile lakes
lakes have
have been
been estimated
estimated since
since 1956
1956 from
from data
data
escaping
Population
estimates
have
been
based
collected
in standard
standard stream
stream surveys.
surveys.
collected in
1974, the mileage surveyed
upon
a tagging
tagging study
study completed
completed in
in 1955.
1955. In
In 1974,
surveyed was
upon a
reduced from
from 17.1
17.1 to
to 7.0
7.0 following
following aa statistical
statistical analysis
analysis of
of previous
previous data.
data.
We estimated 3,000
3,000 jacks
jacks (1972
(1972 brood)
brood) and 4,500
4,500 adults (1971
(1971 Brood)
Brood)
entered
lakes in
in 1974-75.
1974-75. The
The total
total return
return (including
(including jacks)
jacks) from
from
entered Tenmile
Tenmile lakes
the 1971
1971 brood
brood was
was 12,500
12,500 coho.
coho.
the
The sex
sex ratio
ratio of
of adult
adult coho
coho salmon
salmon in
in 1974-75
1974-75 was
was 66.4%
66.4% females
females and
and
The
33.6%
a sample
sample of
of 355
355 spawned-out
spawned-out carcasses.
carcasses. The average
average
33.6% males
males based
based on
on a
size
size of
of jacks
jacks was
was 46.5
46.5 cm
em compared
compared to
to 72.2
72.2 cm
em for
for adults.
adults.
Trap Catch
Catch in
in South
South Tenmile
Tenmile Lake.
Lake. Annual variations in
in the
the fish
fish
Trap
populations have been determined
determined from
from an
an Oneida Lake
Lake trap set in
in Templeton
Arm,
South Teninile
Tenmile Lake.
Lake. The trap
trap was fished
fished at
at standard
standard intervals
intervals from
from
Arm, South
6.
July through
through December
December 1974. The
fished at
lake outlet
The trap
trap was
was fished
at the
the lake
outlet to
to
sample
24, 1975.
sample emigrant
emigrant coho
coho from
from March
March 7 to
to June
June 24,
/
Bluegill
bullheads, and
and largemouth
largemouth bass were
the most
Bluegill sunfish,
sunfish, brown
brown bullheads,
were the
most
fish caught
caught in
in the
the trap
trap (Table
(Table 3).
3). The
abundant fish
The three
three species
species combined
combined
comprised 97% of the
the total
total catch.
catch.
Table
3.
Table 3.
Species
Composition of
of Fish
Fish Caught
Caught in
in aa Floating
Floating Trap,
Trap,
Species Composition
Lake, 1974-75
Tenmile
Tenmile Lake,
Arm
Templeton Arm
Terr1eton
Dates fished
fished
Hours fished
fished
Location
Location
Tenmile
Lake Outlet
Outlet
Tenmile Lake
7/01/74 to
to 12/17/74
1,675.2
1,675.2
3/07/75 to
6/24/75
to 6/24/75
1,826.9
1,826.9
56
12
10
271
0
0
35
35
87
17
Coho
Coho salmon
salmon
Juveniles (1973
(1973 brood)
brood)
Jacks (1972
(1972 brood)
brood)
(1971 brood)
brood)
Adults (1971
Trout
Trout
Rainbow
Cutthroat
Bluegill sunfish
sunfish
Brown bullhead
Prickly sculpin
Largemouth
Largemo-uth bass
bass y
1/
Eul
achon
Eu1achon
Pacific
Pacific lamprey
lamprey
if
Y
25
25
3,816
3,816
835
835
88
615
615
00
11
877
877
464
464
69
69
82
82
20
20
169
All
AU age
llge 2+
2+ or
ozo younger.
youngezo.
The index
index catch
catch (number
(number captured
captured per
per net
net day)
day) of
ofall
all species,
species, except
except
The largemouth
largemouth bass
bass
fish/net day compared to 7.9 fish/net
fish/net day in 1973.
index was 8.8 fish/net
1973. The 19731973coho index
index was
was 0.8
0.8 fish/net
fish/net day,
day, which was the
the lowest
lowest since
since trapping
trapping
brood coho
brood
began in
in 1969
1969 (1968
(1968 brood
brood year).
year). The
The index
index catch
catch rates
rates for
for both
both bluegill
bluegill
sunfish (54.6
(54.6 fish/net
fish/net day) and
and brown
brown bullheads
bullheads (12.0 fish/net
were
fish/net day)
day) were
46% to 85%
85% less
less than
than in
in 1973.
1973.
largeiaouth
to 1973 (Table
bass, declined
declinedcoinçared
co~ to
4).
largemouth bass,
(Table 4).
Food
Habits -.. ·Largemouth
Bass: . We
during
Food Habits
Largernouth Bass:
We seined
seined 132
132la.rgamcuth
largmcuthb&n
bs during
April
May along
along the
the shoreline
shoreline near
near tributary
tributary mouths
mouths to
to ascertain
ascertain predation
April and
and May
on
on juvenile
juvenile salmon.
salmon. Most
Most bass
bass were
were smaller
smaller than
than 20
20 cm
em in length
(range: 5.1
5.1
length (range:
to 39.3
39.3 cm
em TL).
TL). Insects
Insects and
and juvenile
juvenile fish
fish were
were the
the predominant
predominant food
food items
in the largemouth
largemouth bass
bass stomachs
stomachs (49%
(49% and
and 47%
47% of
of the
the stomachs,
stomachs, respectively).
respectively).
The percentage occurrence
occurrence of
of identifiable
identifiable fish
fish was
was 78.1%
78.1% bluegills,
bluegills, 12.5%
12.5%
coho salmon,
salmon, and
and 9.4%
9.4% cottids.
cottids. Young
Young coho
coho entering
entering the
the lakes
lakes are
are vulnerable
vulnerable
to predation by
by large
large populations
populations of
of juvenile
juvenile bass
bass and
and adult
adult bluegills,
bluegills,
co2mnonly found
found near shore
coDIIlonly
in the
the spring.
spring.
shore in
7.
7.
Table 4.
4.
Numbers of
of Fish
Fish Captured
Captured per
per Net
Net Day
Day in
in Templeton
Templeton Arm,
Arm,
Numbers
1969-74
South Tenmile Lake,
Lake, July
July through
through December,
December, 1969-74
1969
!969
1970
1970
1971
1971
1972
1972
1973
1973
1974
1974
Yearly
Yearly
Change
1973-74
1973-74
8.3
76.9
1.1
1.1
20.6
20.6
2.0
2.0
34.5
21.7
21.7
3.7
3.7
70.8
70.8
24.7
24.7
4.2
4.2
14.9
14.9
205.3
170.7
170.7
0.9
0.9
5.5
5.5
100.8
100.8
78.9
78.9
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.9
54.6
54.6
12.0
-0.1
-0.1
-4.6
-46.2
-46.2
-66.9
-66.9
140.7
2,858.4
140.7 2,858.4
3.3
6.5
3.3
6.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1,404.9
19.5
19.5
0.2
0.2
0.0
0.0
1.8
1.8
7.9
7.9
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.1
8.8
8.8
0.0
0.0
-1.7
+0.9
+0.9
Year
Year
Species
Coho
Coho (juvenile)
(juvenile)
Trout
Trout if
Bluegill sunfish
sunfish
Brown bullhead
1/
o.o
0.0
14.2
14.2
Three
Three spine
spine
stickleback
o.o
0.0
Prickly sculpin
sculpin
0.7
Largemouth bass
bass 2/
2/ 0.0
Largemouth
0.0
Y1/
Varying
Varying nwthers
n.urrbel'B of
tztout
annuaZZystocked
stockedbybyOWC
owe personneZ.
trout annually
personnel.
i2/j Stocked in
in1971
19?1by
byOWC
owe personnel.
personnel.
8+
younger.
2# OP
or yowiger.
All largemouth
AZZ
Zargemouth bass
were age
age
bass captured were
Emigration
Emigration of
of Coho
Coho Smolts
Smolts (1972
(1972 Brood).
Brood). AA trap
trap was
was fished
fished from
from March
March 77
to June 24,
24, 1975,
1975, to
to sample
sample coho
coho emigrants.
emigrants. Peak
Peak emigration
emigration occurred
occurred between
between
~~y 28
28 and
and June
June 3,
3, about
about 22 weeks
weeks later
later than
than in
in previous
previous years.
years. Lack of
May
freshets and absence of
of floating
floating vegetation
vegetation provided
provided exceptional
exceptional conditions
conditions
freshets
for operating the
the trap
trap during
during the
the entire
entire migration
migration interval.
interval.
The trap
trap captured
captured 271 coho
coho smolts
smol ts (Table
(Table 3)
3) emigrating
emigrating from
from the
the
Tenmile lakes
lalces system.
system. The
The average
average fork
fork length
length of
of emigrants
emigrants was
was 164
164 mm,
mm,
Tenmile
compared to
to 139
139 to
to 170
170 mm
mm in
in 44 previous
previous years.
years.
F1ora Lake
Floras
Prior
Prior studies
studies indicated
indicated fall
fall chinook
chinook stocked
stocked in
in Floras Lake
Lake in
in June
In
attained acceptable
acceptable growth
growth rates
rates and
and emigrated
emigrated during
during fall
fall freshets.
freshets. In
attained
FY 1975,
1975, the
the study
study objectives were to
to confirm
confirm growth
growth and
and emigration
emigration data
FY
and document
document the
the survival
survival rate
rate of
of fall
fall chinook
chinook in
in Floras
Floras Lake.
Lake.
Fingerling fall
fall chinook
chinook (1973
(1973 brood)
brood) were stocked
stocked into
into Floras Lake
Lake
Fingerling
on June
13, 1974,
1974, from
from Elk
Elk River
River Hatchery.
Hatchery. The lake
lake received 102,696
102,696 fish
fish
on
June 13,
with an average
average weight
weight of
of 100
100 fish/lb.
fish/lb. The chinook were marked with a
left pectoral (LP)
(LP) fin
fin clip
clip prior
prior to
to release.
release.
Growth
of Fall
Fall Chinook.
Chinook. Fall
Fall Chinook
Chinook grew
grew from
from aa mean fork
fork length
length
Growth of
of 76
76 mm
mm when.
when stocked
of
stocked in
in Floras
Floras Lake
Lake to
to 108
108 mm
mm in
in late
late October
October just
just prior
prior
to
The growth
growth increment
increment was
was 32
32 nun
nun during
during the approximate
to emigration.
emigration. The
interval compared
compared to
to 43
43 mm
mm in
in 1973.
1973. Wild juvenile
juvenile fall
fall chinook
4-month
4-month interval
entered Floras Lake in mid-summer which may have reduced the growth rate
of
chinook stocked
stocked in
in June.
June. No
No wild
wild chinook
chinook were
were present in
in Floras
Floras Lake
Lake
of chinook
in
1973.
in 1973.
8.
Emigration
and Survival.
Survival. Few fall
captured in
in Floras
Floras
fall chinook were captured
Emigration and
Lake
after
November.
As
in
1973,
the
chinook
apparently
emigrated
from the
the
apparently
emigrated
from
Lake after November,. As in 1973,
lake
during
initial
fall
freshets.
lake during initial fall freshets.
In August 1974,
1974, we
we marked
marked 1,805
1,805 chinook
chinook using
using cold
cold branding
branding techniques
techniques
In
to estimate
survival. AA trap
trap was intermittently
intermittently fished
fished at
at the
the outlet
outlet from
from
to
estimate survival.
to November
November 14,
14, 1974,
1974, to
to recover
recover marked
marked emigrants.
emigrants. Only 198
198
September 33 to
chinook,
chinook, including
including two
two branded
branded fish,
fish, were
were recovered.
recovered. Erratic
Erratic currents
currents
in
in the
the lake
lake outlet and persistent vandalism reduced the expected catch and
accurate survival
survival estimates
estimates of
of chinook
chinook stocked
stocked in
in Floras
Floras Lake.
Lake.
precluded accurate
Sport
Fish Census
Census in
in New
New River.
River. The
sport fishery
fishery in
in New
New River
River was
was
Sport Fish
The sport
censused between
between November
November 16
16 and
and December
December 16,
16, 1974.
1974. The
The census
census was conducted
conducted
censused
to
the contribution
salmon adults
(1971 brood)
jack
to determine
determine the
contribution of
of coho
coho salmon
adults (1971
brood) and
and jack
(1972 brood)
brood) returning
returning from
from previous
previous plants
plants into
into Floras
Floras Lake.
Lake.
chinook (1972
chinook
Sport
fishermen harvested
Sport fishermen
harvested an
an estimated
estimated 51
51 adult
adult chinook
chinook with
with 2,716
2,716
angler hours
hours of
of effort.
effort. No
No marked
marked salmon
salmon were
were observed
observed during
during the
the creel
creel
angler
cens~apparently
of New
New River
River
census,
apparently because
because the
the foredune
foredune blocking
blocking the mouth of
late in
in the
the fall.
fall. An estimated
725 marked
opened
opened late
estimated 725
marked adult
adult coho
coho salmon
salmon destined
destined
for Floras Lake entered
entered Elk
Elk River.
River. Straying
of adult
for
Straying of
adult coho
coho destined
destined for
the lake
lake reduced
reduced the
the opportunity
opporttmity to
to harvest
harvest fish
fish in
in New
New River.
River. We were
the
determine the
the fate
fate of
of jack
jack chinook
chinook returning to
to Floras
Floras Lake.
Lake.
unable to determine
TRANSPLANTS OF
OF HATCHERY
HATCHERY SALMON
SALMON
TRANSPLANTS
Coho
Coho Salmon
Salmon
Surplus Adults.
Adults. AA large
large surplus
surplus of
of adult
adult coho
coho salmon
salmon normally
normally returns
returns
to the
the coastal
coastal hatcheries.
hatcheries. Streams
suitable for
for stocking
stocking adult
to
Streams suitable
adult salmon
salmon
listed to
to utilize
utilize aa portion
portion of
of the
the surplus
surplus hatchery
hatchery fish.
fish. The
The release
release
were
were listed
sites
are generally
generally located
located above
sites are
above natural
natural stream
stream obstructions
obstructions in
in areas
areas
devoid
devoid of
of native salmon
salmon populations.
populations. Progeny from
from transplanted
transplanted salmon
salmon
rear
rear above
above the
the barriers and increase
increase the number of coho smolts produced in
the
the watersheds.
The planting list
list of 1974-brood coho
coho adults contained streams
streams suitable
However,
only
1,302
fOr
an
estimated
12,200
surplus
hatchery
fish.
However,
only
1,302 coho
coho
for an estimated 12,200 surplus hatchery fish.
released into
into five
five drainages
drainages (Table
(Table 5).
5). The potential egg deposition
were released
were
was 1.9
1.9 million
million based
based on
on an
an average
average 3,000
3,000 eggs/female.
eggs/female. The
The number
number of
of adults
adults
was
transplanted in
in 1974
1974 was severely curtailed
curtailed from
from former
former years because of
their delayed
delayed arrival
arrival at
at the
the hatcheries
hatcheries and
and lack
lack of
of transport
transport trucks.
trucks.
their
-
Table 5.
5.
Table
Stream
System
System
Elk Creek
Elk
Nehalem
Nehalem
Alsea
Alsea
in November
Adult Coho Salmon Stocked
1974
Stocked in
November 1974
No, of
No.
Adults
300
300
73
73 1/
!/
400
400
Stream
System
Siuslaw
Sius law
Hub
bards
Hubbards
Total
Total
Y/
Include
IncZudssthree
th.Peeprecocial
p:recociaZmale-a
maZes (jacks).
(jacks).
No. of
of
No.
Adults
Adults
400
400
129
129
1,302
1,302
9.
Unfed F;r
(1974 Brood).
Brood). Devils Lake was stocked with
linfed
Fry and
and Fingerlings
Fingerlings (1974
200,196 coho salmon
salmon fingerlings
fingerlings at
at 41.3
41.3 fish/lb
fish/lb in
in April
April 1975.
1975. On May
May 21,
21,
1975,
Lake (Alsea
(Alsea River)
River) received
received 26,980
26,980 coho
coho averaging
averaging 142
142 fish/lb.
fish/lb.
1975, Eckman Lake
These lakes
lakes provide
provide suitable
suitable salmon
salmon rearing
rearing areas
areas but
but have
havedeficient
deficientspawnspawning
gravel. Surplus coho
coho salmon
salmon fry
fry (331,000)
(331, 000) were stocked into Fishhawk
ing gravel.
Creek,
River.
Creek, Nehalem
Nehalem River.
Coho Smolt Transplant Study
Study (1971
(1971 Brood).
Brood). Six groups
groups of
of distinctively
marked
hatchery coho
coho siiioits
smolts (1971
marked hatchery
(1971brood
brood year)
year) were
were released
released into
into the
the Alsea
Alsea
rivers. One group
group of Alsea River stock
stock was released
released at Alsea
and Trask rivers.
Hatchery and
and aa second
second group
group transported
transported downstream
downstream and
and released into
into tidetideHatchery
water.
water. Concurrently,
Concurrently, two groups
groups of Trask
Trask Hatchery
Hatchery coho
coho were
were transported
transported
to Alsea River and
and released
released at
at the
the same
same sites.
sites. A
group released at the
the
A group
Trask Hatchery and
and another
another group
group transported
transported 20
20 miles and released
released at Alsea
the experiment.
experiment. Since the Alsea Hatchery production
Hatchery completed
completed the
coho
also distinctively
distinctively marked
marked from
froma atherapeutic
therapeutictreatment
treatmentofofoxy-tetra-oxytetracoho were
were also
cycline (OTC),
(OTC), they
they were
were included
included in
in the
the experiment.
experiment.
The basic
basic purpose
purpose of the
the experiment was to
to determine
determine what happens
happens when
stocks
stocks of coho smolts are released into tidewater or transported to alien
alien
rivers in terms
terms of
of sport
sport catch,
catch, ocean
ocean distribution,
distribution, survival,
survival, and
and escapement.
escapement •
.Precocious
(jacks) returned in 1973 followed
Precocious males
males (jacks)
followed by adult coho in
in
1974.
1974.
In 1974,
censused the
the sport
sport fishery
fishery in
in Alsea
Alsea Bay,
Bay, Alsea
Alsea River,
River,
1974, we censused
and Fall Creek and
and the
the sport
sport fishery
fishery in
in Tillamook
Tillamook Bay.
Bay. Data
Data collected
collected from
from
the sport Fisheries
fisheries and the hatchery returns
returns are
are currently being compiled
Final estimates of the
the ocean sport
sport and commercial
commercial catches
catches
and analyzed.
analyzed. Final
zemained
incompletely reported
reported by
by some
some Pacific
Pacific Coast
Coast states.
states. Once
all data
data
remained incompletely
Once all
are reported and summarized,
summarized, a final
final report
report will
will be drafted
drafted on
on the
the results
results
of the
the experiment.
experiment.
Fall
Salmon
Fall Chinook Salmon
Coos Bay.
Bay. Between
Coos
Between October
October 23
23 and
and 28,
28, 1974,
1974, the
the Coos
Coos and
and Millicoma
Millicoma rivers
rivers
were stocked
stocked with
with Elk
Elk and
and Chetco
Chetco river
river fall
fall chinook
chinook smolts
smolts (1973
(1973 brood)
brood) at
10.5
fish/lb from
from Elk
Elk River
River Hatchery.
Hatchery. We
We released
released 109,985
109,985 Elk
Elk River
River stock
stock
10.5 fish/lb
and 99,609 Chetco River stock into tidewater
tidewater approximately 3 mi
mi above
above the
the
forks
and Millicoma
Mill leoma rivers.
rivers. The two
two stocks
stocks were differentially
differentially
forks of Coos and
marked with
with paired
paired reciprocal
reciprocal fin
fin clips
clips to
to identify
identify them
them in
in sport
sport and
and
commercial
troll
fisheries.
The
project
will
test
the
relative
contribution
The
will
test
the
relative
commercial troll fisheries.
and distribution of
of each
each stock
stock released
released north
north of
of their
their natal
natal streams.
streams.
In June 1975,
1975, 322,357 fingerling fall
fall chinook
chinook were
were released into
into Coos
Coos
and Millicoma
LV-RM. These
Milliconia rivers,
rivers, Coos
Coos Bay,
Bay, including
including 166,784 marked LV-RM.
fingerlings originated from Elk River stock and represent
fingerlings
represent the
the early,
early, excess
excess
rearing
capability of
of the
the hatchery.
hatchery. The fingerling
fingerling release
release will
will test
test the
the
rearing capability
feasibility of rearing fish in the
feasibility
the Coos
Coos Bay estuary and their subsequent
subsequent
contribution
to offshore
offshore and
and tidewater
tidewater fisheries.
fisheries. The
The 1974
1974 brood
brood represents
represents
contribution to
the third successive
successive fingerling
fingerling release
release into
into the
the Coos
Coos system.
system. Unfortunately,
Unfortunately,
analysis of the results from the 1974-brood
1974-brood release
release will
will be
be hampered by an
an
unscheduled diversion of 72,100 fingerlings
fingerlings containing 22,400 LV-RM marks
marks
into the
the Coquille
Coquille River
River while
while in
in transit
transit to
to Coos
Coos Bay.
Bay.
10.
10.
Coquille
River. The
The Coquille River
River was
was stocked
stocked with
with 103,865,
103,865, 19731973Coguille River.
brood
brood fall
fall chinook
chinook smolts
smolts (Elk
(Elk River
River stock)
stock) in late
late September 1974
1974 at an
size of
of 15.3
15.3 fish/lb.
fish/lb. The
The fish
fish were released into
into tidal
average
tidal freshwater
average size
at the Coquille and
and Riverton
Riverton boat
boat ramps.
ramps. The fall
fall chinook
chinook should
should augment
augment
troll fishery and the
the depressed
depressed Coquille
Coquille River
River sport
sport fishery
fishery
the Bandon troll
upon
upon maturity.
maturity.
Tillainook Bay.
Bay. Trask
Tillamook
Trask River
River Hatchery
Hatchery normally
the loading
loading
normally must
must reduce
reduce the
of
of fall
fall chinook
chinook in
in the
the rearing
rearing ponds
ponds in
in August
August because
because of
of declining
declining water
water
supplies and
and warm
warm temperatures.
temperatures. In
In past years,
years, the fingerlings
fingerlings were
were released
released
at the hatchery.
hatchery. Low water,
water, bird
bird predation,
predation, and
and competition
competition with
with wild
wild
juveniles suggested
suggested alternate
alternate methods
methods of
of release
release may
may be
be more
more desirable.
desirable.
juveniles
On
brood)
On August
August 5-6,
5-6, 1974,
1974, 169,788 fall
fall chinook
chinook fingerlings
fingerlings (1973
(1973 brood)
were transported
transported downstream
downstream and
and released
released into
into Trask
Trask River
River tidewater
tidewater at
were
river mile
mile 2.4.
2.4. The
The fingerlings
fingerlings were
were marked
marked with
with aa single
single OTC
OTC ring.
ring.
Hatchery personnel
released an
an additional
additional 123,954
123,954 chinook
chinook smolts
smolts (8.4
(8.4
Hatchery
personnel released
fish/lb) with double
double OTC
OTC rings
rings on
on November
November 1,
1, 1974.
1974. Fish
Fish samples
samples were
were
fish/ib)
collected
from August
5 to
to November
November 11,
11, 1974.
1974. Seine
2,847
Seine hauls captured 2,847
collected from
August 5
chinook and
and 389
389 were
were examined
examined for
for OTC
OTC marks.
marks. ~farked
fish comprised
comprised 21%
21%
chinook
Marked fish
of the sample examined from the estuary,
estuary, indicating a significant
significant contricontribution of
of hatchery
hatchery fish.
fish.
bution
The fingerlings
fingerlings scattered
scattered throughout
throughout the
the Tillamook
Tillamook Bay
Bay estuary
shortly
The
estuary shortly
after release.
release. Significant numbers
numbers remained until
until November when
when most
most
entered
the ocean.
ocean. Only
three smolts
smolts with
with double
double OTC
OTC rings
rings were
captured
entered the
Only three
were captured
from the November 1 hatchery release,
release, suggesting they rapidly emigrated
emigrated
the estuary.
estuary.
through the
Spring Chinook
Salmon
chinook Salmon
Fingerling
spring chinook
chinook salmon
salmon were
were released
released into
into Clear
Clear Creek,
Creek,
Fingerling spring
Kilchis River,
River, and
and Idiot
Idiot Creek,
Creek, Wilson
Wilson River,
River, tributaries
tributaries of
of Tillamook
Tillamook Bay.
Bay.
The
The Kilchis
Kilchis received
received 50,286
50,286 fingerlings
fingerlings and
and the
the Wilson
Wilson River
River was stocked
stocked
with 75,168
75,168 spring
spring chinook.
chinook. The
The fingerlings
fingerlings averaged
averaged 174
174 fish/lb
fish/lb at
release.
spring chinook were released
released to
to augment
augment depressed natural
release. The
The spring
populations
in the
the rivers.
rivers.
populations in
FALL CHINOOK ECOLOGY
ECOLOGY
Elk River
Estimates. Populations of wild
wild and
and hatchery-reared
hatchery-reared fall
fall
Population Estimates.
Population
chinook were again
again estimated
estimated in
in Elk
Elk River.
River. We
We tagged
tagged 823
823 salmon
salmon in
in lower
lower
Elk River
River from
from October
October 22 through
through December
December 23,
23, 1974.
1974. The run was generally
generally
Elk
later than normal
normal in 1974,
1974, and few fish
fish moved above
above tidewater until
until
November 66 when
when the
the first
first heavy
heavy rains
rains of
of the
the season
season occurred.
occurred. Tags
Tags were
were
November
recovered on the
the spawning grounds and at
at the hatchery adult
adult pond from
November 8,
8, 1974,
1974, to
to February
February 10,
10, 1975.
1975.
The
total run
salmon into
The total
run of
of adult
adult chinook
chinook salmon
into Elk
Elk River
River was
was estimated
estimated
at 7,624
was based on 436 tagged wild and hatchery
at
7,624 fish. This estimate was
adults, a combined sample of
of 1,223
1,223 carcasses
carcasses and
and 69
69 tag
tag recoveries.
recoveries. We
We
adults,
11.
11.
to estimate
estimate the
the population of wild chinook adults
were unable to
adults from tag
recoveries because
because only
only six
six were
were recovered
recovered in
in aa sample
sample of
of 186
186 carcasses.
carcasses.
recoveries
An estimate
estimate of
of 1,381
1,381 wild adult chinook
chinook was obtained
obtained by applying the
the
An
percentage of
of wild
wild adults
adults in
in the
the tagging
tagging sample
sample (18.12%)
(18.12%) to
to the
the total
total adult
estimate of
of 7,624
7,624 fish.
fish. The proportion of
of wild to
to hatchery adults should
estimate
accurate because
because tagging
tagging occurred
occurred throughout
throughout the
the time
time that
that hatchery and
be accurate
be
wild adults
adults entered
entered the
the river
river and
and was
was not
not selective
selective to
to either
either group
group of
of fish.
fish.
wild
Timing appeared
appeared to
to be
be similar
similar for
for both
both groups
groups of
of fish.
fish.
The total
total run of age 2 chinook jacks
jacks in Elk
Elk River was
was estimated to be
fish. This
based on
on 178
178 tagged
tagged wild
wild and
and hatchery
hatchery jacks,
jacks,
1,864 fish.
This estimate
estimate was
was based
a combined sample
sample of
of 105
lOS carcasses
carcasses and
and nine
nine tag
tag recoveries.
recoveries. A
direct
A direct
estimate of wild chinook jacks
jacks was
was not
not possible because only one tag
tag was
was
recovered in
in the
the sample
sample of
of 40
40 carcasses.
carcasses. An estimate
estimate of
of 1,219
1,219 wild chinook
chinook
jacks
jacks was
was obtained using the
the tagging sample and applying the
the same methods
methods used
used
to
wild adults.
adults. In
the adult
adult pond
pond at
at the
the hatchery
hatchery has
has
to estimate
estimate wild
In the
the past,
past, the
of the
the sample
sample of
of chinook
chinook jacks
jacks for
for population
population estimates.
estimates.
provided most
most of
provided
Very few jacks
jacks entered the adult pond in
in 1974 and,
and, because of this,
this, we
we were
were
only able to
to sample
sample aa small
small percentage
percentage of
of the
the jack
jack population.
population. The wild
population of
of fall
fall chinook
chinook in
in 1974
1974 was
was very
very similar
similar to
to the
the runs in
in 1971,
1971,
population
1972,
and 1973.
1973.
1972, and
Returns front
from 12
chinook were
were
12 separate
separate groups
groups of
of hatchery-reared
hatchery-reared fall
fall chinook
estimated. Four groups
groups from the 1972 brood returned as
as jacks,
jacks, three
three groups
groups
three groups
from
from the
the 1971
1971 brood
brood returned
returned as
as age
age 3,
3, three
groups from
from the
the 1970
1970 brood
brood
returned as
as age 4,
4, one group
group from the 1969 brood returned as
as age 5,
5, and
three
three groups
groups from
from the
the 1968
1968 brood
brood returned
returned as
as age
age 6.
6. The
The three
three groups
groups of
of
age 66 fish
fish were
were lumped
lumped into
into one
one group
group because
because of
of the
the small
small number
of fish
fish
age
number of
involved. We
estimated 6,888
6,888 hatchery
hatchery chinook
chinook returned
returned in
in 1974
1974 (Table
(Table 6).
6).
We estimated
The number of
of adult chinook
chinook returning
returning to
to Elk
Elk River
River each year
year continued
to increase
large releases
increase because
because of
of the
the large
releases of
of smolts
smoits in
in Elk
Elk River
River since
since
1971.
1971.
In
In 1974,
1974, the
the adult
adult run
run of
of hatchery
hatchery chinook
chinook increased
increased by
by almost
almost 700
700
over the
the 1973
1973 figure.
figure. However,
there was
was an
an almost
almost complete
complete failure
failure of
of
However, there
1972-brood hatchery jacks
jacks returning
returning to
to Elk
Elk River
River (Table
(Table 6).
6), There is
is no
no
Heavy rains
obvious explanation
explanation for
for the
the lack
lack of
of hatchery
hatchery jacks.
jacks. Heavy
rains and
and lowlowobvious
just after the
land flooding occurred just
land
the 1972-brood smolts
smolts were
were released
released into
Elk
Elk River.
River. Either
Either the
the floods
floods in
in Elk
Elk River
River or adverse environmental condiconditions
may have
have caused
caused poor
poor survival.
survival. We will have
have more
more inforinfortions in
in the
the ocean
ocean may
mation on the
the fate
fate of the
the 1972
1972 brood
brood after
after 3-year
3-year aids
olds return
return in
in 1975.
1975.
the estimate
estimate of 5-year-old
5-year-old fish,
fish, the
the return
return of
of the
the 1969-brood
1969-brood
With the
release
complete. This group
group was marked with an unduplicated
release was
was essentially
essentially complete.
Ad-LM mark.
mark. AA complete
complete evaluation
evaluation of
of this
this brood
brood will be
be possible when
Ad-LM
information on ocean
ocean recoveries
recoveries from
from the
the Pacific
Pacific coastal
coastal states
states are
are finalized.
finalized.
Sport Fishery
Fishery Survey.
Survey, The
sport harvest
harvest of
of fall
fall chinook
chinooksalmon
salmoninin131k
.Elk
The sport
A statistical
River was estimated
estimated during
dUring the
the 1974
1974 season.
season. A
statistical creel
creel census
census
was conducted
conducted on
on the
the lower
lower 10
10 mi
mi of
of Elk
Elk River
River from
from mid-October,
chinook
was
mid-October, when chinook
first entered the
the river,
river, until
until the
the end
end of
of the
the fishing
fishing season
season on
on December
December 31.
31.
In
In 1974,
1974, the
the sport
sport season
season for
for salmon
salmon was
was extended
extended by
by 1
1 month
month from
from aa November
November 30
30
closing to
31 closing date to allow anglers
late
to a December 31
anglers to harvest late
retuming
hatchery adults.
adults.
returning hatchery
12.
12.
6.
Table 6.
Brood
Year
Year
Age
1972
1972
1972
1972
1972
1972
1972
1972
22
22
22
22
Fall Chinook Salmon to
to
Estimated Survival of Hatchery Fall
Elk River, 1974
1974
Mark
LV
LV
LI'
LP
RI'
RP
l/2D1/20-
Number
Released
Released
102,785
121,642
114,311
97,428
97.428
Size
Size and
and Time
Time
of Release
of
37.4/1b
37.4/lb
8.0/lb
8.0/1b
15.7/1b
15.7/lb
5.0/lb
1974
1974
Estimate
Percentage Accum.
Accum.
Survival
Percentage
Survival Percentage
of
No.
Survival
of No.
Released
(All
Ages
(.A,ll Age~
6/73
6/73
11/73
11/73
11/73
3/74
89
89
103
103
89
89
364
364
0.09
0.09
0.08
0.37
0.37
0.09
0.09
0.09
0.09
0.08
0.37
0.58
0.58
Ad-RP
Ad-RP
1971
1971
1971
1971
1971
33
33
33
RV
105,410
l/2D-LP 105,397
1/20-LP
LV
LV
334,157
7.2/lb 11/72
6.6/lb 11/72
12.5/lb 11/72
617
617
329
329
1,504
1,504
0.45
0.45
2.69
1.32
1.32
0.87
1970
1970
1970
1970
44
44
44
itV
4V
Ad-RM
LV
LV
409,092
97,568
171,757
47.0/lb
12.7/lb
12.7/lb
6/71
6/71
9/71
9/71
9/71
9/71
297
893
1,934
1,934
0.07
0.92
1.13
0.25
0.25
4.21
4.21
3.38
1969
1969
55
Ad-LM
107,808
8.
0/lb
8.0/lb
10/70
595
0.55
0.55
s.
72
5.72
1968
66
RV
RV
Ad
LV
321,032
321,032
15.7/lb 10/69
10/69
11.1/lb 10/69
10/69
6.8/lb 3/70
3/70
74
74
0.02
0.02
3.26
1974 Total
0~31
0.31
6,888
We
We interviewed
interviewed 2,547
2,547 anglers
anglers and
and estimated
estimated 2,479
2,479 fall
fall chinook
chinook were
harvested in
in the
the Elk
Elk River
River sport
sport fishery.
fishery. A
A total
total of
of 922
922 or
or 37.2%
37.2% of
of the
the
total
total catch was taken in December during the 1 month extension of the
season. Total
Total estimated
est~mated angler
angler effort
effort was
was 39,844
39,844 hours
hours with an
an average
catch rate
rate of
of 15.9
15.9 hours
hours per
per salmon.
salmon. Wee estimated 22,173
22,173 hours
catch
hours of effort
or 55.6%
55.6% of
of the
the total
total effort
effort occurred
occurred during
during the
the extended
extended December
December season.
season.
or
Hatchery-reared fish
fish coiiqrised
comprised 79.7%
(1,975 fish)
fish) of
of the
the total
total sport
sport catch.
catch.
Hatchery-reared
79.7% (1,975
Two-year-old jacks
jacks comprised
comprised 13.3%
13.3% (330
(330 fish)
fish) of
of the
the chinook
chinook harvest.
harvest.
Two-year-old
The sport harvest of 2,479 chinook in
in 1974 was
was about
about the
the same as
as the
the
harvest in
in 1973
1973 (2,435)
(2,435) when
when the
the season
season was
was 11 month
month shorter
shorter in
in duration.
duration.
harvest
However, this
this is
is somewhat
somewhat misleading
misleading because
because the
the 1973
1973 sport
sport harvest
harvest was
However,
composed of only
only 15%
15% adults;
adults; whereas,
whereas, the
the 1974
1974 harvest
harvest contained
contained 87%
87% adults.
adults.
In 1974,
28.2% of the
1974, the sport fishery harvested an average of 28.2%
the adult
adult popupopulation in
in Elk
Elk River
River compared
compared with
with only
only 5.3%
5.3% in
in 1973
1973 and
and 6.3%
6.3% in
in 1972.
1972. The
The
extended December
December season
season was
was largely
largely responsible
responsible for
for the
the success
success of
of the
the
extended
sport
fishery in
in harvesting
harvesting adults.
adults. The
The sport
sport catch
catch in
in 1974
1974 would have
sport fishery
been considerably
considerably higher
higher if
if the
the expected
expected number
number of
of jacks
jacks had returned
returned to
to
Elk
Elk River.
River.
13.
13.
Accelerated
Incubation and
and Release.
Release. For 3 years
years we
we have experimentally
Accelerated Incubation
accelerated the
the development
development of
oE eggs
eggs and
and alevins
alevins by
by heating
heating the
the incubation
incubation
water and
and forcing
forcing growth
growth during pond rearing to produce large,
large, viable
viable
migrant fall
fall chinook
chinook smolts
smolts by
by late
late June
June of
of their
their 1st
1st year.
year. On June 25,
25, 1974,
1974,
migrant
38,502 fish
fish were released
released at
at the
the hatchery
hatchery weighing
weighing 32.0/lb.
32.0/lb. The extent
extent
of residence was
was difficult to evaluate because
because of the
the small
small number
number of
of fish
fish
involved.
However, we believe
believe they
they rapidly
rapidly migrated
migrated to
to the
the ocean because
involved. However,
few were recaptured
recaptured during
during routine
routine seining
seining of
of the
the lower
lower river
river and
and estuary.
estuary.
These fish
fish were
were the
the largest
largest of
of the
the three
three spring
spring releases
releases tested
tested so
so far
far and
These
were ponded
ponded earlier
earlier (February
(February 7)
7) than
than any
any of
of the
the previous
previous groups.
groups. However,
However,
were
mortality after ponding was high (30%)
(30%) and may have been related to the
the low
water
water temperature
temperature and
and periods
periods of
of turbidity
turbidity that
that occurred
occurred in
in February
February and
and
March.
Two-, three-,
three-, and
and four-year-old
four-year-old fish
fish have
have returned
returned from
from the
the June
June 1971
1971
Two-,
release.
release. Survival was poor compared
compar~d with returns from fish
fish released in
the
the fall
fall from
from the
the 1970
1970 brood
brood year.
year. Chinook released
released in June have an
accumulative
accumulative survival
survival rate
rate of
of 0.25%
0.25% through
through age
age 4 compared
compared to
to 3.38%
3.38% and
and 4.21%
4.21%
smolts
for smol
ts released in September (Table
(Table 7).
7) .
Table
7.
Table 7.
Survival
1970-Brood Fall
Survival Rate
Rate of
of 1970-Brood
Fall Chinook
Chinook Released
Released
into Elk
Elk River
River
into
Release
Date
Date of
of Release
June
25, 1971
1971
September
September
June 25,
Mark
Number released
released
Size (fish
(fish per
per lb)
lb)
Size
return
to
Estimated
Estimated return to
the river
Age
2
Age 2
Age
3
Age 3
Age
4
Age 4
Ac~umulative survival
Accumulative
survival
RV
RV
409,092
409,092
47.0
47.0
0.13%
0.13%
0.05%
0.05%
0.07%
0.07%
0.25%
Ad-RM
Ad-RM
97,568
97,568
12.7
12.7
2.31%
0.98%
0.98%
0.92%
4.21%
4.21%
7, 1971
l971
7,
LV
171,757
171,757
12.7
12.7
1.44%
1.44%
0.81%
0.81%
1.13%
1.13%
3.38%
3.38%
Hatchery Rearing
Rearing Program
Program -- 1973
1973 Brood.
Brood. Of
the 2.65
2.65 million
million eggs
eggs taken
taken
Of the
from 1973-brood fall
fall chinook at Elk
Elk River Hatchery,
Hatchery, 392,373 were
were allocated
allocated
to projects in
to
in Elk River
River (Table
(Table 8).
8). The
The remaining
remaining eggs
eggs were
were allotted
8ijotted to
to
projects in
in the
the Alsea
Alsea River,
River, Coos
Coos Bay,
Bay, Coquille
Coquille River,
River, and
and Floras
Floras Lake.
Lake.
Four
Four rearing
rearing projects
projects were
were designed
designed for
for Elk
Elk River.
River. An
early group
group of
of eggs
eggs
An early
was placed in
in the
the heated
heated water incubator
incubator for
for accelerated development and
released on
on June
June 25,
25, 1974.
1974. Smolts
Smolts from
from early
early and late
late spawning
spawning parentage
released
were released
released on
on October
October 29-31,
29-31, 1974.
1974. The eggs
eggs were taken
taken from
from both early
and late
late spawning females
females to evaluate
evaluate possible
possible differences
differences when
when the
the progeny
progeny
return.
return. This
to duplicate
the long,
long, protracted
This project
project will
will attempt
attempt to
duplicate the
protracted nature
nature
of the
the wild run
run in
in the
the hatchery
hatchery stock.
stock. The
final project
was aa fall
fall
of
The final
project was
release (November
(November 1,
1, 1974)
1974) of
of coded-wire-tagged
coded-wire-tagged smolts.
smolts. The tagged
tagged fish
fish
serve
serve as
as a control
control to
to compare
compare the
the ocean
ocean contribution
contribution and
and distribution
distribution of
of
Elk
River fall
fall chinook
chinook reared
reared and
and released
released at
at Alsea
Alsea River
River Hatchery.
Hatchery.
Elk River
14.
14.
Table 8.
8.
Table
Fall.Chinook
Chinook Salmon
Salmon (1973
(1973 Brood)
Brood) Reared
Reared and
and Released
Released
Fall
into Elk River
River 1/
1/
Spawning period
period (November
(November 13,
13, 1973-January
1973-January 28,
28, 1974)
1974)
95
95
392,373
392,373
22,758 (5.8%)
(5.8%)
7,762
(2.1%)
7,762 (2.1%)
Females
Females spawned
spawned
Eggs
Eggs taken
taken
Mortality of
of eggs
eggs
Mortality of
of alevins
alevins
Ponding period (February
(February 7-May
7-May 8,
8, 1974)
1974)
361,853
361,853
848/lb
427
lbs
427 lbs
50,659 (14.0%)
(14.0%)
Number of
of fish
fish ponded
ponded
Number
size of
of fish
fish ponded
ponded
Average size
Average
Total weight
weight of
of fish
fish ponded
ponded
Total
Mortality of
of fingerlings
fingerlings in
in ponds
ponds
Mortality
(including
(including marking)
marking)
Unaccounted mortality
mortality
Unaccounted
OTC marked
8,313
(2.3%)
8,313 (2.3%)
None
None
Marking
periods
Marking periods
Fin marking (May
~y 28-June
28-June 24,
24, 1974)
1974)
Coded wire tagging
tagging (October
(October 2-7,
2-7, 1974)
1974)
Release groups
groups
Date
Date
Jtme
June
Oct.
Oct.
Oct.
Oct.
Nov.
Nov.
25, 1974
25,
29-31, 1974
1974
29-31,
29-31, 1974
29-31,
1,
1, 1974
1974
Mark
RP
RP
RV
LV
LV
Ad+CWT
Ad+CWT
Total number
number of
of fish
fish released
released
Total
Total mortality,
mortality, 1973 brood
Total
Number Released
Released
Number
Size at Release
38,502
102,935
102,935
121,784
39,660
39,660
32.0/1b
32.0/lb
10.0/lb
10.0/1b
10.0/lb
10.0/lb
10.0/lb
10.0/lb
302,881
302,881
89,492 (22.8%)
(22.8%)
1(
These ~gures
fPOm the
total Elk
Elk River
River egg
egg take
take which
which
figures we~
were calculated
calculated from
the total
1/ These
included production
production for
for ether
systems besides
besides the
the Elk
ElkRiver
Riverprogram.
prog1'COTI.
cther systems
Chetco River
River
Jack Creek
Creek Trap.
Trap. Curry County provided funds
funds to maintain and operate
an electrical barrier
barrier and
and trap
trap in
in Jack
Jack Creek,
Creek, Chetco
Chetco River.
River. Fish
Fish ConimisCommisan
sion
for the
the
sion personnel operated the trap
trap to
to capture fall
fall chinook salmon for
annual egg
egg take.
take. Eggs taken
taken in Jack Creek were incubated at Elk
Elk River
Hatchery and
and the
Hatchery
the smolts
smolts returned
returned to
to the
the Chetco
Chetco River.
River.
15.
15.
In 1974
1974 adult
chinook salmon
salmon first
first entered
entered Jack
Jack Creek
Creek in
in December.
December.
In
adult chinook
Fair
of fish
fish entered
entered the
the trap
trap during
during periods
periods of
of increased
increased flows,
flows,
Fair numbers
numbers of
but
but these
these periods
periods were infrequent
infrequent due
due to
to lower
lower than
than normal amounts
amounts of
of
trap
adults
using
rainfall.
The
trap
catch
was
supplemented
by
seining
adults
and
using
aa
rainfall.
portable shocker
shocker below
below the
the trap.
trap.
Hatchery Rearing
Rearing Program
Program - 1973 Brood.
Brood. The total
total mortality
mortality of
of 19731973brood Chetco River
River fall
fall chinook
chinook eggs was
was 28.3%
28.3% during incubation
incubation and
rearing at Elk River
River Hatchery (Table
(Table 9).
9). The
rate for
for the
the 1973
1973
The mortality
mortality rate
brood was similar
similar to
to that
that for
for the
the 1972
1972 brood
brood (31.1%).
(31.1%). In
In late October
1974,
1974, 169,197 fall
fall chinook
chinook smolts
smolts were
were liberated
liberated into
into the
the main
main Chetco
Chetco
River and South Fork
Fork Chetco
Chetco River
River (Table
(Table 10).
10). Liberation
Liberation of
of the
the 170,499
170,499
smolts scheduled for
for Jack
Jack Creek
Creek was
was delayed
delayed until
until November
November 20-22,
20-22, 1974,
1974,
when stream
stream flows
flows increased
increased enough
enough to
to safely
safely release
release the
the fish.
fish.
Table 9.
9.
Fall Chinook
(1973 Brood)
Brood) Reared
Reared at
Fall
Chinook Salmon
Salmon (1973
at Elk
Elk River
River
Hatchery and
and Released
Released into
into the
the Chetco
Chetco River
River1/
/
Spawning period
P!riod (December
(December 18-26,
18-26, 1973)
1973)
Spawning
Females spawned
spawned
Eggs taken
taken
Mortality
Mortality of
of eggs
eggs
Mortality of alevins
119
474,075
474,075
61,156 (12.9%)
(12.9%)
8,258 (1.8%)
(1.8%)
8,258
Ponding period
period (April
(April 8-15,
8-15, 1974)
1974)
Ponding
Number of fish
fish ponded
Average size
size of fish
fish ponded
Total weight of fish
fish ponded
Mortality of
of fingerlings
fingerlings in
in ponds
ponds
Unaccounted mortality
404,661
404,661
740/lb
740/lb
547
lbs
547 lbs
49,368 (12.2%)
(12.2%)
49,368
(3.9%)
15,596
15,596 (3.9%)
Release
Release groups
groups
Date
Date
Oct. 25-27,
Oct.
25-27, 1974
1974
Nov.
Nov. 20-27,
20•27, 1974
1974
Mark
OTC
OTC
Number Released
Released
169,197
170,499
170,499
Total
fish released
Total number
number of
of fish
released
339,696
339,696
Total mortality of 1973
1973 brood
134,378
(28.3%)
134,378 (28.3%)
Release
Size
Size at
at Release
12.0/lb
8.9/lb
1/ These
These figures
figuNs were
U)ere calculated
calculated from
from the
the total
total Chetca
Chetao River
River egg
egg take
take
U)hieh
which included
included prodiwtion
prodUction for
for other
other systems
systems besides
besides the
the Che
Chetao
too River
River
program.
pX'ogra7n.
16.
16.
Table 10.
10.
Table
Distribution of 1973-Brood
1973-Brood Fall
Fall Chinook
Chinook Salmon
Salmon Released
Released
into the
the Chetco River,
River, October
October and
and November
November 1974
1974
Location
Location
Date
Date
Chetco River
River
South Fork Chetco River
Jack Creek
Creek
Oct.
Oct. 25-27
25-27
Oct.
Oct. 25-27
25-27
Nov.
Nov. 20-22
20-22
Total
Total
Number
126,702
126,702
42,495
42,495
170,499
170,499
Size
Size
(Fish
lb)
(Fish per
per lb)
12.0/lb
12.1/lb
8.9/lb
8.9/lb
339,696
339,696
Sport Fishery
Fishery Survey.
Survey. We
We conducted
conducted aa statistical
statistical creel
creel census
census of
of the
the
Chetco River sport fishexy
fishery in
in 1974.
1974. Final
Final estimates
estimates on
on the
the total
total catch
catch and
and
effort are incomplete;
fall chinook contributed 70% of the
incomplete; however,
however, hatchery fall
jack catch
catch and
and 53%
53% of
of the
the adult
adult catch
catch (ages
(ages 33 through
through 5).
5).
jack
Pistol River
River
We continued
continued to
to collect
collect basic
basic biological
biological data
data from
from fall
fall chthook
chinook
We
carcasses recovered
recovered in
in the
the Pistol
Pistol River
River drainage.
drainage. Information
Information on
on juvenile
juvenile
and
to formulate
formulate management
and adult
adult populations
populations is
is needed
needed to
management alternatives
alternatives for
for
fisheries
fisheries enhancement.
enhancement. In
In FY 1974,
1974, scale
scale samples
samples were
were taken
taken from
from 60
60 spawnedspawnedout chinook
chinook encountered
out
encountered on
on fish
fish surveys.
surveys. The
The age
age composition
composition was 3.3%
3.3% age
age
2,
0.0% age
age 3,
3, 80.0%
80.0% age
age 4,
4, 15.0%
15.0% age
age 5,
5, and
and 1.7%
1.7% age
age 6.
6. These
These data
data indicate
indicate
2, 0.0%
4-year-old chinook
chinook dominated
dominated the
the adult
adult escapement
escapement into
into Pistol
Pistol River.
River. One
One
of 56 adults sampled
sampled was
from
was marked with an OTC ring and probably strayed from
chinook plants in
in Chetco
Chetco River.
River.
Maximum
Maximum stream
stream temperatures
temperatures taken
taken at
at river
river mile
mile 3.5
3.5 ranged
ranged from
from 69
69 FF
to 74
74 F during
during July
July through
through mid-September
mid-September 1974.
1974. Minimum temperatures
temperatures ranged
ranged
from 59 FF to
to 66
66 FF during
during the
the same
same period.
period.
COASTAL
COASTAL FALL
FALL CHINOOK
CHINOOK STOCK
STOCK ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENT
Fin marking
marking experiments
experiments within
within the
the past
past decade
decade have
have shown
shown that
that some
some
Fin
salmon species
species or stocks
stocks contribute few
few fish
fish to
to territorial
territorial sport and
Several Pacific Coast fisheries
agencies have
commercial
fisheries. Several
fisheries agencies
commercial fisheries.
recently started
started to investigate methods
local
methods to improve the yield of
of local
salmon
stocks to
to provincial
provincial fisheries.
fisheries. In
In recent
recent years,
years, hatchery propasalmon stocks
gation
gation of coastal
coastal fall
fall chinook salmon
salmon was confined to
to Elk River (south
(south
coast)
and
Trask
River
(north
coast).
Current
evidence
indicates
fall
evidence
indicates
fall
coast) and Trask River (north coast).
chinook
reared
at
Elk
River
primarily
contribute
to
ocean
fisheries
chinook reared at Elk River primarily contribute to ocean fisheries
between
between northern
northern California
California and
and Newport,
Newport, Oregon;
Oregon; whereas,
whereas, Trask
Trask River
River fall
fall
chinook contribute
contribute north
north of
of Oregon.
Oregon.
chinook
In FY 1975,
1975, we
we started aa comprehensive
comprehensive study to
to determine
determine the
the relative
relative
offshore distribution and contribution
contribution of Elk and Trask stocks
stocks of fall
fall
chinook reared
reared and
and released
released at
at Alsea
Alsea River
River Hatchery
Hatchery in
in the
the midcoast
midcoast region.
region.
chinook
Four experimental groups
groups totaling
totaling 153,092
153,092 smolts
smolts (1973
(1973 brood year)
year) were
17.
17.
coeed wire
wire tags
tags and
and released
released at
at Elk,
Elk, Alsea,.
Alsea,. and
and Trask
Trask hatcheries
hatcheries
marked with
with ceded
as
(Table
11). The groups
groups released at Trask and Elk hatcheries served as
(Table 11).
controls
stock released
released at
at Alsea
Alsea Hatchery.
Hatchery. The study
study was
was
controls for
for each
each stock
coordinated with similar releases
releases of Elk
Elk and
and Trask
Trask stocks
stocks of
of fall
fall chinook
chinook
at Simpson,
Simpson, Nemah,
Nemah, and Elokomin hatcheries
hatcheries in Washington
Washington by the
the Washington
Washington
of Fisheries.
Fisheries. The
Department of
The first
first marine
marine recoveries
recoveries of
of tagged
tagged fish
fish are
are
expected
in 1976.
1976.
expected in
Table 11.
Table
11.
Number of
Chinook Salmon
Salmon Smolts
Smo1ts (1973
Brood)
of Fall
Fall Chinook
(1973 Brood)
Marked with
with Coded
Coded Jire
Wire Tags and
and Released
Released at
at Trask,
Trask,
Marked
Hatcheries, 1974
1974
Alsea,
and Elk
Elk River
River Hatcheries,
Alsea, and
Release
Release
Site
Stock
Trask
Trask
Alsea
Alsea
Elk
Trask
Trask
Elk
Elk
Elk
Date
Date
11/01/74
10/31/74
10/31/74
10/31/74
11/01/74
11/01/74
Tag Code
Ta&
Data
Data 1
Data 22
1
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
11
11
12
12
13
(Fish/lb)
(Fish/ib)
Number
Number
Released
Released
8.4
8.4
11.6
11.6
9.9
9.9
10.0
10.0
36,519
36,519
38,883
38,883
38,030
38,030
39,660
39,660
153,092
153,092
Total
SALMON
SALMON RIVER RESEARCH
RESEARCH
In late
late FY 1975,
1975, we
we began
began aa new
new project
project designed
designed to
to identify life
life
histories, abundance,
indigenous salmon
salmon populations
histories,
abundance, and distribution of indigenous
in Salmon River.
River. The project will provide data on
on salmonids
salmonids inhabiting
inhabiting
Salmon River
River prior
prior to
to and
and after
after constructing
constructing new
new hatchery
hatchery facilities.
facilities.
Salmon
Much
of the
the river
river below
the hatchery
site and
surrounding hillsides
Much of
below the
hatchery site
and surrounding
hillsides are
are
included in
in the
the new Cascade Head Scenic Research Area administered by the
the
included
A thorough
U.
Forest Service.
Service. A
thorough knowledge of the
the fish
fish resources is
is needed
U. S.
S. Forest
to
to plan
plan for
for future
future hatchery
hatchery management
management alternatives
alternatives and
and develop
develop plans
plans
compatible
of the
the CHSRA.
CHSRA.
compatible with
with goals
goals of
Initial
Initial work
work involved
involved aa literature
literature review
review and
and developing
developing field
field work
work
plans.
freshwater sectors of Salmon River were seined
seined in
plans. Estuarine and freshwater
late
late spring to determine
determine fish
fish distribution,
distribution, movement,
movement, and
and important
important rearing
rearing
areas
for salmonids.
salmonids. Environmental measurements
measurements were taken
taken in
in the
the estuary
areas for
and selected freshwater
freshwater sites.
sites.
SHAD AND
AND STRIPED
STRIPED BASS
BASS
American shad
shad and
and striped
striped bass
bass were landed
landed by commercial shad
shad fisheries
fisheries
in
Smith, Umpqua,
Umpqua, and
and Coos
Coos rivers
rivers in
in 1974.
1974. No fishermen
in the
the Siuslaw,
Siuslaw, Smith,
participated in
in the
the commercial
commercial fishery
fishery authorized
authorized on
on the
the Coquille River.
participated
River.
Shad and striped bass
bass were primarily captured in
in set
set nets,
nets, except
except in
in the
the
Umpqua
only drift
drift nets
nets were
were permitted.
permitted.
Vmpqua River
River where
where only
Beginning in 1974,
1974~ striped bass
bass were no longer
longer classified as
as commercial
commercial
However, striped
fish
in Oregon
Oregon waters.
waters. However,
striped bass
bass were
were legally
legally landed
landed by
fish in
commercial fishermen
fishermen when
when taken
taken incidentally
incidentally in
in shad
shad nets.
nets.
18,
18.
1974
1974 Commercial
Commercial Fishery
Fishery Statistics
Statistics
The Fish Comadssion
Commission of Oregon managed the
the commercial
commercial shad harvest
harvest
and collected landing
landing statistics,
statistics, catch/effort data,
data, and biological
biological samples
samples
In
1974,
the
commercial
season
began
as
a
basis
for
management
decisions.
In
1974,
the
comercial
season
began
as a basis for management decisions.
The
Coos
Bay
season
opened
May 10
10 and
and ended
ended July
July 1,
1, except
except in
in Coos
Coos Bay.
Bay. The Coos Bay season opened
April 20
20 and
and closed
closed June
June 21.
21.
Set
Nets. Commercial shad fishermen
fishermen registered 107 set-net sites
Set Nets.
in 1974.
1974. Beginning in 1974,
longer required to purchase
1974, fishermen were no longer
in
or
register drift
drift nets.
nets. However,
set-net sites
sites must be registered at the
However, set-net
or register
Fish
Commission's Charleston
Charleston office.
office. Fifty-seven sites were registered
Fish Commission's
for Coos Bay,
32 on the
the Siuslaw
Siuslaw River,
River, and
and 18
18 on
on Smith
Smith River.
River.
Bay, 32
Shad
and Striped
Striped Bass
Bass Landings.
Landings. Commercial fishermen
fishermen landed
landed 208,367
208,367
Shad and
shad in
in 1974.
1974. Shad landings
landings were 54%
54% below the
the 10-year
10-year average of
· Ibs
lbs of shad
456,318
lbs. The Smith
Smith and
and Uinpqua
Umpqua rivers
coastal
rivers produced
produced 78%
78% of the total coastal
456,318 lbs.
shad landings.
landings.
There were
were 35,151
35,151 lbs
lbs of
of striped
striped bass
bass landed
landed in
in 1974.
1974. The
The poundage
poundage
was 21% below the
the 10-year
10-year average
average of
of 44,436
44,436 lbs
lbs taken
taken in
in coastal
coastal rivers.
rivers.
Seventy-six
percent
of
the
bass
were
landed
from
the
Umpqua
and
Smith
Seventy-six percent of the bass were landed from the Iimpqua and Smith
rivers.
Catch/Effort.
Catch/Effort. Catch per unit of effort by set nets
nets in
in Coos
Coos Bay was
was
measured
measured from
from the
the number
number of
of shad
shad caught
caught per
per set-net
set-net day.
day. We were unable
to
to obtain
obtain comparable
comparable data
data from
from the
the Siuslaw
Siuslaw and
and Smith
Smith River
River fishermen.
fishermen. On
the Umpqua
Umpqua River,
River, effort
effort data
data were recorded
recorded as
as 'catch
"catch per fishing
fishing day"
the
since there
since·
there was
was no
no measure
measure of
of the
the number
number of
of nets
nets or
or frequency
frequency of
of drifts.
drifts.
Coos River
River fishermen
fishermen caught
caught shad
shad at the
the rate
rate of
of 7.6/set-net
7.6/set-net day
to a 10-year
10-year average
average of
of 11.9/set-net
11.9/set-net day.
day. Umpqua River fishermen
fishermen
compared to
caught 40.9 shad per fishing
fishing day compared to
to a 9-year average
average of 73.1
73.1 shad
per fishing
fishing day.
day.
per
Biological
Samples. Scale
Scale samples
samples were taken
taken from
from shad
shad to
to determine
Biological Samples.
age
age composition,
composition, age
age at
at first
first spawning,
spawning, and
and the
the number
number of
of spawning
spawning
migrations in
in each
each population
population supporting
supporting aa commercial
commercial fishery.
fishery. Striped
bass scales
scales were
were aged
aged to
to determine
year class
class strengths
strengths of
fish captured
captured
bass
determine year
of fish
in shad
shad nets.
nets. Average weight data were obtained
obtained from
from striped
~triped bass landed
landed
the Umpqua and
and Coos
Coos rivers
rivers to
to convert
convert poundage
poundage to
to numbers
numbers of
of bass
bass
from the
taken in
in each
each fishery.
fishery. In 1974,
1974, Umpqua River
River bass
bass averaged
averaged 9.8
9.8 lbs
lbs and
and
those landed
those
landed from
from Coos
Coos Bay
Bay averaged
averaged 7.4
7.4 lbs.
lbs.
Changes in Regulations
Regulations
The 1973
1973 Oregon Legislature
Legislature designated
designated striped
striped bass exclusively as a
game
and directed
directed the
the Fish
Fish Commission
Comndssion to
to minimize
minimize the
the catch.
catch. The
game fish and
Fish Commission
Commdssion subsequently
subsequently approved
approved recommendations
recommendations delaying
delaying the
the shad
shad
Fish
season opening in Coos
Coos Bay and closed the
the season
season on
on June
June 21
21 rather
rather than
than
July
1. The
commission also
also prohibited
prohibited set
set nets
nets in
in most
most of
of Coos
Coos Bay.
Bay.
July 1.
The commission
Further restrictions
restrictions were placed on
on the
the mesh
mesh breaking
breaking strengths
strengths permitted
Further
for shad nets in
in all
all coastal
coastal rivers
rivers supporting
supporting aa commercial
commercial shad
shad fishery.
fishery.