JOB PROGRESS
PROGRESS REPORT
REPORT
JOB
ANADROMOUS FISH
FISH PROJECT
PROJECT
PROJECT TITLE:
TITLE:
PROJECT
Research
fish in
in coastal
coastal
Research on
on anadromous fish
watersheds
of Oregon
Oregon
watersheds of
PROJECT NUMBER:
NUMBER:
PROJECT
AFC-67-3
CONTRACT NUMBER:
NUMBER:
014-6-208-14
04-6-208-4
PROJECT PERIOD:
PERIOD:
PROJECT
Annual
Report, July
July 1,
1, 1975-June
1975-June 30,
30, 1976
1976
Annual Report,
Completion
Completion Reports,
Reports, July 1,
1, 1973-June
1973-June 30,
30, 1976
1976
Prepared by:
by:
Prepared
Alan M.
M. McGie
Program Leader
Leader
Research Section
Oregon Department of Fish &
Oregon
& Wildlife
16314 S.5. W.
W. Alder
Alder Street
1634
0. Box 3503
P. 0.
P.
Portland,
Portland, OR
OR 97208
This project
project was
was financed
financed in
in part
part with
with Anadromous
Anadromous Fish
Fish Act
Act (PL-89-3014)
(PL-89-304) funds
funds
through
the National
National Marine
Marine Fisheries
Fisheries Service.
Service.
through the
CONTENTS
Page No.
No.
INTRODUCTION ..................................
. .. ................ .
......................................................
SECTION 1:
1:
1
ANNUAL PROGRESS
PROGRESS REPORT
REPORTFY 1976
1976 .....................
- FY
.......................
ReportsPrepared
Reports
Prepared.............................................
.............................................
Coastal Reservoirs
Coastal
Reservoirs..........................
. ................
...........................................
2
2
1
Nestucca River
River.......................
McGuire Reservoir, Nestucca
.......................
Barney Reservoir, Trask River
River...........................
...........................
33
TenmileLakes
Tenmile Lakes................................................
................................................
33
Coho Spawning Population
Population................................
................................
Catch in
in South
South Tenmile
Tenmile Lake
Lake........................
Trap Catch
........................
3
3
Fall
Fall Chinook Ecology
Ecology.........................................
.........................................
4
4
River.....................
..........................
E
1 k River
Elk
...............................................
4
4
Population Estimates
Estimates...............................
...............................
Sport Fishery Survey
Survey....................
. ..........
...............................
Growth and
and Early
Early Release
Release ...........
:...
Accelerated Growth
...............
Contribution of 1969-Brood
1969-Brood Fall
Fall Chinook
Estimated Contribution
Salmon .. .... . ............. . .............. . .......
Salmon...........................................
...............
Rearing Program,
Program, 1974
1974 Brood
Brood....
. .. . .......
Hatchery Rearing
44
66
9
9
1
22
4
4
l0
10
11
11
Chetco River
River...................
.. ... . ............. . ... . .
............................................
11
11
....................................
Jack Creek
Creek Trap
Trap....................................
Rearing Program,
Program, 1974
1974 Brood
Brood...............
...............
Hatchery Rearing
Fishery Survey
Survey....................
. ..........
Sport Fishery
...............................
II
11
ll
11
ll
11
Coastal Fall
Coastal
Fall Chinook Stock Assessment
Assessment Project
Project................
................
14
14
Tagged Smolts Released
Tagged
Released in
in FY
FY 1976
1976........................
.... ... . .. .. .. .... ....
Coded Wire Tag Recoveries,
Coded
Recoveries, 1973
1973 Brood
Brood...........
.. ......
...................
14
14
15
15
Pacific Coast Fisheries
Fisheries............................
............................
..................................
Oregon Hatcheries
Hatcheries..................................
15
15
15
15
Salmon River Project
Project..........................................
.............. . ...... . . ... ..... . .. .... ..
15
15
Field Studies
Studies ....................
...........................................
. ..... . .. ... .. ... ... .. .
17
17
...................................
Juvenile Studies
Studies...................................
Adult Tagging
......................................
Tagging......
.. ...................... . .......
Spawning
..............................
Spaw?ing Fish
Fish Surveys
~u~veys..............................
Species
Spec 1 es Composition
Compos 1 t 1on.................................
...............................
17
17
17
17
17
17
I8
18
No.
Page No.
Data
Analysis.........................................
DataAnalysis
.........................................
18
18
Shad and
and Striped Bass
Shad
Bass....
..................................
......................................
18
18
SECTION II.
I I.
COMPLETION REPORT
REPORT- JULY 1,
1, 1973,
1973, TO JUNE
JUNE 30,
30, 1976.
976.
Tenmile Lakes..............................................
TenmileLakes
..............................................
FlorasLake
Floras
Lake................................................
................................................
Fall Chinook Ecology
Fall
Ecology.......................................
.......................................
Coastal
Coastal Fall
Fall Chinook Stock Assessment Project ....
~.........
...............
Salmon River
Salmon
River Project
Project.......................................
.......................................
Shad and Striped
Striped Bass
Bass......................................
......................................
19
19
19
19
21
21
22
22
25
25
26
26
26
26
TABLES
Table No.
No.
22
33
44
55
6
6
Page No.
No.
Reports
by the
the staff
staff of
of Coastal
Coastal Rivers
Rivers program,
program,
Reports submitted
submitted by
FY
1976..........
. ........................ . ..............
FY1976
..................................................
2
Species
Species composition of fish
fish caught in
in a floating trap,
trap,
Templeton Arm,
Arm, South
South Tenmile
Tenmile Lake,
Lake, 1975
1975..
... . .. . ..... ....
..................
5
of fish
fish captured
captured per
per net
net day
day in
in Templeton
Templeton Arm,
Arm,
Numbers of
Numbers
South Tenmile
Tenmile Lake,
Lake, July
July through
through December
December1969-75
1969-75.........
... ....
South
5
Estimated return
return and
and survival
survival of
of hatchery
hatchery chinook
chinook salmon
salmon
Estimated
to
Elk River,
River, 1975
1975.................
. .....................
toElk
.......................................
7
7
the sport fishery
fishery for
for fall
fall chinook
chinook in
in Elk
Elk River,
River,
Summary of the
1972-75..................................................
1972-75 ..................................................
88
Origin of anglers interviewed
interviewed during
during creel
creel census
census surveys
surveys
on
River, 1972-75
1972-75....................................
on Elk River,
....................................
99
2
5
5
7
7
Survival
fall chinook
chinook hatched
hatched in
in heated
heated water
water
Survival of 1970-brood fall
incubators.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I100
incubators...............................................
88
Size-specific survival
survival rates
rates for
for 1970-brood
1970-brood fall
fall chinook
chinook
5, 1971
1971............
.. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
released June 5,
....................................
10
10
Fall
(1974 brood)
brood) reared
reared and released
released into
into
Fall chinook
chinook salmon (1974
Elk
River........
. .......................................
ElkRiver
................................................
12
12
Fall
Fall chinook
ch(nook salmon
salmon (197)-i
(1974 brood,
brood, Chetco
Chetco stock)
stock) reared at
at
Elk River Hatchery and released
released into
into the
the Chetco,
Chetco, Coos,
Coos, and
and
Mi
11 icoma rivers
rivers.....................
. ...................
Millicoma
.........................................
13
13
1974-brood fall
fall chinook
chinook salmon
salmon released
released
Distribution of 1974-brood
into the
the Chetco
Chetco River,
River, September-November 1975
into
1975.....
......
...........
13
13
Number of fall
faJJ chinook salmon
salmon smolts
smelts (1974
(1974 brood)
brood) marked
marked
coded wire tags
tags and
and released
released in
in 1975
1975...
.. ... . .. ... ..
with coded
................
16
16
Coded
tag recoveries
recoveries from
from 1973-brood
1973-brood fall
fall chinook
chinook
Coded wire tag
salmon sampled in
in coastal
coastal fisheries
fisheries in
in 1975
1975...
.. .... ... . .
..............
17
17
14
14
Commercial
landings of shad and
and striped
striped bass,
bass, 1975
1975....
...
Commercial landings
.......
18
18
15
15
Numbers
fall chinook released
released into
into Elk
Elk and
and Chetco
Chetco
Numbers of fall
rivers,
by brood year
year.............
. . . . . . .. . .. ... ....... . .
rivers, by
....................................
22
22
99
10
10
11
11
12
12
13
13
on Anadromous Fish
Fish in
in
Research on
Coastal Watersheds of Oregon
Coastal
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Following merger
merger of
of the
the Fish
Fish and
and Wildlife
Wildlife commissions
commissions into
into aa unified
unified
Following
agency in
in FY
FY 1976,
1976, work
work responsibilities
responsibilities of
of the
the Coastal
Coastal Rivers
Rivers Investigation
Investigation
were reassigned
reassigned from
from management and
and research
research in
in the Fish
Fish Commission
Commission to
to the
the
Research Section
Section (Operations
(Operations Division)
Division) of
of the
the Department
Department of
of Fish
Fish and
and Wildlife.
Wildlife.
Coastal
Investigation was relieved
relieved of
of all
all management
management functions
functions and
and
Coastal Rivers Investigation
(1) Elk
Elk River
River Fall
Fall Chinook
assigned four
four research
research projects
projects during
during FY
FY 1976:
1976: (I)
(3) Coastal
Coastal Fall
Project;
{2) Salmon
Salmon River
River Project;
Project; (3)
Fall Chinook Stock Assessment
Assessment
Project; (2)
Project; and
and (Ii)
(4) Tillamook
Estuary Study.
Study. Former projects on coastal
coastal lakes
lakes
Tillamook Estuary
and
reservoirs were terminated
terminated during
during the
the fiscal
fiscal year.
year. The Tillamook Estuary
and reservoirs
Study was assigned to
to the
the program
program in
in November
November 1975,
1975, on
on aa separate
separate budget
budget outoutside
realm of the
the Anadromous Fish
Fish Act cooperative
cooperative agreement.
agreement.
side the realm
Program headquarters
headquarters is
is located
located in
in Charleston
Charleston near
near Coos
Coos Bay.
Bay. Field
Program
located in
in Tillamook and
and Port
Port Orford
Orford (Elk
(Elk River
River Salmon
Salmon
research stations are located
Hatchery).
the close
close of FY
FY 1976,
1976, the
the program
program was
was staffed
staffed by
by five
five biologists,
biologists,
Hatchery). At the
one researcher,
researcher, two
two technicians,
technicians, and
and aa secretary.
secretary. Federal
Federal cooperation has
has enenlarged the scope of each research
research project
project with the
the provision
provision of
of federal
federal funds
funds
larged
under the
the Anadromous
Anadromous Fish
Fish Act
Act (P.L.
(P.L. 89-3013).
89-304). The operating budget
budget for
for FY
FY 1976
1976
was $232,100 and
and the
the federal
federal share
share was
was $116,050;
$116,050; however,
however, due
due to
to aa reduction
reduction
in
funds, the
the project
project cost
cost was
was amended
amended December
December213,
24, 1975, to
to $228,13l6
$228,416
in federal
federal funds,
for
the remainder
remainder of
of the
the fiscal
fiscal year.
year. The federal
federal share was $112,366 and
and the
the
for the
state share remained
remained at
at $116,050.
$116,050. State General
General and Daily
Daily Ocean Salmon
Salmon Angler
License (DOSAL)
(DOSAL) funds comprised the
the state
state share.
share. AA separate
separate unmatched
unmatched DOSAL
DOSAL
account of $213,lk1
$24,141 brought
in FY
FY 1976.
1976.
brought the
the total
total operating
operating budget
budget to $252,557 in
This report
report is
is divided
divided into
into two
two sections.
sections. The
The first
first presents
presents aa resume'
resumd
This
of work accomplished in
in F?
FY 1976.
1976 . The second part gives a synopsis of accomplishments
the 3-year,
3-year, federal-state
federal-state cooperative
cooperative program
program beginning
beginning
plishments during the
July 1,
1, 1973,
1973, under
under annual
annual federal
federal Grant-in-Aid
Grant-in-Aid awards
awards in
in compliance
compliance of
of the
the
promulgated by
by the
the Anadromous
Anadromous Fish
Fish Act.
Act.
stipulations promulgated
SECTION I:
1:
PROGRESS REPORT
REPORT- F?
FY 1976
1976
ANNUAL PROGRESS
Reports Prepared
Prepared
Reports
The results
results of various
various segments
segments of
of research
research completed
completed within
within the
the Coastal
Coastal
11
Rivers Program were presented
presented in
in aa numbered
numbered series
series of
of mimeographed
mimeographed "Information
lnformation
Reports."11 In
Reports.
In FY
1976, five
Information Reports
Reports and one progress report
report were
FY 1976,
five Information
prepared and submitted
submitted to
to Department
Department of
of Fish
Fish and
and Wildlife
Wildlife headquarters
headquarters
(Table 1).
1). The processed reports
reports were distributed
distributed to
to Department
Department personnel
personnel and
and
agencies upon
upon request.
request.
other agencies
Table 1.
1.
Reports
Rivers
Reports submitted by the staff
taff of
of Coastal
Coastal Rivers
program, FY
FY 1976
program,
Berry, R.
L.
R. L.
1975.
Spawning
surveys in
in coastal
coastal watersheds,
watersheds, 1974.
1974.
Spawning salmon
salmon surveys
1975.
Oreg.
Rivers Info,
Info, Rept.
Rept. 75-4.
75-4. 27 p.
p.
Oreg. Dept.
Dept. Fish
Fish and
and Wildl.,
Wildi., Coastal
Coastal Rivers
spring chinook
chinooksalmon
salmon(Oncorhynchus
(Oncorhynchus
tshawytscha)
1975.
Rearing
Rearing spring
tsheji4)ytscha)
1975.
in
River, Oregon,
Oregon, 1973-74.
1973-74. Oreg.
Oreg. Dept.
Dept.
in J.
J. W.
W. Barney
Barney Reservoir,
Reservoir, Trask River,
Fish and
and Wildl.~
Wildi., Coastal
Fish
Coastal Rivers
Rivers Info.
Info. Rept.
Rept. 75-6.
75-6. 15
p.
15 p.
Hostick, G.
1975.
Hostick,
G. A.
A. 1975.
Salmon sport
sport fishing
fishing census
census on
on New
New River
River Estuary,
Estuary, 1974.
1974.
Oreg.
Rivers Info.
Info. Rept.
Rept. 75-5.
75-5. 77 p.
p.
Oreg. Dept.
Dept. Fish
Fish and
and Wildl.,
Wildi., Coastal
Coastal Rivers
M. 1975.
Research
fish in
In coastal
coastal watersheds
McGie, A. M.
Research on
on anadromous
anadromous fish
watersheds of
1975.
Oregon. Fish
Coastal Rivers
Rivers Invest.
Invest. Annual
Annual Rept.
Rept.
Fish Comm.
Comm. Oreg.,
Oreg., Coastal
July 1,
1, 1974
1974 to
to June
June 30,
30, 1975.
1975. 19
p.
19 p.
Reimers, P.
E.
P. E.
1975.
1975.
Fecundity of fall
fall chinook
chinook salmon
salmon in
in Sixes
Sixes River,
River, Oregon.
Oregon .
Oreg. Dept.
Dept. Fish
Fish and
and Wildi.,
Wildl., Coastal
Coastal Rivers
Rivers Info.
Info. Rept.
Rept. 75-3.
75-3. 55 p.
p.
Oreg.
relationship of fall
fall chinook salmon
in the
the
1975. Length-weight
Length-weight relationship
salmon in
Sixes
River sport
sport fishery,
fishery, 1969.
1969. Oreg.
Dept. Fish
Fish and
and Wildi.,
Wildl., Coastal
Coastal
Sixes River
Oreg. Dept.
Rivers Info.
Rivers
Info. Rept.
Rept. 75-7.
75-7. 66 p.
p.
Coastal
Coastal Reservoirs
Reservoirs
Municipal water
water storage
storage reservoirs
reservoirs for
for the
the cities
cities of
of Hillsboro
Hillsboro and
~nd
Municipal
McMinnville are
are located
located on
on the
the headwaters
headwaters of
of the
the Trask
Trask and
and Nestucca
Nestucca rivers,
rivers,
McMinnville
respectively.
J. W.
Barney Reservoir
Reservoir on the
the Trask
Trask River
River has
has 205
205 surface
surface
J.
W. Barney
full pool
pool and McGuire Reservoir
Reservoir on the
the Nestucca
Nestucca River
River has
has 130
130 acres.
acres.
acres at full
Maximum depths
m (60')
depths are
are about
about 18
18m
(60 1 ) in
in both
reservoirs.
both reservoirs.
The feasibility
feasibility of rearing
rearing juvenile
juvenile spring
spring chinook
chinook salmon
salmon (Oncorhynchus
(Oncorhynchus
tshawytscha) in
tshawytscha)
in the
the reservoirs
reservoirs has
has been
been under
under investigation
investigation since
since 1973.
1973.
stocked with 150,000
150,000 spring
spring chinook
chinook fingerlings
fingerlings (1974
(1974
McGuire Reservoir was stocked
brood)
brood) weighing 205
2.05 fish/lb
fish/lb on
on March
March 18,
18, 1975.
1975. Barney
Barney Reservoir
Reservoir received
received
250,000
250,000 spring
spring chinook.
chinook. One-half
of the
the total
total was
was liberated
liberated on
on March
March 19,
19, 1975,
1975,
One-half of
at 191
191 fish/lb
fish/lb and
and the
the remainder
remainder on
on April
April 9-10,
9-10, at
at 139
139 fish/lb.
fish/lb. Routine
Routine
1imnological
collected from
from the
the reservoirs
reservoirs after
after
limnological and
and biological
biological samples
samples were collected
chinook were liberated.
liberated.
McGuire Reservoir,
Reservoir, Nestucca
Nestucca River
River
Spring chinook grew from 59 mm in
in March to
to 107
107 mm
mm in
in September
September in
in McGuire
McGuire
Reservoir.
The spring
spr i ng chinook
chinook experienced
experienced aa slower
slower growth
growth rate
rate than
than 1973-brood
1973-brood
Reservo i r. The
fingerlings
stocked the
the previous
previous year which grew from
from 51
51 to
to 122
122 mm
mm during
during the
the
fingerlings stocked
same time
same
time interval.
interval. In
reques ted city personnel
personnel to
to discharge
discharge water
water
In 1975,
1975, we
we requested
through
through the
the lower
lower gate valve (+2.75
(+2. 75 m)
m) during the
the summer
summer to
to disrupt
disrupt thermal
thermal
stratification,
thereby increasing
i ncreasing the
the available
available rearing
rearing area
area for
for chinook
chinook in
in
s-trat i ficat ion , thereby
the
the reservoir.
re servoir. Monthly
Monthly 11 imnological
stratification
imnological samples
samples revealed
revealed thermal
thermal stratification
again
again occurred,
occurred , but
but was weaker than
than in
in previous
previous years.
years.
22
Survival
chinook appeared
appeared to
to be
be similar
similar to
to estimates
estimates obtained
obtained
Survival of spring chinook
in 19713.
in
1974. The catch per
per unit
unit of effort
effort in
in experimental
experimental gill
gill nets
nets set
set in
in
September 1975
1975 was
was comparable
comparabletoto19713
1974 when
when an
an estimated
estimated57,000
57,000fish
fish(36.8°/b
(36.8%
of the fingerlings
fingerlings stocked)
stocked) were counted
counted at
trap ininat aa downstream-migrant
downstream-migrant trap
stalled below the
the reservoir.
reservoir. The
installed in
in 1975
1975 preventing
The trap
trap was
was not
not installed
aa more
survival.
more definitive estimate of survival.
restocked with
153,000 1975-brood
1975-brood spring
McGuire Reservoir was restocked
with 153,000
spring chinook
chinook
fingerlings
16, 1976.
1976.
fingerlings averaging 262 fish/lb on March 16,
Reservoir, Trask River
River
Barney Reservoir,
Spring
length of 63 mm
mm
Spring chinook grew from an average length
109
mm
in
September
1975,
and
increase
of
46
mm.
Growth
109
in September 1975, and increase of 136 mm.
than for
than
for 1973-brood
1973-brood spring
spring chinook
chinook stocked
stocked inin 19713.
1974.
when stocked
stocked to
to
when
was smaller by
by 10
10 mm
mm
reservoir pool
pool level
level remained
remained above
above 113
14m
{45 1 ) during
The reservoir
m (135')
during 1975,
1975, providing
aa substantial
rearing area during
during the
the summer.
summer. Limnological
Limnological conditions
conditions were
were
substantial rearing
satisfactory throughout the
the critical
critical summer
summer months,
months, with
with dissolved
dissolved oxygen
oxygen
measurements above 77 ppm.
ppm.
Survival
spring chinook
chinook appeared
appeared to
to be
be excellent
excellent since
since
Survival of juvenile spring
unit effort in
in gill
gill nets
nets set
set in
in September
September 1975,
1975, were
were the
the highest
highest
catches per unit
yet recorded
recorded in
in the
the reservoir.
reservoir.
Barney
restocked with 251,000
251,000 spring
spring chinook
chinook fingerlings
fingerlings
Barney Reservoir was restocked
on
17 and 22,
22, 1976.
1976. The fish
fish were liberated
liberated at an average weight of
of
on March 17
272
266/lb, respectively.
respectively.
272 and 266/lb,
Tenmile Lakes
Lakes
In September 1968,
1968, the
the Fish
Fish and Game commissions applied
applied rotenone
rotenone to
to
in
large populations
eradicate large
populations of
of stunted
stunted brown
brown bullheads
bullheads (Ictalurus
(Ictalurus nebulosus),
nhulosus),
perch (Perca
(Perea flavescens),
flavescens), and
and bluegills
bluegills (Lepomis
(Lepomis macrochirus)
macrochirus) in
in the
the
yellow perch
Tenmile Lakes
Lakes system.
system. The project was
was conceived to
to enhance declining
declining trout
trout
and native coho
coho salmon
salmon (Oncorhynchus
(Oncorhynchus kisutch)
kisutch) populations
populations inhabiting
inhabiting the
the lakes.
lakes.
1.0 million young
young coho
coho were
were salvaged
salvaged from
from the
the lake
lake system
system before
before treattreatNearly 1.0
ment and restocked
ment
restocked as
as smolts
smolts when
when the
the project
project was
was completed.
completed. in
In subsequent
years, we evaluated coho
years,
coho salmon
salmon populations
populations following
following their
their reintroduction
reintroduction and
and
monitored changes in
in the
the warm-water
warm-water fish
fish populations
populations after
after some
some bluegills
bluegills and
and
brown
brown bullheads survived
survived treatment
treatment of
of the
the lakes.
lakes.
Personnel
lack of
of funds
funds forced
forced curtailment
curtailment of
of field
field work
work
Personnel transfers and lack
at Tenmile Lakes during
at
during FY
FY 1976.
1976. However,
However, we completed the
the annual
annual population
population
estimate of spawning
spawning adult
adult coho
coho salmon
salmon in
in late
late 1975,
1975, and
and trap
trap netted
netted in
in
South Tenmile Lake
Lake to
to monitor
monitor the
the composition
composition of
of fish
fish populations.
populations.
Coho Spawning
Spawning Population
Population
annual spawning
spawning populations
populations of
of jack
jack and
and adult
adult coho
coho salmon
salmon in
in the
the
The annual
Tenmile Lakes
Lakes system
system have
have been
been estimated
estimated since
since 1956
1956 from
from data
data collected
collected in
in
3
3
standard stream
stream surveys.
surveys. These estimates
based upon
upon a tagging study
study comcomestimates are based
pleted in
in 1955.
1955. The 1975
1975 population
population estimates were compiled
compiled from
from spawning
spawning
fish counted in
in lake
lake tributaries
tributaries totaling
totaling 7.0
7.0 miles.
miles.
fish
An
2,500 adult
adult coho
coho (age
(age 3)
3) and
and 3,500
3,500 jacks
jacks (age
(age 2)
2) spawned
spawned
An estimated 2,500
in the
in 1975.
1975. The total
total return
return (including
(including jacks)
jacks) from
from
in
the Tenmile Lakes system in
the 1972-brood year was 5,500 coho or approximately one-half the
the previous
previous
the
record low
low of 10,000
10,000 coho
coho produced
produced by
by the
the 1967
1967 brood.
brood. Scale
Scale samples
samples were
were
record
collected
from spawned-out
spawned-out coho
coho to
to compare
compare with scales
scales taken
taken from
from juveniles
juveniles
collected from
in previous years. Scales
in
if the
the collapse
Scales will
will be
be analyzed
analyzed to
to determine if
collapse of
of
the coho salmon
salmon population
population was due
due to
to aa lack
lack of
of lake-reared
lake-reared smolts.
smolts.
the
ratio of adult coho
coho salmon
salmon in
in 1975
1975 was
was 68.l?
68.1% females
females and
and 3l.9?
31.9%
The sex ratio
males based on a sample
sample of 185
185 spawned-out
spawned-out carcasses
carcasses recovered
recovered in
in tributaries.
tributaries.
males
The average size
size (FL)
(FL) of
of jacks
jacks was
was 1+5.9
45.9 em
cm compared
compared to
to 74.2
74.2 em
cm for
for adult
adult males
em for
for female
female coho.
coho. Fork
lengths were
from mid-eye
and 71.1
71.1 cm
Fork lengths
were calculated
calculated from
mid-eye to
to
posterior scale
scale (MEPS)
(MEPS) measurements.
measurements. The combined average length
length of adult
coho was 72.2
72.2 cm
em in
in 1975.
1975.
coho
Trap Catch in
in South Tenmile Lake
Lake
A
trap placed
placed at a fixed
fixed site
site in
in Templeton Arm,
Arm, South
South Tenmile
Tenmile
A floating trap
Lake, has
has provided
provided an
an index
index of
of population
population changes
changes since
since the
the lakes
lakes were
were treated
treated
Lake,
with rotenone.
rotenone. The
The trap
trap was
was fished
fished at
at standard
standard intervals
intervals from
from July
July through
through
December
Dece~ber 1975.
1975.
Bluegills and
and brown
brown bullheads
bullheads were
were the
the most
most abundant
abundant fish
fish captured
captured in
in the
the
Bluegills
trap (Table
(Table 2).
2). The two
two species
species combined
combined comprised
comprised 97?
97% of
of the
the total
total catch.
catch.
Compared to
to 1974,
1974, the
the index
index catch
catch (number
(number captured
captured per
per net
net day)
day) of
of all
all
species,
brown bullheads,
bullheads, declined
declined in
in 1975
1975 (Table
(Table 3).
3). The catch
catch of
of
species, except brown
largemouth bass (Micropterus sairnoides)
salmoides) declined
from 8.8/net day in
in 1974 to
declined from
only 0.1+/net
0.4/net day in
in 1975.
1975. The decrease reflects
reflects the
the loss
loss of age
age 22 and
bass since
since these
these were
were the
the only
only age
age groups
groups taken
taken in
in the
the trap.
trap. The
younger bass
younger
The
catch per unit effort of
of juvenile
juvenile coho
coho (1971+-brood
(1974-brood year)
year) continued
continued to
to decline
decline
from
a
high
of
21.7/net
day
in
1971
to
a
record
low
of
0.5/net
day
in
1975.
from a high
in 1971 to
record low
in 1975.
bluegill (46.3
(46.3 fish/net
fish/net day)
day) was 15
15% less
than in
in 1974;
1974; whereas, ·
The CPUE for bluegill
less than
the catch rate
rate of
of brown
brown bullheads
bullheads (1.4.3
(14.3 fish/net
day) was l9?
19% greater
greater than
than
the
fish/net day)
in
1974.
in
Fall
Fall Chinook Ecology
River
Elk River
Population Estimates.
Estimates. Populations
and hatchery-reared
hatchery-reared fall
fall
Populations of wild and
Elk River
River were
were estimated
estimated in
in 1975.
1975. We
We tagged
tagged 437
437 salmon
salmon
chinook entering Elk
in lower
lower Elk
Elk River from October 1 through December
December 29.
29. In
In 1975,
1975, large
large numbers
numbers
in
of salmon moved upriver
upriver in
in October following
following increased
increased river
river flows.
flows. Seining
became ineffective
ineffective in
in late
late October because
because of high
high stream
stream flows;
flows; therefore,
therefore,
gill
nets
were
used
almost
exclusively
until
the
tagging
operation
terminated
gill
until the tagging operation terminated
in
December. Seventy-one percent (215)
(215) of the
the 301
301 adult chinook tagged
tagged
in late December.
1
4
Table 2.
2.
Species
fish caught
caught in
in aa floating
floating t'ap,
t ~ ap ,
Species composition
composition of fish
Templeton Arm,
Lake, 1975
1975
Arm, South Tenmile Lake,
Dates fished
fished
Hours fished
fished
6/30 to
to 12/15/75
12/15/75
6/30
1,785
.6
1,785.6
Coho Salmon
Juveniles (1974
brood)
(1974 brood)
Jacks
(1973
(1973 brood)
brood)
Adults
(1972
brood)
(1972 brood)
42
42
29
29
Kokanee
20
20
7
7
Trout
Rainbow
Cutthroat
Steelhead (adult)
(adult)
33
21
21
22
B
1ueg i 11
Bluegill
33,442
, 442
Brown bullhead
1,060
1,060
Largemouth bass
1/
Largemouth
bass I/
31
31
Pacific lamprey
lamprey
1
Al l age
age 2+
2+ or
or younger.
younger.
1/ All
Table
3.
Table 3.
Arm,
in Templeton
Templeton Arm,
Numbers
fish captured per
per net
net day
day in
Numbers of fish
South Tenmile Lake,
Lake, July through
through December
De cember 1969-75
1969-75
Year
Species
1969
1969
Coho
(Juven
i 1e) 8.3
(Juvenile)
Trout 1/
76.9
Bluegill
Bluegill
0.0
Brown
Brown
bullhead
14.2
14.2
Threespi
ne
Threespine
stickleback 0.0
Prickly
sculpin
0.7
La rgemouth
Largemouth
bass 2/
0.0
bass
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1971+
1975
0,5
0.5
0.4
0.4
Yearly
Yearly
change
l974-75
1974-75
1.1
1.1
20.6
2.0
21 . 7
21.7
3.7
3.7
70.8
70 . 8
4.2
4.2
1L+.9
14.9
205.3
0.9
0.
9
5.5
5.5
100.8
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.9
54.6
54.6
1+6.3
46.3
-0.3
-0.5
-8.3
34.5
24.7
24 . 7
170.7
78.9
12.0
12.0
14.3
+2.3
+2.3
2,858.4
140.7 2,858
. 4 11,404.9
,404 .9
00.0
.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
3.3
3.3
6.5
6. 5
19.5
1.8
1.8
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.0
-0.1
-0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0. 2
0.2
7.9
7.9
8.8
8.8
0.4
0.4
-8.4
-8.4
ODF&W.
1/ Varying numbers
numbers of
of trout
trout annually
annually stocked
stocked by
by ODF&W.
Stocked
Stocked in
i n 1971.
1971.
y2/
55
in
1975 were
were captured
captured in
in 1975
in gill
gill nets
nets fished
fished primarily
primarily at
at night
night in
in the lower
lower 6 km
of
river.
Tagged
fish
recovered
from
the
sport
fishery,
the
hatchery
fish
were
recovered
from
the
sport
fishery,
at
the
hatchery
of river.
adult pond,
adult
pond, and during spawning
spawning fish
fish surveys
surveys from
from October 10,
10, 1975,
1975, to
to
February 17,
17, 1976.
1976.
The total
total run
run of adult chinook salmon
salmon (ages
(ages 33 through
through 6)
6) was estimated
at
10,895 fish
fish (Cl95:
(cl
~ =7,865;
7,865;iiN == 15,252).
15,252). This
This was the largest
largest run
run of
at 10,895
95 : N=
adult chinook
chinook since
since the
the hatchery
hatchery began
began operations
operations in
in 1968.
1968. The estimate was
based on
on 301
301 tagged
tagged wild
wild and
and hatchery
hatchery adults,
adults, aa combined
combined sample
sample of
of 1,41+2
1,442
based
carcasses, and
and 39
39 tag
tag recoveries.
recoveries.
The wild run
run of chinook adults was estimated
estimated at 1,882
1,882 by
by applying the
the
in the
the combined
combined tagging
tagging and
and sport
sport catch
catch samples
samples
percentage of wild adults in
(17.3%) to
to the
the total
total adult
adult estimate
estimate of
of 10,895
10,895 fish.
fish. Timing of wild and
and
(l7.3)
has been
been similar
similar in
in past
past years and
and we assumed
assumed that
that neither
neither
hatchery chinook has
tagged nor
nor sport
sport catch
catch samples
samples were
were biased.
biased. The estimated 1,882
1,882 wild chinook
tagged
adults
in 1975
1975 represented
represented a substantial
substantial increase
increase over the
the average
average of 1,383
1,383
adults in
for the past
past 44 years
years in
in Elk
Elk River.
River.
for
The total
total run
run of age-2
age-2 chinook
chinook (jacks)
(jacks) in
in Elk
Elk River
River was estimated
estimated to
to be
be
= 4,004). This
This estimate was
was based
116
tagged
2,255
(c1 : ~N== 1,317;
1
,317;
N
=
based
on
116
tagged2,255 fish
fish (Cl95:
95
wild and hatchery
hatchery jacks,
jacks, aa combined
combined sample
sample of
of 310
310 carcasses
carcasses and
and 15
15 tag
tag
recoveries. No direct estimate of wild chinook jacks
jacks could
could be calculated
because of
of the
the small
small sample
sample size.
size. However, an
an estimate
estimate of
of 1,651+
1,654 wild chinook
chinook
because
jacks was derived
derived by
by applying
applying the
the percentage
percentage of
of wild
wild jacks
jacks in
in the
the combined
combined
jacks
to the
the total
total jack
jack estimate
estimate of
of 2,255.
2,255. The estimated wild run
run
(73.4%) to
sample (73.4°)
of chinook jacks in
in 1975
1975 represented
represented a substantial
substantial increase
increase over the
the average
average
of 1,000
1,000 for
for the
the past
past 44 years.
years.
from 15
15 separate
separate test
test groups
groups of hatchery-reared
hatchery-reared fall
fall chinook
chinook
Returns from
entered Elk River
River in
in 1975.
1975. Four groups from
from the
the 1973
1973 brood
brood returned
returned as
as jacks,
jacks,
four groups from the
the 1972
1972 brood
brood returned
returned at age 3,
3, three
three groups
groups from
from the
the 1971
1971
four
brood
4, three
three groups
groups from
from the
the 1970
1970 brood
brood returned
returned at
at age 5,
5,
brood returned at age 4,
and
from the
the 1969
1969 brood
brood returned
returned at
at age 6.
6. We estimated 9,614
and a single group from
hatchery chinook (9,013
(9,013 adults and 601
601 jacks)
ja~ks) returned
returned to
to Elk
Elk River
River in
in 1975
1975
(Table
4). The run
run of hatchery
hatchery jacks
jacks was
was small
small in
that in
in
(Table 4).
in 1975,
1975, similar to that
The reasons
reasons for
for the
the recent
recent decline
decline in
in the
the number
number of
of jacks
jacks are
are unknown,
unknown,
1974.
1974.
but
program may possibly
possibly be
be altering the
the maturity schedule
schedule of
of
but the hatchery program
hatchery fish
fish as
as second
second and
and third
third generation
generation propagated
propagated adults
adults become
become inincorporated into
into the
the egg
egg take.
take. Jacks
appear to
to contribute
contribute to
to the
the gene
gene pool
pool in
in
Jacks appear
the natural
but are discarded in
in the
the hatchery program.
program.
the
natural spawning population but
Sport Fishery
Fishery Survey.
Survey. AA statistical
statistical creel
creel census was conducted on the
the
lower
from early October,
first entered
lower 19
19 km
km of
of Elk ·River
River from
October, when
when chinook first
entered the
river, until
until the
the end
end of
of the
the fishing
fishing season
season on
on December
December 31.
31. The sport
sport salmon
salmon
river,
season was
was extended by 1 month
season
for the
the second
second successive
successive year
to allow anglers
month for
year to
anglers
to harvest more late
late returning
returning hatchery
hatchery adults.
adults.
to
1
interviewed 3,011
3,011 anglers
anglers and
and estimated
estimated 3,601
3,601 fall
fall chinook
chinook salmon
salmon
We interviewed
were harvested in
in the
the Elk
Elk River
River sport
sport fishery.
fishery. A
total of
of 841
841 fish
fish or
or 23.49
23.4%
A total
of the
the catch in
in 1975
1975 was
was taken
taken in
in December
December during
during the
the 1-month
!-month extension
extension of
of
the season. Hatchery-reared
Hatchery-reared fish
fish comprised
comprised an
an estimated
estimated 8l.0
81.0% of
the adults
adults
of the
6
Table
Table 144.
Estimated -return and
and survival
survival of
of hatchery
hatchery chinook
chinook salmon
salmon
Estimatedreturn
to
River, 1975
1975
to Elk River,
:\cc
um. %
ccurn.
.;urvival
urvival
viva!
no.
vival of no.
I1
(a
(all
released
ages)
Sur% Sur°,
Brood
year
~ear
Age
Mark
Number
released
released
1973
22
22
22
22
RV
RV
LV
LV
Ad+CWT
RP
RP
102,935
121,784
121
'784
39,660
38,502
38,502
10.0/lb
10.0/lb
10.0/lb
10.0/lb
10.0/lb
32.0/lb
10/74
10/74
10/714
10/74
10/74
10/714
6/74
6/74
227
227
103
189
189
82
82
0.22
0.09
0.48
0.21
0.21
0.22
022
0.09
0.48
0.21
0.21
33
33
33
3
3
LV
LV
LP
LI'
RP
RI'
D-Ad-RP
tD-Ad-RP
102,785
I 21 , 642
121,642
114,311
1114,311
97,428
37.4/lb
8.0/lb
8.0/lb
15.7/lb
5.0/lb
6/73
11/73
11/73
3/74
103
103
7814
784
433
582
582
0.10
0.64
0.38
0.60
0.19
0.71
0.71
0.46
0.97
105,1+10
105,410
105,397
334,157
7.2/lb
7.2/lb
6.6/lb
6.6/lb
12.5/lb
11/72
11/72
11/72
11/72
11/72
11,456
,456
932
932
3,840
1.38
38
1.
0.88
1.15
2.20
2.20
2.02
2.02
409,092
97,568
171,757
47.0/lb
47.0/lb
12.7/lb
12.7/lb
12.7/lb
6/71
6/71
9/71
9/71
250
228
369
0.06
0.23
0.22
0.31
0.31
4.43
3.59
3-59
107,808
107,808
8.0/lb
8.0/lb
10/70
10/70
36
0.03
5.75
5-75
1972
1971
1971
4
RV
RV
4 t-D-LP
-D-LP
4
LV
LV
14
1
14
1970
1969
RV
RV
5
5
55
5
5
Ad-RM
Ad-RM
6
6
Ad-LM
LV
LV
Size and time
time
of release
release
1975
Estimate
L+.o8
4.08
------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------
Total
caught
52,365
52,365
entire
during
during
9,614
and
and 27.3
27.3% of the
the catch
catch of
of jacks.
jacks. Total
Total estimated angler
angler effort was
hours
average catch
hours with an .average
catch rate
rate of
of 14.5
14.5 hours
hours per
per salmon
salmon for
for the
the
season. Anglers
Anglers spent
spent 15,778
15,778 hours
hours of
of effort,
effort, 30.1°
30.1% of
of the
the total,
total,
season.
in December.
December.
the season extension in
In
catch of
In addition
addition to
to the
the catch
catch of
of 3,601
3,601 fall
fall chinook,
chinook, we estimated a catch
76 trout
trout (under
(under 20")
20") and
and 172
172 steelhead
steelhead (over
(over2011).
20"). The overall
rate
overall catch rate
for all
species was 13.6
13.6 hrs/fish
hrs/fish for
for the
the entire
entire season.
season. All
the trout
trout
All of the
for
all species
were caught prior to
to December and 125
125 or
72.7% of the
the steelhead
steelhead were
were caught
caught
or 72.7
during December.
December. The estimated steelhead
steelhead catch
catch represents
represents an
an unknown
unknown perperthe total
total harvest
harvest of
of that
that species
species from
from Elk
Elk River
River since
since many
many fish
fish
centage of the
were caught in
in January-March,
January-March, after
after the
the survey
survey was
was terminated.
terminated.
Total fishing
fishing effort
effort and
and the
the catch
catch from
from Elk
Elk River
River increased
increased substantially
substantially
Total
in
to previous
previous years.
years. The increase
increase followed a trend
trend that
that
in 1975
1975 compared to
started in
in 1970,
1970, the
the first
first year
year that
that hatchery-reared
hatchery-reared chinook
chinook returned
returned
probably started
to Elk River.
to
River. We have documented increases
increases in
in catch
catch and/or
and/or effort
effort each
each year
year
since
the
first
creel
census
in
1972
(Table
5).
The
estimated
36,587
hours
since
first creel
in 1972 (Table 5).
hours
of effort during
during the
the regular
regular season
season (through
(through November
November 30)
30) in
a
in 1975
1975 represents
represents a
107
107%
increase over
the 1974 season
season and
and a ll4
114% increase
increase over the
the average for
for
increase
over the
1972-74. The percentage of local
local anglers participating
participating in
in this
this fishery
fishery dedethe 4-year
4-year period
period while
while the
the percentage
percentage of
of out-of-state
out-of-state anglers
anglers
clined over the
77
Table
5.
table 5.
Summary of the
the sport
sport fishery
fishery for
for fall
fall chinook
chinook in
in Elk
Elk River,
River, 1972-75
1972-75
Tota
catch
Total1 catch
Extended
Comb.
1/
Comb. 1/
s eason
season
Angler
An 9ler effort
e ffort ~hrs.}
(hrs.)
Regular
Extended
Regular Extended
Comb.
sea son
season
season
Comb.
season
Hou
rs/fis h
Hours/fish
Regular Extended
Extended
sea
son
season
season
season
Year
Year
ReguTar
Regular
season
season
1972
1972
2,075
--
1973
2,1435
2,435
--
19714
1974
1,585
1, 585
923
2,508
2,508
79.7
79.7
26 . 1
26.1
17,671
17,671
22,173
39,844
11.
11.11
24.0
15.9
1975
2,760
2,760
841
8141
3,601
3,601
65.7
27.4
27.4
36,587
15,778
52,365
13.3
13.3
18.8
18.8
14.5
14.5
--
-----
%
hatchery
hatche ry
%
of run
run
79.8
16.5
19,622
--
--
9.5
9.5
81.1
81.1
19.3
19.3
14,074
114,074
--
---
5.8
Comb.
Comb.
())
y1/
The catch of
of adults
adults was
was 413
413 in
in 1972
1972 and
and 36'5
365 in
2,149 in 1974
1974 and
and 2,573
2,573 in
in 197.5
1975 after
in 1973
1973 compared
compared to 2)149
after
the
extended through
through December.
December.
the season was extended
remained at
at about
about the
the same
same level
level and
and the
the percentage
percentage from
from other
other areas
ar~as in
in
remained
Oregon increased
increased substantially
substantially (Table
(Table 6).
6). While
While total
total catch
catch increased
increased over
over
the
the 4-year period, the
the catch rate
rate gradually
gradually declined.
declined.
Table 6.
6.
Table
Year
Origin
anglers interviewed
interviewed during
Origin of anglers
during creel
creel census
census sur\eys
sun·eys
on Elk River,
River, 1972-75
1972-75
total
Percentage of
Percentase
of total
Remainder
Local
Local 1/
1/
of Oregon
Creson
of-state
anglers
Number of anglers
furnishing
furnishing
information
information
6.2 (60)
(60)
4.8 (47)
4.8
(47)
970
966
966
OutOut-
1972
1972
89.0 (863)
(863) 3/
3/
89.0
1973
1973
83 ;2 ·(804)
(804)
83.2
10.9 ((105)
1OS)
5.9 (57)
5.9
(57)
19742/
1974
2/
78'.4
78.4 (T,973)
(1,973)
16.5 (416)
(416)
5.1
5.1
((129)
129)
2,518
1975
1975 2/
77.2 (2,283)
77.2
17.4
17.4 (515)
(515)
160)
5.4
5.4 ((160)
2,958
1/ Includes
Includes area
area within
within 11 hour's
hour's driving
driving distance
distance of
of Elk
Elk River.
River.
1/
2/
2/ Includes
Includes extended
extended December
December season.
season.
3/ Number
Number of
ofinterviewed
interviewed anglers
anglers in
in parentheses.
parentheses.
On June
June 25,
25, 1971,
.
Growth and
and Early
Early Release.
Release. On
1971, we released
released
Accelerated Growth
fingerling chinook averaging 47 fish/lb
fish/lb into
into Elk River
River following
following
409,092 fingerling
accelerated growth
growth in
in the
the hatchery.
hatchery. The
intent of
the experiment was to
to
The intent
of the
produce large,
large, viable
viable migrant
migrant chinook
chinook by
by late
late June
June of
of their
their first
first year.
year. For
For
this experiment to
to be
be successful,
successful, the
the chinook
chinook needed
needed to
to attain
attain sufficient
sufficient size
size
this
to
good survival
survival and
and migrate
mjgrate out
out of
of Elk
Elk River
River while
while avoiding
avoiding competicompetito produce good
tion
rearing in
in the
the river.
river.
tion with wild chinook rearing
chinook returned
returned in
in 1975,
1975, essentially completing the
the life
life cycle
Age 55 chinook
cycle
of fish
fish in
in this
this experimental
experimental release.
release. Total
Total survival
survival was only 0.31?
0.31% of
of the
the
Detailed scale
scale analysis
analysis indicated
409,092 fingerlings
fingerlings released
released (Table
(Table 7).
7). Detailed
indicated
409,092
that
remained in
in Elk
Elk River
River following
following their
their release
release and
and
that surviving chinook remained
analyses of juvenile
most migrated
migrated with
with the
the wild
wild fish
fish in
in autumn.
autumn. Comparative analyses
and adult scales showed that
that these fish
fish averaged
12 circuli
release (range
(range
averaged 12
circuli at
at release
15) and
and added
added about
about 12
12 circuli
circuli (range
(range 10
10 to
to 15)
15) during
during their
their extended
extended
8 to 15)
in the
the river
river before
before entering the
the ocean.
ocean.
residence in
Scale samples were used
used to
to back
back calculate
calculate size
size aatt release of returning
returning
adults and
and calculate
calculate survival
survival rates
rates according
according to
to size
size groups at liberation.
1 iberation.
Highest survival
survival came
came from
from the
the largest
largest fish
fish among
among the
the fingerlings
fingerlings released
released
Highest
and 8.7 cm
(Table
8). Survival
rates of fingerlings
fingerlings between
between 6.8
6.8 and
em was only 0.O7?
0.07%
Survival rates
(Table 8).
compared to
to 3.26
3.26% for
for those
those attaining
attaining lengths
lengths between
between 9.8 and 10.7
10.7 cm
em at
at
compared
release.
release.
In summary,
the average size
size at
at release
release was
was 10.0
10.0 cm
em among
among surviving
surv1v1ng adult
adult
In
summary, the
chinook in
in the
the experiment.
experiment. The juvenile fish
fish reared
reared in
in Elk
Elk River
River until
until autumn
autumn
chinook
extended residence
and grew
grew to
to an
an average
average size
size of
of 12.8
12.8 cm.
em. Their extended
residence may have had
had
and
impact on wild fish
fish by virtue of their
their cohabitation,
a deleterious impact
cohabitation, but
but no
no
direct data are
are available
available to
to confirm
confirm or
or refute
refute this
this premise.
premise.
9
Table
7.
Table 7.
chinook hatched
hatched in
in
Survival of 1970-brood
Survival
1970-:brood fall
fall chinook
heated water
water incubators
heated
incubators
Estimated survival
Estimated
survival .2/
1/
Percentage
Number
Age
composition
compos i t Ion
22
521
52t
0.13
33
190
190
0.05
0.05
1+
4
297
0.07
0.07
55
250
250
0.06
11,258
,258
0.31
0.31
Total
Total
1/
1/
Based
Basedupon
upon 409,092
409,092 fish
fish marked
marked RV
RV and
and released
released June
June 25,
25, 1971,at
19?1,at 14?
14? fish/lb.
fish/lb.
Table
8.
Table 8.
Size at
at
Size
release
(em)
(cm)
Size-specific survival
survival rates
rates for ·1970-brood
1970-brood fall
fall chinook
chinook
released June
June 5,
5, 1971
1971
released
Number of fall
fa 11 chinook
chinook
Number
Total return
return
Released
Total
Released
Percentage
Percentage
survival
survival
6.8-7.7
12,232
9
9
0.07
0.07
7.8-8.7
11+0,605
140,605
103
103
0.07
0.07
8.8-9.7
230,278
298
0.13
0. 13
848
3.26
9.8-10.7
25,977 '
25,977
81+8
Estimated Contribution
Contributien of
of 1969-Brood
1969-Brood Fall
Fall Chinook
Chinook Salmon.
Salmon. On
On
October 21,
21, 1970,
1970, 107,808
107,808 fall
fall chinook
chinook salmon
salmon smolts
smolts from
from the
the 1969-brood
1969-brood year
year
were released
released into
into Elk
Elk River
River at
at an
an average
average weight
weight of
of 8.0
8.0 fish/lb.
fish/lb. The smolts
were
were given
given an
an uriduplicated
unduplicated mark
to
were
mark (Ad-LM)
(Ad-LM) to
to determine
determine their
their contribution to
Pacific Coast
Coast commercial
commercial and
and sport
sport fisheries.
fisheries. Six-year-old chinook salmon
salmon
this group
group returned
returned to
to Elk
Elk River
River in
in 1975
1975 completing
completing the
the experiment.
experiment.
from this
from
,2l2 (25%)
(25?) were
were taken
Commercial fishermen
fishermen landed
landed 3,642
3,642 fish
fish (75°)
(75%) and
and 11 ,212
taken
Commercial
recreational fisheries
fisheries from
from aa total
total estimated
estimated catch
catchofof4,851+
4,854 fall
fall chinook
chinook
in recreational
in
78% of
of the
the total
total catch
catch came
came from
from ocean
ocean fisheries
fisheries compared
compared to
to
salmon. About
About 78?
22? in
22%
River sport
sport fishery.
fishery. A
preponderance of
of the
the sport
sport catch
catch (1,01+8
(1,048
A preponderance
in the
the Elk
Elk River
fish
86.5%) occurred
occurred in
in Elk
Elk River
River with
with the
the remainder
remalnder (161+
(164 fish)
fish or 86.5?)
fish) taken
taken by
by
anglers fishing
fishing offshore.
offshore. The fish
fish contributed to ocean fisheries
fisheries over a
large
from Alaska
to central
California, but
but the
the primary
primary
large geographical
geographical area
area from
Alaska to
central California,
contribution was
was to
to Oregon.
Oregon. Sport
Sport and
commercial fishermen
fishermen in
in Oregon
Oregon landed
landed
and commercial
2,771 chinook or 72.8?
72.8% of the
the total
total known
known ocean catch
catch while only 628
628 (l6.5?)
(16.5%)
2,771
10
F
were landed
landed in
in California,
California, 316
316 (8.3?)
(8.3%) in
in Washington, and
and 91
91 (2.4°/
(2.4%~ in
in Alaska.
Alaska.
The total
total ~stimated
catch of
of 3,806
3,806 1969-brood
1969-brood fall
fall chinook
chinook from
from Elk
Elk
estimated ocean catch
is minimal
minimal and
and the
the percentage
percentage taken
taken by
by Oregon
Oregon fishermen
fishe 1·men is
is
River Hatchery is
maximal
Columbia landings
landings were not
not examined
examined for
for marked
marked fish.
fish.
maximal since British Columbia
An estimated
estimated 5,157 fall
fall chinook
chinook either
returned to
either returned
to Elk
Elk River
River Hatchery
Hatchery
or spawned in
in the
the river
river system
system bringing
bringing the
the total
total yield
yield (catch
(catch plus
plus escapeescapement)
to 10,011
10,011 or
or 9.3
9.3% of the
the 107,808
107,808 marked
marked smolts
smolts released.
released. The catch to
to
ment) to
escapement ratio
ratio was approximately 1:1
1:1 for
for 1969-brood
1969-brood fall
fall chinook
chinook released
released
at
Hatchery.
at Elk River Hatchery.
Hatchery
RearingProgram,
Program,1971-i
1974 Brood. Hatchery personnel
personnel took
took 360,831
360,831
Hatchery Rearing
groups were marked
fall chinook eggs for projects in
in Elk
Elk River
River (Table
(Table 9).
9). Two groups
fall
with coded
coded wire
wire tags.
tags. One group (36,971
(36,971 smolts)
smolts) served as a control
control to
to comcompare with the ocean contribution and
and distribution
distribution of
of Elk
Elk River
River fall
fall chinook
chinook
reared and
and released at Alsea
The second
second tagged
reared
Alsea River
River Salmon
Salmon Hatchery.
Hatchery. The
tagged group
(31,065 smolts)
smolts reared
reared from wild parents trapped
trapped in
in Anvil
Anvil
(31,065
smolts) identified smolts
Creek,
Elk River.
River. The remaining
remaining smolts
smolts were divided
divided between
between those
those originating
originating
Creek, Elk
from
(31,601 and
and 171,339
171,339 smolts,
smolts, respectively)
respectively) and
and
from age-5
age-S and
and age-3 parents (31,601
fin clips.
clips. The total
total number
number of smolts released
released was 270,976
270,976
marked with single fin
1975. The total
total mortality
mortality was
was 24.9°/
24.9% from
to smolt
smolt stage
stage in
in
in October 1975.
from egg to
in
October.
October.
Chetco River
River
Jack Creek
Creek Trap.
Trap. Curry County officials
officials and Department of Fish and
Wildlife personnel
personnel jointly operated
a
trap on
operated a trap
on Jack
Jack Creek,
Creek, Chetco
Chetco River
River to
to
eggs were
were incubated
take fall
fall chinook
chinook eggs.
eggs. The eggs
incubated at
at Elk River
River Hatchery and the
the
take
Some were
were also released
resulting smolts
smolts mainly
mainly returned
re t urned to
to the
the Chetco
Chetco River.
River . Some
released
resulting
into
system. The program
program has
has significantly
significantly enhanced the
the
into the
the Coos
Coos River system.
river•s chinook population
population and
and recreational
recreational fishery
fishery since
since its
its inception
inception in
in
river's
1968.
1968.
Hatchery Rearing
Rearing Program,
Program, 1974
1974 Brood.
Brood. Elk River Hatchery personnel
personnel colcollected 546,198
the Jack Creek
Creek trap
trap in
in 1974.
1974. Total
lected
546,198 fall
fall chinook salmon eggs at the
mortality during
during incubation
incubation and
and rearing
rearing at
at the
the hatchery
hatchery was
was 22.39
22.3% (Table
(Table 10),
10),
compared to
to 28.3
28.3% the
previous year.
year . Total
Total chinook
chinook production
production was 424,348
424,348
the previous
during 1975.
1975. Chetco River
River was
restocked with
from
from Chetco River during
was restocked
with 318,908 smolts
(Table
remainder (105,440
(105,440 fish)
liberated into
into Coos
Coos and
and
(Table 11)
11) and
and the
the remainder
fish) were liberated
Millicoma
Bay.
Mill icoma rivers,
rivers, Coos Bay.
Sport Fishery
Fishery Survey.
Survey. A
conducted in
in the
the Chetco
A creel
creel census
census survey was
was conducted
Sport
the total
total angler
angler effort,
effort, catch
catch of
of fall
fall chinook,
chinook, and
and proproRiver to estimate the
portion of hatchery-reared fish
fish contributing
contributing to
to the
the catch
catch in
in 1975.
1975. Both the
the
portion
October-November and extended
extended season
season in
in December
December were
were censused,
censused, duplicating
duplicating
a similar study at Elk
Elk River.
River.
The total
total angling effort
effort was
was about
about 52,747
52,747 hours
hours (preliminary)
(preliminary) in
1975.
in 1975.
the effort
effort came
came from
from shore
shore anglers
anglers and
and 252
25%from
from boat
boat
Seventy-five percent of the
anglers. Anglers
Anglers fished
fished 11,595
11,595 hours
%) compared
compared to
to 41,152
41,152
hours in
in tidewater
tidewater (22
(22)
anglers.
hours in
in freshwater
freshwater (78°i).
(78%). Twenty-seven
the total
total effort occurred
Twenty-seven percent of the
hours
estimated seasonal
was 3,072 fall
in
season. The estimated
seasonal catch was
fall chinook
in the
the extended season.
11
Tahl
e 9.
9.
Thble
Fa
Fall
11 chi
chinook
nook sa
salmon
1mon f1974
'l974 brood)
brood) reared
rea red and
and released
r.e 1eased
into
River
into Elk River
Spawning period
period
(December
1974-January 24,
24, 1975)
1975)
(December 3,
3, 1974-January
Females
Females spawned
Eggs taken
taken
Eggs
Mortality of eggs
Mortality of alevins
Ponding
Pending period
100
100
360,831
360,831
28,481
(7.90/0)
(7.9%)
6,437 (1.90/a)
6,437
(1.9%)
(March 18-April
18-April 25,
25, 1975)
1975)
Number of fish ponded
ponded
of fish
fish ponded
ponded
Average size of
Total weight of
of fish
fish ponded
ponded
Total
Mortality of fingerlings
fingerlings in
in ponds
ponds
(including marking)
marking)
Unaccounted mortality
mortality
OTC
OTC marked
325,913
1,001/lb
1,001/lb
326
lbs
326 lbs
44,626 (l3.7?)
(13.7%)
10,311
10,311 (3.2%)
(3.20/a)
A11
All
Marking periods
periods
Fin marking (May
Fin
(May 27-June 9,
1975)
9, 1975)
Coded
(June 18-20
1975)
Coded wire tagging (June
18-20 and
and September
September 22-26,
22-26, 1975)
Release groups
Date
Date
10/20/75
10/20/75
10/20/75
Mark
Number released
released
Ad+CWT
Ad+CWT
36,971
31,065
31
'065
11.2/lb
11.2/lb
10.9/lb
10.9/lb
31,601
31
, 601
171,339
11.1/1b
11.1/lb
10.6/1b
10.6/lb
10/20/75
'RV
RV
10/20-21/75 LV
LV
Total
Total number of fish
fish released
released
Total
Total mortality,
mortality, 1974
1974 brood
brood
Size at
at release
release
Size
270,976
89,855 (24.9°/0)
89,855
(24.9%)
12
Treatment
Treatment
·
Alsea R.
R. control
control
Anvi 1 Cr.
Cr. wild
wild
Anvil
stock
stock
Age-5
Age-S parents
parents
Age-3 parents
parents
Age-3
Table 10.
10.
Spawning period
Spawning
Fall
at
Fall chinook
chinook salmon
salmon (1974
(l97i brood,
brood, Chetco
Chetco stock)
stock) rea:ed
reaed at
Elk
released into
into the
the Chetco,
Chetco, Coos,
C0os, and
and
Elk River
River Hatchery
Hatchery and
and released
Mi
11 icoma rIvers
Millicoma
rivers
(December
4, 197)4-January
1974-January 15,
15, 1975)
1975)
(December 4,
Females
spawned
Females spawned
Eggs taken
Eggs
Mortality of eggs
Mortality of alevins
Ponding
Pond
i ng period
1514
154
546,198
546'
198
62,964
62
'964
12,306
( l 1 . 5%)
(2.5%)
(11.5°/a)
(2.5°/a)
(March
19, 1975)
1975)
(March 18,
18, 1975-May 19,
Number of fish
fish ponded
size of fish
fish ponded
ponded
Average size
Total
fish ponded
Total weight of fish
Unaccounted mortality
470,928
831/lb
567 lbs
lbs
46,580 (9.9%)
46,580
(9.9)
Release groups
groups
Date
6/10/75
9/16-17/75
10/21/75
10/21-22/75
10/21-31/75
10/21-31/75
11/18-20/75
11 I 18-20/75
Area
Number
released
Number released
MilIicoma
R.
Mi 11 icoma R.
Chetco R.
R.
Millicoma R.
R.
S.
Fork Coos
Coos R.
R.
S. Fork
Chetco
Chetco R.
R.
Chetco
Chetco R.
R.
2,684
2,684
35,890
41
,250
41,250
61 ,506
61,506
242,616
242,616
40,402
40,402
Total number of fish
Total
released
fish released
424,348
424,348
Total mortality, 1974 brood
Total
brood
121,850 (22.3?)
(22.3%)
Table 11.
11.
Location
Chetco R.
R.
Chetco
Chetco R.
R.
Hamilton
Ham
i I ton Cr.
Cr.
Jack
Jack Cr.
Cr.
Chetco
Chetco R.
R.
Size at
at release
release
Size
244/lb
244/lb
17.9/lb
17.9/lb
ll.0/1 b
11.0/lb
11.3/lb
11.3/lb
11.2/1
11.2/lbb
9.9/lb
9.9/lb
Distribution of
of 1974-brood
1974-brood fall
fall chinook
chinook salmon
salmon released
released
Distribution
into
the Chetco River,
into the
River, September-November
September-November 1975
1975
Date
Date
Sept.
Sept. 16-17, . 1975
1975
Oct.
Oct. 22-23, 1975
1975
Oct.
28-31, 1975
1975
Oct. 28-31'
Oct.
Oct. 28,
28, 1975
1975
Nov.
Nov. 18-20, 1975
1975
Total
Num ber
Number
Size
Size
(fish/lb)
(flsh/lb)
35,890
82,109
130,257
30,250
40,402
40,402
17.9/lb
17.9/lb
11.6/1
11.6/lbb
11.1/lb
11.1/lb
11.0/lb
11.0/lb
9.9/lb
9.9/lb
318,908
13
13
fish) taken in
(preliminary) with
with only
only 2°
2% (65
(65 fish)
in December.
December. Anglers harvested
(preliminary)
1,097
from tidewater
tidewater and
and 1,975
1,975 (6Li)
(64%) from
from freshwater
freshwater in
in
1,097 fall
fall chinook
chinook (36%)
(36) from
1975.
The overall
overall catch
catch rate
rate was
was 17.1
17.1 hours
hours per
per salmon.
salmon.
The
1975.
(14i°) and
catch of
of fall
fall chinook
chinook was
was divided
divided between
between 1,267
1,267 jacks
jacks (41%)
The catch
Hatchery-reared chinook
chinook comprised
comprised 39%
39 of
1,805 adults
adults (59°).
(59%). Hatchery-reared
of the
the jack catch
catch
and 72
72% of
of the
the adult
adult landings
landings (ages
(ages 33 through
through 5).
5). About 59
59% of the
the total
total
sport catch was composed of hatchery-reared
hatchery-reared fish
fish released
released into
into the
the Chetco
Chetco
sport
River.
River.
Coastal
Fall Chinook Stock Assessment Project
Project
Coastal Fall
Several
fisheries agencies
recently begun
begun evaluating
Several Pacific
Pacific Coast
Coast fisheries
agencies have
have recently
to enhance provincial
provincial sport
sport and commercial
commercial fisheries.
fisheries.
selected stocks of salmon to
Prior fin-marking
fin-marking experiments have demonstrated
demonstrated that
that some
some stocks
stocks remain
remain offtheir natal
natal streams or primarily
primarily disperse along nearby coastlines,
coastlines,
shore near their
favoring provincial
provincial fisheries,
fisheries, while others migrate long
long distances and confavoring
few if
if any
any fish
fish to
to these
these fisheries
fisheries at
at sea.
sea.
tribute few
The Oregon Department of Fish
Fish and Wildlife currently propagates three
three
stocks of
of fall
fall chinook
chinook salmon
salmon at
at coastal
coastal hatcheries.
hatcheries. Elk River Hatchery rears
rears
stocks
River and
and Chetco
Chetco River
River stocks.
stocks. The Chetco River stock is
is reared
reared
both Elk River
separately and
and the
the sniolts
smelts transplanted
into the
the Chetco
Chetco River
River each
each fall.
fall . Trask
separately
transplanted into
fall chinook are reared
reared and released
released at Trask Hatchery under similar
similar
River fall
rearing
regimes practiced
practiced at
at Elk
Elk River
River Hatchery.
Hatchery.
rearing regimes
Some
recent fin-marking
have given
insight into
into the
the
Some recent
fin-marking experiments
experiments have
given us
us an
an insight
offshore distribution and contribution of Elk,
Elk, Chetco,
Chetco, and Trask stocks.
stocks.
Preliminary evidence
evidence indicates
indicates the
the Elk
Elk and
and Chetco
Chetco stocks
stocks primarily
primarily contribute
contribute
to
fisheries between northern
northern California
California and
and Newport,
Newport, Oregon.
Oregon. In
In conconto ocean
ocean fisheries
trast, Trask River fall
fall chinook apparently migrate north of Oregon and exclutrast,
Washington, British Columbia,
Columbia, and southern Alaskan commercial
commercial
sively enter Washington,
and sport
sport fisheries.
fisheries. Therefore,
benefits are derived from the
the
Therefore, no direct benefits
Trask River stock by Oregon fishermen
fishermen until
until the
the salmon enter recreational
recreational
fisheries inside
inside Tillamook
Tillamook Bay.
Bay.
fisheries
In
study to
to determine
determine if
if the
the offshore
offshore
In FY
FY 1975,
1975, we
we began
began a comprehensive study
distribution of coastal
coastal fall
fall chinook stocks
stocks can be manipulated by altering
release
broad geographical
geographical range.
range. During the first year,
release sites
sites within a broad
four experimental
experimental groups
groups tagged
tagged with
with coded
coded wire
wire were
were released
released at
at Alsea,
Alsea, Elk,
Elk,
four
and
hatcheries and two groups with paired fin
fin marks were liberated
liberated into
into
and Trask hatcheries
Coos Bay.
Bay.
FY 1976
1976
Smolts Released
Released in
in FY
Tagged Smolts
In FY
tagged smolts
smelts were released
released at
at
In
FY 1976,
1976, the
the study
study was
was expanded when tagged
Klaskanine Hatchery located
l ocated on the
the lower
lower Columbia River (Trask
(Trask and
and Chetco
stocks)
addit ional to
t o replicate
rep l icate releases
releases at Alsea Salmon Hatchery (Trask
(Trask and
and
stocks) additional
stocks) and
and in
in the
the Coos
Coos Bay
Bay estuary
estua ry (Elk
(Elk and
and Chetco
Chetco stocks).
stocks). Appropriate
Elk stocks)
controls of tagged
tagged smolts
sme l ts were liberated
1 i berated from
from each donor stock in
in their native
rivers. A
total of
of 286,1fl7
286,417 tagged
released in
in 1975
1975
A total
tagged fall
fall chinook
chinook smelts
smolts was released
14
ILt
(Table 12).
12). Although we planned
planned to
to release
release about
about 38,000
38,000 tagged
tagged fish
fish in
in each
each
group,
the actual
liberated ranged from
from 23,616
23,616 to
to 39,150
39,150 due
d~e to
to poor
poor
group, the
actual number liberated
tag retention among certain
certain groups.
groups. Percentage
from
tag
Percentage tag
tag retention
retention ran~ed
raned from
67.6% to
to 96.6
96.6% with an
an overall
overall average
average of
of 85.l9.
85. 1%.
67.6?
Recoveries, 1973
1973 Brood
Brood
Coded Wire Tag Recoveries,
Pacific Coast
Coast Fisheries.
Fisheries. Pacific
agencies reported
reported a
Pacific Coast
Coast fisheries'
fisheries' agencies
total
total of
of 46
46 coded
coded wire tag recoveries
recoveries in
in 1975
1975 from
from 1973-brood
1973-brood fall
fall chinook
chinook
released
released at
at Trask,
Trask, Alsea,
Alsea, and Elk River hatcheries (Table
(Table 13).
13). The recoveries
recoveries
biased towards
towards the
the Washington
Washington sport
sport and
and Canadian
Canadian commercial
commercial fisheries
fisheries
were biased
the 2-year-old chinook
chinook were too
too small
small to
to enter
enter most
most remaining
remaining commercial
commercial
since the
offshore fisheries
fisheries in
in 1975.
1975. Tag recoveries
recoveries from
from Canadian sources
sources were primarprimarily
Fuca commercial
commercial seine
seine
ily from
from Johnston
Johnston Strait,
Strait, Central
Central Coast,
Coast, and
and Juan
Juan de
de Fuca
fisheries. Reports of fin
fin mark recoveries
recoveries from smolt releases
releases in
in the
the Coos
Coos
fisheries.
remain incomplete.
incomplete.
Bay estuary remain
Oregon Hatcheries.
Hatcheries. Eight
Eight tagged
tagged fall
fall chinook salmon jacks
jacks were tallied
tallied
Oregon
at
between October
October 19
19 and
and December
December 19,
19, 1975.
1975. The tagged
tagged
at Alsea Salmon Hatchery between
jacks
jacks were composed of six
six fish
fish from
from Elk
Elk River
River stock
stock and
and two
two from
from Trask
Trask River
River
stock released
released at
at the
the hatchery.
hatchery. Fourteen
Fourteen jacks with adipose fin
fin clips were
recovered
the adult
holding pond
pond between
between November 19
19 and December
December 6,
6, 1975,
1975,
recovered from
from the
adult holding
at
Hatchery. All
adipose-marked jacks contained tags
tags except one fish
fish
at Elk River Hatchery.
All adipose-marked
that sustained a severely lacerated
lacerated snout
snout which may
may have
have dislodged
dislodged the
the tag.
tag.
that
All tagged
tagged jacks
jacks examined
examined at
at Elk
Elk River
River Hatchery
Hatchery originated
originated from
from smolts
smolts rereAll
leased
into Elk
for experimental
releases at
at Alsea
Alsea Salmon
Salmon
leased into
Elk River
River as
as controls
controls for
experimental releases
Hatchery. No
tagged jacks
recovered at
in 1975.
1975.
No tagged
jacks were
were recovered
at Trask River Hatchery in
Salmon River Project
Salmon
A detailed project
project proposal
proposal outlining
outlining the
the long-term
long-term goals
goals of
of the
the Salmon
Salmon
A
River
intensive field work began
began in
in FY
FY 1976.
1976. SpeRiver project was
was prepared and intensive
goals and
and related
related objectives
objectives spanning
spanning each
each recognized
recognized phase
phase of
ofthe
theproprocific goals
included in
in the
the proposal
proposal along
along with
with major
major experimental
experimental approaches
approaches
ject were included
necessary to
to accomplish
accomplish the
the work.
work. Three
Three broad
broad goals
goals were
were recognized:
recognized:
necessary
(1)
to
(I) to
to optimize
optimize the
the contribution
contribution of
of salmon
salmon from Salmon River Hatchery to
and commercial
commercial fisheries;
fisheries; (2)
impacts of
Oregon's sport and
to minimize adverse impacts
(2) to
fish on native
native fish
fish species;
species; and
and (3)
(3) to
hatchery fish
to develop
develop management alternatives
that are complementary to
to the
the goals of the
the Cascade
Cascade Head
Head Scenic
Scenic Research
Research
tives that
Area established in
in the
the lower
lower Salmon
Salmon River
River watershed
watershed by
by congressional
congressional action
action
in 1974.
1974.
in
Four phases
phases of the
the project were identified
identified to
to simplify
simplify discussion
discussion and
and
of the
the project
project goals.
goals. These
These phases
phases are:
are: (1)
.evaluexecution of
(1) aa pre-hatchery
pre-hatchery.evaluation of
of existing
existing fish
fish populations
populations within
within the
the Salmon
Salmon River
River watershed;
watershed;
ation
(2)
rearing schedule and
documentation of the stocks
stocks
(2) development
development of
of aa hatchery
hatchery rearing
and documentation
selected for enhancement; (3)
(3) impact
impact and
the hatchery
hatchery stocks
stocks
and evaluation of the
based on
on adult
adult population
population size
size and
and contributions
contributions to
to recreational
recreational and
and commercial
commercial
based
(1+)
fisheries;
final
and recommendations.
recommendations.
fisheries; and (4)
final analyses and
15
15
Table 12.
12.
Table
Number of
of fall
fall chinook salmon
salmon smolts
smelts (1974
(1974 b.rood)
brood) marked
tags
marked with
with coded
coded wire
wire tags
and
released in
in 1975
1975
and released
Tag codes
1/
Tag
codes 1/
Data
Data
0'
1 Data
Data 22
I
Hatchery
Hatchery
Stock
Stock
Date
Date
released
released
Size at
at
Size
release
release
(no/1
b)
(no/lb)
Number
Number
tagged
tagged
Number released
r.e 1eased
Number
Ad+CWT
Ad-only Total
Total
% tag
tag
retention
retention
Area
released
?
11
11
09
09
Elk
Elk
Elk
Elk
10/20-21
10/20-21
11.2
11.2
38,193
38'
193
26,307
26,307
7,2148
7,248
33,555
33,555
78.4
Coos Bay
Bay
11
11
10
10
Elk
Elk
Chetco
Chetco
10/21
10/21
10.9
10.9
37,130
23,616
23,616
8,212
8,212
31
,828
31,828
74.2
Coos Bay
Bay
11
Il
11
11
Klaskanine
Kiaskanine
Trask
Trask
11/21
11/21
9.5
9.5
41,313
30,550
8,818
8,818
39,368
77.6
Klask
1Il1
12
12
Klaskanine
Klaskanine
Chetco
Chetco
11/21
11/21
9.4
9.4
39,553
39,553
34,620
314,620
4,279
4,279
38,899
89.0
Kiask.
Klask. R.
R.
11
11
13
13
Trask
Trask
Trask
Trask
10/22
10/22
10.
10.11
40,014
40,0114
38,233
1,428
1 ,428
39,661
39,661
96.4
Trásk
Trask R.
R.
11
11
14
14
Alsea
Alsea
Trask
10/21
10/21
9.8
38,663
25,578
25,578
12,240
37,818
67.6
R.
Alsea R.
11
11
15
15
Alsea
Alsea
Elk
Elk
10/21
10/21
10.
10.11
38,768
32,538
32,538
5,656
38,194
38,194
85.2
Alsea
A
1sea R.
R.
12
12
09
09
Elk
Elk
Elk
Elk
10/20
10/20
11.2
11.2
39,91+2
39,942
35,825
35,825
11,146
'146
36,971
36,971
96.9
Elk R.
R.
12
12
10
10
Elk
Elk
Chetco
Chetco
11/18-20
11/18-20
9.9
9.9
41,704
41
'704
39,150
39'
150
11,252
,252
40,402
96.9
Chetco R.
R.
R.
R.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------50,279 336,696
85.11
as.
Total
355,280 286,417
50,279
Total
y1/
Agency Code
Code 07.
0?.
Agency
.....
%
I
Table 13.
13.
Coded
salmon
Coded wire
wire tag
tag recoveries
recoveries from
from 1973-brood
1973-brood fall
fall chinoJk
chinok salmon
sampled in
in coastal
coastal fisheries
fisheries in
in 1975
1975
Ore.
Ore.
sport
seort
recoveries
Tag
Ta9 recoveries
Wash.
Canadian
Comm.
Comm.
Sport
sport
Seort
seo
rt
Stock
Site
site
Number
re 1eased
released
Trask
Trask R.
R.
36,519
00
12
12
Trask
AI
sea R.
R.
Alsea
38,883
00
22
Elk
R.
Alsea
Alsea R.
38,030
1
Elk
Elk R.
R.
39,660
0
0
ReJease
Release
Total
Total
00
6
6
18
18
1
5
5
88
1
0
0
2
2
44
55
0
0
11
11
16
16
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------24
46
24
46
Total
20
20
153,092
1
1
Field Studies
FieJd studies in
in FY
FY 1976
1976 were primarily
primarily confined
confined to
to four
f our main
ma in approaches
approac he s
Field
within the
the framework
framework of
of Phase
Phase I:
1: {1)
(2) tagging
tagg ing
(1) juvenile
juvenile salmonid studies; (2)
and
salmonids; (3)
(3) spawning
(4) fish
fish species
s pec ies
and sampling adult salmonids;
spawning fish
Fish surveys;
surveys; and (4)
composition within the
the watershed.
watershed.
Juvenile Studies.
Studies. Seining,
Seining, gillnetting,
and electroshocking
electroshocking were
were used
used
gHlnetting, and
to collect juvenile
juvenile salmonids.
salmonids. Samples
seining
to
Samples were
were collected
collected semimonthly by seining
in the
high and
and low
low tides,
tides, except
except in
in the
the winter when sampling
sampling
in
the estuary
estuary at
at both
both high
·was
reduced to
to monthly
monthly intervals.
intervals. Monthly fish
fish samples
samples were also collected
was reduced
from
for growth rates,
rates, length-weight
length-weight relationships,
relationships, and
and to
to
from key
key tributaries for
collect
scales for comparison with adult
adult scale
scale patterns.
patterns. Samples taken
taken in
in
collect scales
spring
documented the
the upstream
upstream distributions
distributions of
of salsalspring and
and early summer months documented
monid species.
species. Juvenile
salmon were marked by cold branding
branding
monid
Juvenile coho and
and chinook salmon
fin excision to
to study
study migration
migration patterns.
patterns.
and fin
Adult Tagging.
Tagging. Estuarine seining and
and gilinetting
gillnetting resulted
resulted in
in 89 chinook
salmon, 15
15 coho
coho salmon,
salmon, and
and 77 steelhead
steelhead trout
trout being
being tagged
tagged between
between August
August 1975
1975
salmon,
and January
January 1976.
1976. The numbers of fish
fish tagged
tagged were too
too few
few to
to permit
permit accurate
accurate
and
population estimates.
estimates. However,
the timing
timing of the
the runs
runs
However, preliminary estimates
estimates on
on the
biological characteristics
characteristics (sex
(sex ratios,
ratios, mean
mean lengths,
lengths, age
age distribution,
distribution,
and biological
etc.) of the
the salmon
salmon populations
populations were
were obtained
obtained during
during the
the tagging
tagging work.
work.
etc.)
Spawning Fish Surveys.
Seawning
Surveys. Approximately 30
30 miles of the
the main river
river and
and
tributaries
identified as primary
primary spawning
spawning sites
sites for
for chinook
chinook and
and coho
coho
tributaries were identified
salmon
juveniles, gravel
gravel composition,
composition, prior
prior
salmon based
based on the distribution of juveniles,
surveys, and preliminary
surveys,
preliminary surveys
surveys completed
completed in
in 1975.
1975. The survey areas were
examined during
during the
the salmon
salmon spawning
spawning season
season to
to recover
recover tagged
tagged
systematically examined
fish,
to collect biological
biological samples from
from spawning
spawning fish,
fish, and to
to determine
determine the
the
fish, to
timing
of fish
fish in
in Salmon
Salmon River.
River. Scale samples were collected
collected
timing and distribution of
from
salmon encountered
encountered during
during the
the surveys.
surveys. The
The
from all
all carcasses of spawned-out salmon
scales will
will be analyzed to
scales
to determine
determine life
life histories.
histories.
17
17
Species Composition.
Composition. Records
Records were maintained of all
all fish
fish species
species enenSpecies
countered
during routine
routine sampling
sampling work.
work. So far,
far, 30 species
species have
have been
been identiidenticountered during
fied within
the Salmon
Salmon River
River estuary.
estuary. These records
records should
should provide
provide a means
fied
within the
possible interactions
interactions of
of salmon
salmon released
released from
from the
the hatchery
hatchery and
and
of anticipating possible
fish species
species residing
residing in
-in the
the estuary.
estuary.
fish
Data Analysis
Analysis
Data
Virtually all
all field
field data
data were
were directly
directly recorded
recorded onto
onto field
field forms
forms dedeVirtually
Coded data
data were double checked prior
signed for
for transfer
transfer onto
onto punch
punch cards.
cards. Coded
signed
to
punching and
and rechecked
rechecked once
once more
more after
after punching.
punching. Computer programs
programs
to key
key punching
will be
be developed
developed to
to summarize
summarize and
and analyze
analyze these
these data.
data.
will
Shad
Striped Bass
Bass
Shad and Striped
(Atosa scipidissirna)
sapidissima) and
bass (Morone
(Marone saxatil_is)
saxatitis)
American shad
shad (Alasa
American
and striped
striped bass
were landed
l anded in
in commercial
commercial gill-net
gill-net fisheries
fis heries in
in the
the Siuslaw,
Siuslaw, Smith,
Smith, Umpqua,
Umpqua,
were
Coos,
and Coquille
Coqui l le rivers
rivers in
in 1975.
1975. The commercial
commercial season
season began
began May
May 10
10 and
and
Coos, and
July 1,
1, except
except in
in Coos
Coos Bay.
Bay. The Coos Bay season opened
opened April
April 20
20 and
and
ended July
closed June
June 21.
21.
closed
Set nets
nets were
were fished
fished on
on all
all rivers
rivers except
except the
the timpqua
Umpqua where
where only
only drift
drift
gill
allowed.
gill nets
nets were allowed.
Commercial
fishermen landed
landed 63,184 shad
shad weighing 231,483 lbs
lbs from coastal
coastal
Commercial fishermen
was slightly higher than
streams in
in 1975
1975 (Table
(Table114).
14). The poundage was
than in
in 1974
1974
(11%),
46% below the
the previous
previous 10-year average of
of 426,111
426,111 lbs
lbs
(i1?), but
but remained 46
Of the
taken from coastal
taken
coastal rivers.
rivers. Of
the total
total poundage landed
landed 71?
71% came
came from
from the
the
Umpqua River.
River. Female (roe)
(roe) shad comprised 66
66% of the total
total coastal
coastal catch.
catch.
Table 14.
14.
Commercial
Commercial landings
of shad
and striped
landings of
shad and
striped bass,
bass, 1975
1975
Shad
Shad landings
landings
Number
Number
Female
Total
pou
nds
pounds
Striped bass
bass
( lbs )
landings (ibs)
landings
River
Male
Siuslaw
11,163
'163
2,746
14,473
133
133
Smith
I1,185
, 185
3,599
3,599
17,951
574
Umpqua
15,799
29,26O
.,.29,260
164,437
12,806
Coos
1,797
3,707
. 20,219
4,025
Coquille
l1,309
'309
2,619
2,619
14,403
14,403
397
21,253
21
,253
41,931
41
'931
231,483
17,935
Total
18
it;]
The commercial
commercial landings
landings of striped
striped bass
bass continued
continued their
their downqard
downvard trend
trend
in
49% decrease from
from 19714
1~74 landings
59% decrease from
from the
the
in 1975
1975 with
with aa 49
landings and a 59
previous
average. Only 17,935 lbs
lbs of striped bass
bass were landed
landed in
in
previous 10-year average.
(Table iL').
14). The Umpqua River
River produced
produced 7l
71% of
total coasta
coastal catch,
1975
of the total
1975 (Table
followed by Coos Bay with 22?.
followed
22%.
The Oregon State Legislature
Legislature passed
passed aa law
law during
during the
the 1975
1975 session
session proprohibiting
the commercial
commercial harvest
harvest of striped
striped bass
bass beginning
beginning with
with the
the 1976
1976
hibiting the
season.
commercial
commercial shad season.
SECTION II.
I I.
COMPLETION REPORT
COMPLETION
REPORT- JULY
JULY 1,
1, 1973,
30, 1976
1976
1973, TO
TO JUNE
JUNE 30,
the past
past 33 fiscal
fiscal years
years has
has included
included the
the major
major projects
projects
Work accomplished the
described
in the previous section for
for fiscal
fiscal year 1976.
1976. However,
to
described in
However, prior to
FY
Rivers Investigation
Investigation was responsible
responsible for
for both
both management
management and
and
FY 1976 Coastal
Coastal Rivers
on Oregon's
Oregon's coastal
coastal stocks
stocks of
of anadromous
anadromous fish.
fish. Following
research functions on
merger of the
the Fish
Fish Commission
Commission of
of Oregon
Oregon and
and the
the Oregon
Oregon Wildlife
Wildlife Commission
Commission
into
July 1,
1, 1975,
Investigation's mission was
into aa unified
unified agency effective July
1975, the
the Investigation's
to fisheries
fisheries research
research in
in the
the coastal
coastal area.
area. Former
changed to
Former management
management functions
were delegated to
to district management
management personnel
personnel in
new agency.
agency. These
These ininin the
the new
such as spawning
spawning fish
fish surveys
surveys to
to chart
chart trends
trends in
in the
the escapeescapecluded activities such
ment of wild salmon stocks,
stocks, private
private salmon
salmon hatchery
hatchery operations,
operations, excess
excess adult
adult
and
fingerling salmon
salmon transplants,
transplants, management
management of
of coastal
coastal commercial
commercial shad
shad and
and
and fingerling
fisheries, environmental
environmental protection,
protection, and
and habitat
habitat management
management
striped bass fisheries,
functions reported
reported upon
upon during
during the
the first
first 22 fiscal
fiscal years
years of
of the
the program.
program. These
functions
projects generally formed a portion
portion of the state's contribution within the
the
joint state-federal
state-federal program
program under
under the
the Anadromous
AnadromousFish
FishAct
Act(PL
(PL89-3014)
89-304) in
in force
force
during the
the 3-year
3-year interim.
interim.
Specific details
details on the
the management projects
projects can
can be
be obtained
obtained by
by consulting
consulting
the appropriate annual
the
annual reports
reports prepared
prepared for
for FYFY19714
1974 and
and FY
FY 1975.
1975. In
In addition
to the
annual reports,
to
the annual
reports, program personnel
personnel prepared
prepared 23
23 serially
serially numbered
numbered
"Information
Reports"
on
specific
research
and
management
topics
during the
the
"Information
research
management topics during
current completion
completion report
report period.
period. The mimeographed reports
reports were distributed
to Oregon
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
to
Wild! ife personnel,
personnel, selected
selected universities,
universities,
and
and other governmental
governmental agencies
agencies upon
upon request.
request.
The following narrative
narrative briefly
briefly summarizes
summarizes the
the results
results of
of major
major projects
projects
undertaken during the
3-year
period
beginning
July
1,
the 3-year period beginning July I, 1973,
1973, and ending
ending
June 30,
30, 1976,
1976, partially
partially supported
supported under
under Anadromous
Anadromous Fish
Fish Act
Act funding.
funding.
Tenmile Lakes
Lakes
The Tenmile
Tenmile Lakes'
Lakes' project
project began
began in
in 1968
1968 when
when the
the Fish
Fish and
and Game
Game commiscommissions
sions undertook a joint
joint program
program to
to eradicate
eradicate competing
competing warmwater
warmwater fish
fish
coho salmon
salmon and
and trout
trout populations.
populations. The
The lake
lake
populations and enhance existing coho
rotenone in
in September
September 1968,
1968, primarily
primarily to
to remove
remove stunted
stunted
system was treated with rotenone
yellow perch,
perch, brown
brown bullheads,
bullheads, and
and bluegills.
bluegills. Prior
Prior to
to treatment,
treatment, native
native coho
coho
salvaged, reared
reared in
in Fish
Fish Commission
Commission hatcheries,
hatcheries, and
and restocked
restocked as
as srnolts
smolts
were salvaged,
the
the following spring.
spring.
19
IIj
Since
1968, we have monitored
the fish
fish populations
populations in
in the
the lakes
lakes and
Since 1968,
monitored the
collected
the status
status of coho
coho spawning
spawning in
in tributary
tributary streams
streams and
and their
their
collected data
data on
on the
progeny
rearing in
in the
the lakes.
lakes. Rotenone treatment was only partially
partially successful.
successful.
progeny rearing
Yellow perch were eliminated, but
but both
both bluegill
bluegill and
and brown
brown bullhead
bullhead populations
populations
reestablished.
A
floating trap
trap placed
placed at
at aa fixed
fixed site
site in
in South
South Tenmile
Tenmile Lake
Lake and
and fished
fished
A floating
11
each year between July
July and
and January
January has
has provided
provided insight
insight on 'trend-throughtrend-throughtime••
that have
have occurred
occurred among
among surviving
surviving fish
fish populations.
populations. Data
time" changes that
from the
the trap
trap indicate
indicate that
that populations
populations of
of bluegilis,
bluegills, brown
brown bullbullcollected from
heads,
sculpins peaked
peaked 1+
4 years
heads, and prickly sculpins
years after
after the
the lakes
lakes were
were treated,
treated, and
and
dec! ined
since 1972
1972 (Table
(Table 3).
3). The catch of bluegills
bluegills reached
reached
have generally deci
med since
205.3 fish/net day
day in
in 1972
1972 and
and declined
declined to
to 46.3
46.3 fish/net
fish/net day
day by
by 1975.
1975. The
The
catch per unit of effort for
for brown
brown bullheads
bullheads rose
rose to
to 170.7
170.7 fish/net
fish/net day
day by
by
1972
subsided to
to 114.3
14.3 fish/net day in
in 1975.
1975. The catch
catch rate
rate of
of brown
brown bullbull1972 and subsided
heads
in 1975
1975 was similar to
to the
the catch
catch in
in 1969
1969 (14.2
(14.2 fish/net
fish/net day),
day), 1 year
heads in
after the
the lakes
lakes were
were treated.
treated. The Oregon
Oregon Game
Game Commission
Commission released
released largemouth
largemouth
bass
into Tenmile Lake
Lake in
in 1971
1971 to
to stem
stem the
t he increase
increase of
of bluegills
bluegllls and
and provide
provide
bass into
a sport
sport fishery.
fishery. The bass reached
reached aa peak
peak catch
catch of
of 8.8
8.8 fish/net
fish/net day
day in
in 1974,
1974,
but declined
declined to
to only
only 0.14
0.4 bass/net day
day in
in 1975.
1975. The largemouth
largemouth bass
bass catch
catch
primarily reflects
reflects the
the status
status of recruitment
recruitment since
since only
only age
age 22 and
and younger
younger bass
bass
vulnerable to
to trapping
trapping gear.
gear. The peak
peak catch
catch of
of juvenile
juvenile coho
coho salmon
salmon
were vulnerable
(21.7 fish/net day).
occurred in
in 1971
1971 (21.7
day). However,
However, since
since 1971,
1971, the
the catch
catch rate
rate has
has
progressively declined.
declined. From
1973 t9
rate of coho
coho was 0.9,
0.9, 0.8,
0.8,
From 1973
to 1975 the catch rate
and
fish/net day
day each
each respective
respective year.
year. The low
low CPUE
CPUE obtained for
for juvenile
and 0.5 fish/net
coho in
in 1974
1974 and 1975
1975 indicates
indicates few
few adults will
will return
return to
to spawn in
in 1976
1976 and
the bulk
bulk of
of the
the coho
coho captured
captured in
in the
the trap
trap consisted
consisted
1977. In
In recent
recent years,
years, the
of
recent emigrants entering the
the lakes
lakes from
from tributary
tributary streams
streams during autumn
of recent
freshets.
The absence of juvenile coho
coho in
in the
the trap
trap during
during summer indicates
indicates
nomad fry
nomad
fry failed
failed to
to survive after entering the
the lakes
lakes in
in the
the spring.
spring. Lakereared
the dominant
type of freshwater
freshwater life
life
reared juveniles
juveniles formerly
formerly comprised
comprised the
dominant type
history among jack
jack and
and adult
adult coho
coho salmon
salmon returning
returning to
to the
the system.
system. These
These
the trap
trap data
data indicate
indicate the
the coho
coho population
population may
may not
not regain
regain
observations and the
former
former levels
levels of abundance
abundance in
in the
the lake
lake system.
system.
1
Data
from a trap
trap placed at the
the outlet of Tenmile Lake revealed
revealed
Data collected from
that
that coho smolt
smelt migration peaked between May 28 and June 3 in
in 1975,
1975, about
about 22
weeks later
later than
than in
in previous
previous years.
years. The
The average
average fork
fork length
length of
of the
the migrants
migrants
was 164
was
164 mm compared to
to 139
139 to
to 170
170 mm
mm in
in 44 previous
previous years.
years.
Annual
population estimates
estimates of
of spawning
spawning coho
coho salmon
salmon were
were derived
derived from
from
Annual population
standard stream surveys
surveys in
in the
the Tenmile
Tenmile Lakes
Lakes watershed.
watershed. An estimated 8,000
jacks and 13,000
13,000 adults spawned
spawned in
in 1973,
1973, 3,000
3,000 jacks
jacks and
and 4,500
4,500 adults
adults returned
returned
jn 1974,
1974, and
and the
in
the 1975 run
run was composed
composed of
of 3,500
3,500 jacks
jacks and
and only
only 2,500
2,500 adults.
adults.
Production by brood years was 16,500,
16,500, 12,500,
12,500, and
and 5,500
5,500 coho
coho for
for the
the 1970,
1970,
1971, and
and 1972 broods, respectively.
1971,
respectively. These
These runs
runs were
were low
low compared
compared to
to the
the
average return
return of
of 36,500
36,500 during
during the
the past
past 26
26 brood
brood years.
years. The
The recent
recentdeci
decline
irie
in
ref,ects the
the related
related failure
coho
in the
the spawning
spawning populations
populations reflects
failure of
of juvenile
juvenile coho
obtained from
from standard index
index trapping
trapping in
in the
the lake
lake system.
system.
Average
Average fork
fork lengths
lengths of
of jacks
jacks ranged
ranged from
from145.9
45.9 to
to 46.5
46.5 cm
em and
and adults
adults
ranged from 70.0 to
ranged
to 72.2
72.2 cm
em during
during the
the 3-year
3-year interval.
interval.
20
20
Floras Lake
experimental releases
releases of
of juvenile
juvenile coho
coho salmon
salmon into
into Floras
Floras Lake
Lake
Prior experimental
proved unsuccessful.
unsuccessful. However,
However, physical
physical and limnological
1 imnological data
data collected
colle<·ted during
during
proved
initial phases
in 1972-73
1972-73 indicated
indicated fall
fall chinook
chinook might )ee
initial
phases of the study in
adaptable to
to Floras
Floras Lake.
Lake. To test the
the hypothesis,
hypothesis, Floras
Floras Lake
Lake was stocked
~tocked
with 100,0)45
fingerling fall
fall chinook
chinook from
from Elk
Elk River
River stock on June
100,045 fingerling
June 11,
11, 1973.
1973.
19714.
following year,
year, 102,696
102,696 fingerling
finger] ing chinook
chinook were
were released
released on
on June
June 13,
13, 1974.
The following
marked with
with single
single fin
fin clips
clips prior
prior to
to liberation.
1 iberation. The
The pripriThe chinook were marked
purpose was to
to determine
determine if
if significant
significant numbers
numbers of
of fall
fall chinook
chinook would
would
mary purpose
survive,
to smolt size
size during
during the
the summer,
summer, and
and migrate
migrate in
in the
the fall
fall similar
similar
survive, grow to
to natural
in south
south coastal
coastal rivers.
rivers.
to
natural populations in
The first
first group of fall
fall chinook
chinook stocked
stocked into
into Floras
Floras Lake
Lake grew
grew from
from 69
69 mm
mm
19714, the
the fall
fall chinook
chinook grew from
in June
late October
October 1973.
1973. In
In 1974,
from
in
June to 115 mm by late
to 108
108 mm
mm in
in the
the same
same interval.
interval. The growth rate
rate of fall
fall chinook
chinook in
in
76
76 mm to
1974
rhat
19714may
mayhave
have been
been affected
affected by
by an
an influx
influx of
of wild
wild chinook
chinook in
in mid-summer
mid-summer that
were absent the
the previous
previous year.
year. Wild chinook
chinook entered
entered the
the lake
lake from
from downstream
downstream
populations
landowners altered streamflow
streamflow patterns
patterns in
in New
New River
River below
below
populations after landowners
the lake
lake outlet. Wild chinook comprised approximately
approximately one-third
one-third of
of the
the total
total
chinook population
population in
in Floras
Floras Lake
Lakeinin19714.
1974.
Insects were
the most
frequent food
food item
item found
found in
in stomach samples of
Insects
were the
most frequent
chinook salmon
salmon collected
collected in
in summer
summer 1973,
1973, occurring
occurring in
in 789
78% of
of the
the
juvenile chinook
stomachs examined. Opossum shrimp,
shrimp, Neomysis
Neomysis mercedis,
mercedis, and
and amphipods,
amphipods,
Corophium sp.,
sp., were identified
identified in
in 42°
42% and
and 36% of the
the stomachs, respectively.
respectively.
Cladocerans, water
water mites
mites (Flydracarina
(Hydracarina sp.),
sp.), arid
and isopods
isopods were also
also ingested.
ingested.
Cladocerans,
Copepods were taken
taken in
in plankton
plankton tows
tows in
in Floras
Floras Lake
Lake but
but none
none were
were found
found in
in
fall
samples.
fall chinook stomach samples.
36°/a
Each
to estimate the
the number of fall
fall chinook
chinook migrants
migrants
Each year
year we attempted to
and
survival rate
rate of planted
planted fingerlings
finger] ings by
by trapping
trapping marked
marked smolts
smolts at
at the
the
and survival
outlet of Floras
Floras Lake.
Lake. Persistant vandalism to
to the
the trap
trap and erratic currents
currents
in the
lake outlet precluded
precluded obtaining
obtaining valid
valid estimates.
estimates. However,
However, lack
lack of
of
in
the lake
chinook in
in seine
seine hauls
hauls in
in late
late autumn
autumn suggested
suggested the
the fish
fish migrated
migrated by
by November
November
each year.
Creel
surveys were
were conducted
conducted in
in New
New River
River in
in 1973
1973 and
and 19714
1974 to
to estimate
Creel surveys
the sport
sport catch of 1971-brood
1971-brood coho
coho and
and 1972-brood
1972-brood chinook
chinook salmon
salmon reared
reared in
in
the
Floras Lake.
Lake. In
In 1973,
fished 5,317
5,317 hours
hours and
and landed
landed 358
358 coho
coho and
and 335
335
1973, anglers
anglers fished
fall chinook salmon.
fall
salmon. Only 1% of the coho jacks harvested in
in 1973
1973 were wild
fish,
the remainder
remainder originated
ing plants
or smolt
smolt
fish, the
originated from
from either
either finger!
fingerling
plants (14%)
(l4) or
releases (85?)
(85%) in
in Floras Lake.
Lake. In
to
In 1974,
1974, aa creel
creel census
census was
was conducted to
estimate the
the catch
catch of
of coho
coho salmon
salmon adults
adults (1971
(1971 brood)
brood) and
and jack
jack chinook
chinook
(1972
from previous
previous liberations
liberations in
in Floras
Floras Lake.
Lake. Sportsmen
(1972 brood)
brood) returning from
harvested 51
51 adult chinook salmon
salmon with 2,716
2,716 angler
angler hours
hours of
of effort.
effort. The
foredune
the mouth of New
New River
River opened late
late in
in the
the fall
fall and
and many
many
foredune blocking the
of the
the marked coho
coho adults
adults destined
destined for
for Floras
Floras Lake
Lake entered
entered Elk
Elk River
River in
in 1974.
1974.
We were unable
unable to
to determine
determine the
the fate
fate of
of jack
jack chinook
chinook that
that were
were expected
expected to
to
return to
to Floras
Floras Lake.
Lake.
return
l
21
21
terminated at
at Floras
Floras Lake
Lake in
in 1975
1975 because of reduction
reduction in
in
Field work terminated
further releases
of juvenile fall
chinook
funds
personnel transfers.
transfers . No further
releases of
fall chinook
funds and personnel
are
long as
to enter the
the lake
lake in
in the
the
are planned so long
as wild juveniles continue to
summer months.
months.
Fall C~inook
Chinook Ecology
Fall
ecology and
and life
life history
history of
of fall
fall chinook
chinook salmon
salmon in
in Elk
Elk and
and Chetco
Chetco
The ecology
rivers
the past
past 33 years.
years. Major emphasis was placed
placed
rivers have been examined during the
chinook reared
reared at Elk
Elk River
River Hatchery
Hatchery and
and released
released into
into Elk
Elk and
and
on evaluating chinook
Chetco rivers
rivers during
years (Table
(Table 15)
15) and the
the effects of the
the
during the past 7 years
hatchery programs
programs on
on wild
wild stocks
stocks in
in these
these ·rivers.
rivers. Rearing and release
release proprograms
designed to
to improve
improve the
the survival
survival of hatchery
hatchery fish
fish while minimizing
minimizing
grams were designed
possible adverse impacts
impacts on
on wild
wild salmon
salmon populations.
populations. Most detailed studies
studies
were confined to
to Elk
Elk River,
River, although several
several important
important aspects
aspects of the
the Chetco
Chetco
River
investigated and compared with data collected from Elk
River program were investigated
River.
Table 15.
15.
Table
Numbers of fall
fall chinook
chinook released
released into
into Elk
Elk and
and Chetco
Chetco rivers,
rivers,
brood year
year
by brood
Brood
year
year
Elk River
Size range
range
Number
(fish /lb)
(fish/ib)
Chetco River
Size range
range
(fish/lb))
(fish/lb
Number
1968
321,032
333,02L,
333,024
15.3-19.7
1969
1969
107,808
8.0
8.0
225,520
7.0-12.5
1970
678,1417
678,417
12.7-147.0
12.7-47.0
68,330
14
.6
14.6
1971
5514,9614
554,964
6.6-12.5
6.6-12.5
1314,782
134,782
7.6
7.6
1972
436,166
5.0-37.4
354,004
354,004
9.1
9.1
1973
302,881
10.0-32.0
339,696
8.9-12.0 "
19714
1974
270,976
110.6-11.2
0. 6-11 . 2
318,908
9.9-17.9
6.8-15.7
Population estimates of fall
fall chinook salmon were derived from tagging
tagging
studies in
in Elk
Elk River
River during
during the
the 3-year
3-year interim.
interim. The estimates included
included both
both
the
the total
total run.
run. The total
total hatchery
hatchery run
run was
was
the wild
wild and
and hatchery segments of the
subdivided into
into individual
individual groups comprising former experimental
experimental releases
releases
from the
the hatchery.
hatchery. In
groups returned
returned compared to
to 12
12
In 1973,
1973, 10
10 different
different groups
in 1974 and 15
in
15 in
in 1975.
1975. The estimated populations
populations were 12,638
12,638 in
in 1973,
1973, 9,488
in
72.6, and
in 1974,
1974, and 13,150
13,150 in
in 1975.
1975. Hatchery fish comprised 81.l0',
81. 1%, 72.6%,
and 73.l?
73 . 1%
of the total
total fall
fall chinook
chinook run
run each
each successive
successive year.
year. Survival
rates for
for 1968,
1968,
Survival rates
1969, and
and 1970 broods
for fingerlings
fingerlings released
1969,
broods ranged
ranged from
from 0.31
0.31% for
released in
in June at
47.0 fish/lb
8.0 fish/lb.
fish/lb. Since
147.0
fish/lb to
to 5.75%
5.75°/bfor
forsmelts
smoltsreleased
released in
in October
October at
at 8.0
Since
1974, there has
1974,
has been a severe decrease
decrease in
in the
the number
number of
of hatchery-reared
hatchery-reared jacks
jacks
22
22
Elk River
River while there
there has
has been
been no
no apparent
apparent reduction
reduction in
in the
the
returning to Elk
number of wild jacks
jacks entering
entering the
the river.
river. The reasons
reasons for
for the
the loss
loss of
of hatchery
hatchery
remains obscure,
obscure, but
but the
the hatchery
hatchery program may
possibly be
the
jacks remains
may possibly
be altering
altering the
schedule of
of propagated
propagated chinook
chinook as
as second
second and
and third
third generation
generati0n hatchhatchmaturity schedule
The jacks
jacks have
have be~n
ben
become incorporated
incorporated into
into the
the egg
egg take.
take. The
ery adults become
in the
the hatchery
hatchery program
program since
since egg
egg takes
takes began
began in
in 1968,
1968,
routinely discarded in
they may play
play an
an important
important role
role by
by contributing
contributing to
to the
the gene
gene pool
pool of
of
but they
natural spawning
spawning chinook.
chinook.
natural
Several
experimental projects
projects were undertaken
undertaken during
during the
the 3-year
3-year
Several different experimental
interim and
completed. On three
three occasions,
occasions, we liberated
1 iberated fingerling
fingerling
and others were completed.
chinook salmon
salmon in
in June
June of
of their
their first
first year
year to
to study
study the
the effects
effects of
of an
an early
early
release from the
the hatchery.
hatchery. To be successful,
successful, the
the chinook needed
needed to
to attain
attain
size to
to immediately
immediately migrate
migrate out
out of
of Elk
Elk River
River and
and avoid
avoid competition
competition
sufficient size
with wild
wild chinook.
chinook. The first
first group was
from the
the largest
largest fingerlings
finger! ings
was selected from
with
among the hatchery population
population and
and liberated
1 iberated on
1971, at
on June
June 25,
25, 1971,
at an
an average
average
47 fish/lb.
fish/lb. The fingerlings
finger! ings remained
remained in
in Elk River
River longer
longer than
than
size of 17
anticipated and migrated
migrated with
with wild
wild fish
fish in
in autumn.
autumn. Total
Total survival
survival through
through
age 55 amounted
amounted to
to only
only O.31°/.
0.31%. Analysis
Analysis of scales
scales taken
taken from
from returning
returning adults
adults
indicated survival
survival was highest among
among the
the largest
largest fingerlings
finger] ings released.
released. In
In
indicated
two
experiments, the
the development
development of eggs
eggs and
and alevins
alevins was acceleraccelertwo subsequent experiments,
ated
in heated water incubators.
incubators. The initial
initial results
results appeared promising
ated in
since both groups attained
attained larger
larger sizes
sizes than
than fingerlings
fingerlings in
in the
the initial
initial
In
experiment and apparently migrated
migrated into
into the
the ocean
ocean soon
soon after
after release.
release. In
June 1973,
1973, 102,785
102,785 were released
released at
at 37.4
37.4 fish/lb
fish/lb and
and the
the following
following year,
year,
38,502 were liberated
liberated at
at 32
32 fish/lb.
fish/lb. The final
final results
results of the latter
latter two
two
experiments should
should be
be known
known in
in 1977
1977 and
and 1978.
1978.
In
different feeding
feeding regimes
regimes
In 1973,
1973, two
two groups
groups of
of juveniles
juveniles were
were placed
placed on
on different
to investigate the
the effects
effects of
of smolt
smelt size
size on
on their
their survival
survival and
and age
age at
at return
return
to
to Elk River.
River. One group (114,311
(114,311 fish)
fish) was
reared to
to 15.7
15.7 fish/lb,
fish/lb, marked
marked
was reared
RP,
released in
in November
November 1973.
1973. The second group (121,642
(121,642 fish)
fish) was reared
reared
RP, and
and released
to
fish/lb and marked LP
LP prior
prior to
to release
release with
with the
the first
first group.
group. AA third
third
to 8.0 fish/lb
(97,428 fish)
fish) was
was reared
reared for
for an
an extended
extended period,
period, marked
marked D-Ad-RP,
0-Ad-RP, and
and
group (97,428
released as
as yearlings in
in March 1974
1974 at
at an
an average
average size
size of
of 5.0
5.0 fish/lb.
fish/lb. The
released
yearlings will
will provide
provide data
data on
on survival,
survival, changes
changes in
in age
age at
at maturity,
maturity, distribudistribution,
tion, and contribution in
in offshore fisheries
fisheries when smolts
smelts are
are held
held beyond
beyond their
their
normal
normal time
time of
of release.
release. In
In 1974,
1974, we
we released
released 102,935
102,935 smelts
smolts marked
marked RV
RV from
from
early run
run parents and 121,784
121,784 smolts
smelts marked
LV from
from late
late run
run parents
marked LV
parents at
at Elk
Elk
to determine
determine if
if any
any differences
differences result
result in
in the
the time
time of
of entry
entry
River Hatchery to
and survival
survival of their
their offspring.
offspring. Eggs
taken from
from age-3 and
and age-5
age-5 parents,
parents,
Eggs were
were taken
reared separately in
in the
the hatchery,
hatchery, and
and given
given reciprocal
reciprocal fin
fin marks
marks (LV
(LV and
and RV)
RV)
reared
before they
they were liberated
1 iberated into
into Elk
Elk River
River in
in October
October 1975.
1975. Age at maturity
and survival
survival will
will be
be obtained
obtained from
from the
the two
two groups
groups to
to learn
learn if
if any
any advantages
advantages
might exist by
by selectively
selectively spawning
spawning either
either age
age group
group of
of parents.
parents. The survivors
known age
age parents
parents may
may also
also provide
provide the
the initial
initial nucleus
nucleus for
for selective
selective breedbreedof known
ing
Elk River.
River.
ing experiments
experiments at Elk
Beginning with the
the 1969
1969 brood,
brood, we released
released three
three successive
successive broods
broods marked
marked
undupl icated double
double fin
fin marks
marks to
to determine
determine the
thecontribution
contributionand
anddistribudistribuwith unduplicated
tion of Elk and Chetco
Chetco River
River stocks
stocks in
in offshore
offshore fisheries.
fisheries. The results
results from
from
tion
marked 1969-brood
1969-brood chinook
chinook released
released at
at Elk
Elk River
River Hatchery
Hatchery were
were compiled
compiled after
after
6-year-old adults returned
returned in
in 1975.
1975. The experiment involved
involved 107,808
107,808 smolts
smelts
23
23
released ~n
fish/lb. The total
total
.on October
October 21,
21, 1970,
1970, at
at an
an average
average size
size of 8.0 fish/lb.
catch was 4,854 fish
fish spread
spread from
from Alaska
Alaska to
to San
San Francisco,
Francisco, California.
Califdrnia. Oregon
sport fisheries
fisheries landed
landed 2,771
2,771 chinook
chinook or
or 72.8°'
72.8% of
commercial
commercial and ocean sport
of the
the
total
recreational fishermen
total known
known ocean
ocean catch
catch of
of Ad-LH-marked
Ad-LM-marked fish
fish and
and recreational
fishermen
harvested 1,048
1,048 chinook
chinook in
in Elk
Elk River.
River. The total
total escapement in
in Elk River was
5,157 fish
fish and
and catch plus escapement totalled
totalled 10,011
10,011 chinook or 9.3?
9.3% of the
the
107,808 smolts
released
from
Elk
River
Hatchery.
smolts
from Elk River Hatchery.
Hatchery-reared fall
fall chinook released
released into
into Elk and Chetco rivers
rivers have
attracted aa growing
growing number
number of
of anglers
anglers to
to both
both rivers.
rivers. Creel
Creel census surveys
surveys
In
1973,
the
were conducted in
in both
both rivers
rivers in
in 1973,
1973, 1974,
1974, and
and 1975.
1975. In 1973, the fishing
seasons
30; however,
however, in
in 1974 and 1975
1975 the seasons
seasons were
seasons terminated November 30;
through December
December to
to increase
increase the
the harvest
harvest of late
late run
ru~ hatchery
hatchery adults.
adults.
extended through
Anglers harvested an
an estimated 2,435
2,435 fall
fall chinook
chinook in
in Elk
Elk River
Riv~r during
d~ring the
the 1973
1973
season,
expending 14,075
14,075 angler
angler hours
hours of
of effort.
effort. The adult catch was 365
365
season, expending
fall
chinook. lrt
taken by anglers and
and the
the effort
effort
fall chinook.
In 1974,
1974, 2,479
2,479 fall
fall chinook were taken
increased to
to 39,844
39,844 angler
angler hours.
hours. Nearly
Nearly 56
56% of the
the total
total effort occurred
during the
the extended
extended season
season in
in December.
December. The adult catch dramatically increased
increased
during
to 2,149 fish
fish with
with 37.7
37.7% taken in
in December.
December. Sports
Sports fishermen
fishermen caught
caught 3,601
3,601
to
fall chinook in
fall
in 1975
1975 and
and 23.4?
23.4% of
of the
the total
total catch
catch occurred
occurred in
in December.
December. The
adult catch
catch was
was again
again impressive,
impressive, totalling
totalling 2,760
2,760 fish.
fish. Angling effort.
rose
adult
effort rose
to 52,365 hours in
in 1975,
1975, the
the highest
highest yet
yet attained
attained in
in Elk
Elk River.
River. Hatcheryto
reared
reared fall
fall chinook comprised about
about 81%
8l0 of the
the total
total angler catch during
during the
3-year period.
period.
In
1973, an
an estimated 1,739
In 1973,
1,739 fall
fall chinook were harvested
harvested from
from the
the Chetco
Chetco
by sports
sports fishermen.
fishermen. The total
total effort
effort was
was 20,,750
20,,750 angler hours.
hours. Hatchery
Hatchery
River by
fish
for 57
57% of the
the total
total catch.
catch. Chetco River fishermen
fishermen landed
landed
fish accounted
accounted for
fall chinook
chinook in
in 1974
1974 with
with 50,403
50,403 angler
angler hours
hours of
of effort.
effort. Only l2?
12% of
2,789 fall
the
(346 fish)
fish) were caught
the total
total effort during
the exthe chinook (346
caught with
with 30%
3O2 of the
during the
extended
in December,
December, primarily
primarily because most
the fishing
fishing effort was
tended season
season in
most of the
was
directed toward
toward steelhead
steelhead trout.
trout. In
increased to
In 1975,
1975, effort
effort increased
to 52,747 angler
hours and the
the total
total catch reached
reached 3,072 fall
fall chinook from
from the
the Chetco
Chetco River.
River.
hours
However,
However, contrary to
to the
the results
results from Elk
Elk River,
River, only 22% of the total
total catch
occurred during December
December even though
though 27?
27% of the
the effort was expended during the
the
month. About
About 59
59% of the
the total
total catch
hatchery chinook released
released
catch was
was composed
composed of hatchery
into the Chetco River.
into
River. The
The creel
creel census showed that
that hatchery-reared
hatchery-reared fall
fall
chinook have played a significant
significant role
role in
in supporting sport
sport fisheries
fisheries in
in both
both
Chetco rivers.
rivers.
Elk and
and Chetco
Elk
Besides extending
extending the
the sport
sport fishing
fishing season
season to
to harvest
harvest more
more hatchery
hatchery adult
adult
Besides
fall chinook salmon,
salmon, the
the troll
troll salmon season was also extended 2 months
fall
and December
December to
to accomplish
accomplish the
the same
same goal.
goal. The
The troll
troll season
season
through November and
was first
first extended
extended in
in 1974
1974 in
in narrowly
narrowly defined
defined fishing
fishing zones
zones off
off the
the mouths
mouths of
of
Elk and Chetco rivers.
rivers. In
In 1974,
1974, commercial
commercial landings
landings during
during the season extension
lbs or about 1,896
1,896 fall
fall chinook with a dockside value
sion totalled 34,856 lbs
of $35,000.
$35,000. A
high incidence
incidence of
of fin
fin marks
marks in
in the
the landings
landings indicated
indicated the
the catch
catch
of
A high
was almost
almost entirely
entirely composed
composed of
of Elk
Elk and
and Chetco
Chetco River
River chinook
chinook stocks.
stocks. ApproxApproximately 16,000 lbs
lbs were landed
landed from
from both
both zones
zones in
in 1975.
1975. However, final
final
imately
estimates
the poundage,
poundage, numbers,
numbers, and
and proportion
proportion of
of hatchery
hatchery fall
fall chinook
chinook
estimates of the
will not
not be
be available
available until
until early
early in
in FY
FY 1977.
1977.
in the
in
the commercial
commercial catch will
24
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --
---- - - -
Coastal
Project
Coastal Fall
Fall Chinook Stock Assessment
Assessment Project
The Coastal
Coastal Fall
Fall Chinook
Chinook Stock
Stock Assessment
Assessment Project
Project began
began in
in 1974
1974 when
when
a series of experiments was designed
designed to
to determine
determine if
if the
the offshore
offshore distribution
distribution
of Elk,
Elk, Chetco,
Chetco, and Trask River
River fall
fall chinook
chinook stocks
stocks changes
changes if
if reareJ
rearej and
and rereleased
their natal
natal rivers.
rivers. Prior
that Elk
Elk
leased outside of their
Prior studies
studies demonstrated
demonstrated that
contributed aa high
high proportion
proportion of
of the
the total
total offshore
offshore catch
catch
and
and Chetco stocks contributed
coastal ports
ports éompared
compared to
to Trask River
River fall
fall chinook
chinook released
released at
at
to Oregon's coastal
Tillamook Bay.
Bay. Trask
Trask River
River fall
fall chinook
chinook apparently
apparently migrate
migrate north
north of
of Oregon
Oregon
and
southern Alaskan,
Alaskan, British
British Columbia,
Columbia, and
and Washington fishfishand primarily enter southern
eries.
eries.
Alsea River
River Salmon
Salmon Hatchery
Hatchery and
and Coos
Coos Bay
Bay were
were chosen
chosen for
for the
the initial
initial
Alsea
experiment using 1973-brood
1973-brood fall
fall chinook.
chinook. Alsea
Hatchery lies
lies midway between
between
Alsea Hatchery
Elk
the southern
southern Oregon
Oregon coast
coast and
and Trask
Trask Hatchery
Hatchery on
on the
the north
north coast.
coast.
Elk River on the
In
Elk River
River were
were reared
reared at
at
In 1974,
l971i,38,883
38,883 Trask
Trask River
River chinook
chinook and
and 38,030
38,030 from Elk
Alsea Hatchery,
Hatchery, differentially
differentially tagged
tagged with
with coded
coded wire,
wire, and
and released.
released. Tagged
Tagged
controls
(36,519 Trask and 39,660 Elk stock)
stock) were released
released at each donor
controls (36,519
hatchery. We released 153,092 fall
fall chinook smolts
smelts implanted
implanted with coded wire
(1973 brood).
tags in
in 19711
1974 (1973
Elk and
Chetco
stocks
of
and Chetco stocks of fall
fall chinook were
were selected
for
experiments
at
Coos
Bay.
Smelts
were
given
reciprocal
paired
fin marks
marks
for
Coos Bay. Smolts
reciprocal paired fin
(Elk
prior to
to liberation.
1 iberation. In
In October 1974,
1974,
(Elk stock
stock Ad-RV,
Ad-RV, Chetco stock Ad-LV) prior
smelts and 99,609 Chetco River smolts
smelts were released
released into
into
109,985
109,985 Elk River
River smolts
the
Bay estuary above
above the
the confluence
confluence of
of Coos
Coos and
and Millicoma rivers.
rivers.
the upper
upper Coos
Coos Bay
In
released at
In 1975,
1975, replicate
replicate tagged
tagged fall
fall chinook
chinook smelts
smolts were
were released
at Alsea
Alsea
Hatchery (Trask
(Trask vs.
vs. Elk
Elk stock)
stock) and
and into
into Coos
Coos Bay
Bay (Elk
(Elk vs.
vs. Chetco
Chetco stock).
stock).
controls were
were simultaneously
simultaneously liberated
1 iberated at
at each
each donor
donor hatchery.
hatchery.
Appropriate controls
However,
initial experiment was expanded
expanded to
to test
test Trask vs.
vs. Chetco
Chetco stocks
stocks
However, the initial
of fall
fall chinook
chinook at
at Kiaskanine
Klaskanine Hatchery
Hatchery situated
situated on
on the
the lower
lower Columbia
Columbia River.
River.
tests at Klaskanine
Klaskanine Hatchery
Hatchery will
will provide
provide additional
additional comparison
comparison of
of ocean
ocean
The tests
distribution from stocks released
released at two
two geographically diverse localities
localities
since
lots of tagged
tagged smolts
smelts were also liberated
1 iberated in
in Chetco River
River on the
the
since control
control lots
extreme southern Oregon
Oregon coast
coast and
and at
at Trask
Trask Hatchery.
Hatchery. In
In recent
recent years,
the
years, the
Oregon Department of
of Fish
Fish and
and Wildlife
Wildlife has
has authorized
authorized aa special
special gill-net
gill-net
fishery
in Voungs
Youngs Bay to harvest surplus
surplus hatchery-reared coho salmon returning
returning
fishery in
to Klaskanine Hatchery.
to
Hatchery. One
both stocks
fall chinook may
One or
or both
stocks of fall
may significantly
enhance the
the commercial
commercial catch
catch in
in Youngs
Youngs Bay.
Bay.
We released
released 286,1117
286,417 fall
in 1975
fall chinook
chinook smelts
smolts tagged
tagged with
with coded
coded wire
wire in
(19711-brood year).
(1974-brood
tagged groups were distributed between
between
Nine distinctively tagged
Klaskanine, Trask, Alsea,
Klaskanine,
Alsea, Coos,
Coos, Elk,
Elk, and
and Chetco
Chetco rivers.
rivers. The number of
of tagged
tagged
chinook in
in each
each group
group ranged
ranged from
from 23,616
23,616 to
to 39,150.
39,150. Tag loss
loss priOr
prior to
to liber1 iberation ranged
ranged from
from 3.1
3.1 to
to 32.k?
32.4% and
and averaged
averaged]4.9°i
14.9% among
among the
the nine
nine experimental
experimental
groups. The smelts
liberated in
in October ranging
ranging in
in size from 9.4 to
to
smolts were liberated
11.2
at Klaskanine
Klaskanine Hatchery
Hatchery and
and Chetco
Chetco River
River where the
the smolt
smelt
11.2 fish/lb,
fish/Ib, except at
release was delayed until
until mid-November
mid-November 1975.
1975. The
The smolt
smelt release
release at
at Klaskanine
Klaskanine
until water temperatures
temperatures in
in the
the Columbia
Columbia River
River subsided
subsided
Hatchery was delayed until
below 50 FF to
to avoid
avoid major
major losses
losses from
from Ceratornyxa
C,eratomyxa prevalent
prevalent in
in lower
lower Columbia
River water.
25
25
Forty-six tag recoveries
recoveries from 1973-brood fall
fall chinook were reported
reported by
Pacific Coast fishery
fishery agencies
agencies in
in 1975.
1975. Tag recoveries
recoveries were reported
reported from
smolts released
released at
at Trask,
Trask, Alsea,
Alsea, and
and Elk
Elk River
River hatcheries.
hatcheries. Tagged chinook
smolts
were primarily recovered
recovered in
in Washington sport
sport and
and Canadian
Canadian commercial
commercial seine
seine
fisheries during
during the
the first
first year.
year. More extensive tag recoveries
recoveries are expected
fisheries
in
the chinook
in the
the summer
summer of
of 1976 when
when the
chinook attain
attain sufficient
sufficient size
size to
to enter
enter aa
greater array of Pacific
Pacific Coast
Coast fisheries.
fisheries.
Salmon
Salmon River Project
Construction of the Salmon River Hatchery is
is scheduled for
for completion
Late in
FY 1975,
project was
was designed
designed to
to develop
develop
in
1976. Late
in FY
1975, aa new research
research project
in July 1976.
Primary emphasis was
and
salmon rearing
rearing program
program for
for the
the hatchery.
hatchery. Primary
and evaluate a salmon
placed
field studies associated with juvenile salmonid ecology and life
life
placed on
on field
history in
in FY
FY 1975.
1975. Seining at
river, and
and tributary
tributary stations
stations proproat estuarine,
estuarine, river,
vided
relative abundance of salmonids and
vided data
data on
On the distribution and relative
Environmental measureassociated species within the
the Salmon
Salmon River
River watershed.
watershed. Environmental
the estuary
estuary and
and selected
selected freshwater
freshwater sites.
sites.
ments began in
in the
ments
During FY 1976,
1976, the long-term
long-term goals and objectives of the project were
rigorously outlined.
outlined. Field
to include
include tagging
tagging and
and
more rigorously
Field work was
was expanded to
sampling of adult salmon
salmon populations
populations entering
entering Salmon
Salmon River.
River. Surveys were
initiated to
to delineate the
the timing
timing and distribution
distribution of
of spawning
spawning adults.
adults.
initiated
Juvenile salmonids continued to be sampled on a regular
regular basis during the year.
year.
Considerable progress was made in
in the design and adoption of field
field data forms
forms
for
recording, summarizing,
summarizing, sorting,
sorting, and retrieval
retrieval of information
information
for efficient recording,
collected during the
the course
course of
of the
the project.
project.
Shad
Bass
Shad and Striped Bass
bass were landed
landed by commercial
commercial shad fisherfisherBoth American shad and striped bass
men from
from 1973
1973 to
to 1975.
1975. The fish were netted
netted from
from the
the Siuslaw,
Siuslaw, Smith,
Smith, Umpqua,
Umpqua,
Coos, and Coquille rivers.
Coos,
rivers. The 1973
1973 Oregon Legislature designated striped bass
bass
aa game
the Fish Commission to reduce
reduce the incidental
incidental catch
game fish
fish and directed the
in
nets. Subsequently,
regulations prohibiting
in shad nets.
Subsequently, the
the commission
commission enacted
enacted regulations
prohibiting
nets
nets in
in Coos
Coos Bay (Coos
(Coos and Millicoma rivers
rivers remained
remained open
open to commercial
commercial fishfishing)
the season by
by setting
setting April
April 20
20 to
to June
June 21
21 fishing
fishing dates
dates
ing) and
and shortened the
rather than April 1 to
rather
to July
July 1 in
prior to
to 1974.
1974. The season remained
remained
in effect
effect prior
unchanged
in the other four
four rivers,
rivers, opening May 10
10 and closing July 1 each
unchanged in
year.
year. AA maximum mesh
mesh breaking
breaking strength
strength of 30
30 lbs
lbs went into
into effect in
in 1975,
1975,
followed by
by aa 21
21 lb
lb maximum in
in 1976.
1976. The 1975
1975 Oregon
Oregon Legislature
Legislature eliminated
eliminated
striped bass
bass by
by enacting legislation
legisla~ion prohibiting
prohibiting their
their
any further harvest of striped
commercial
in 1976.
1976.
commercial harvest during shad netting seasons effective in
1
1
1
107 to
to 150
150 set
set nets
nets were registered
registered to
to fish
fish shad
shad in
in coastal
coastal
Approximately 107
rivers since 1973.
rivers
1973. Forty-eight
licensed in
in 1973,
1973, but
Forty-eight drift
drift nets
nets were
were licensed
but beginnirig
beginning
longer required
required to
to license
license or
or register
register drift
drift nets.
nets.
in
in 1974,
1974, fishermen
fishermen were no longer
Fishermen were
were restricted
restricted to
to fishing
fishing drif't
drirt nets in
in the
the Umpqua
Umpqua River;
River; whereas,
whereas,
most shad
shad fishermen
fishermen employed
employed set
set nets
nets on
on the
the remaining
remaining rivers
rivers open
open to
to commercommermost
cial fishing.
cial
26
26
Commercial
landings totalled
totalled 270,493
270,493 lbs
lbs of
of shad
shad and
and 39,517
39,517 lbs
lbs of
of striped
striped
Commercial landings
bass in
bass
in 1973.
1973. In
lbs
In 1974,
1974, landings
landings declined
declined to
to 208,367
208,367 lbs
lbs of
of shad
shad and
end 35,151
35,151 lbs
of striped bass.
bass. Commercial
landed 231,483
231,483 lbs
lbs of
of shad
shad and
and only
only
Commercial fishermen
fishermen landed
17,935 lbs
lbs of
of striped bass in
17,935
in 1975.
1975. In
10-year average
aver3ge landlandIn comparison,
comparison, the
the 10-year
ings {1966-75)
(1966-75) were 397,458 lbs
Ings
lbs of shad
shad (range:
(range: 208,367-550,083 ibs)
lbs) and
and
40,9148 lbs
lbs of
of striped
striped bass (range:
40,948
(range: 17,935-67,084 ibs)
lbs) from
from coastal
coastal rivers.
rivers.
The decrease in
in striped bass
bass landings
landings reflect
reflect the
the recent
recent changes
changes in
in regulations
·regulations
and
the downward
downward trend
trend of
of the
the dominant
dominant 1966-brood
1966-brood year
year in
in the
the Umpqua
Umpqua River
River and
and
and the
lack
dominant brood
brood since
since 1958
1958 in
in Coos
Coos Bay.
Bay.
lack of
of aa significant dominant
Biological
taken· from
from the
the commercial
commercial landings
landings in
in 1973
1973 and
and
Biological samples were taken
19714.
Age composition,
composition, age
age at
at first
first spawning,
spawning, and
and number
number of
of spawning
spawning migramigra1974.
tions
determined from
from shad
shad scale
scale samples
samples collected
collected from
from each
each river.
river. The
tions were
were determined
composition, relative
relative strengths
strengths of
of individual
individual brood
brood years,
years, and
and average
average
age composition,
weight
compiled from
from striped
landed in
in the
weight data were compiled
striped bass
bass landed
the Umpqua
Umpqua and
and Coos
Coos River
River
fisheries. Basic statistics
statistics on
on the
the biological
biological structure
structure of
of shad
shad and
and striped
striped
bass
landing trends,
trends, and
and fishing
fishing effort
effort provided
provided necessary
necessary
bass populations, landing
perspectives in
in managing
managing the
the fisheries
fisheries and
and judging
judging the
the probable
probable effects
effects of
of
altering commercial fishing
fishing regulations.
regulations.
27
j
·~
OREGON
Fish I Wild lift
Post
OfficeBox
Box 3503
3503
Post Office
Portland,
Portland,Oregon
Oregon
97208
97208
1-
.
r~
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