PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Provincial Department of Fisheries REPORT WITH APPENDICES for the Year Ended December 31st 1956 Printed by Don McDiarmid, Printer to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in right of the Province of British Columbia. 1957 To His Honour Frank Mackenzie Ross, C.M.G., M.C., Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of British Columbia. May it please Your Honour: I beg to submit herewith the Annual Report of the Provincial Department of Fisheries for the year ended December 31st, 1956. WILLIAM RALPH TALBOT CHETWYND, Minister of Fisheries. Department of Fisheries, Minister's Office, Victoria, B.C. WILLIAM RALPH TALBOT CHETWYND It is with regret that we record the death of the Honourable William Ralph Talbot Chetwynd, Minister of Fisheries. Mr. Chetwynd was born in Staffordshire, England, on My 28th, 1890, and was educated at Clifton College. He came to British Columbia in 1908, arriving at Ashcroft and finally settling at Walhachin, where he became interested in cattle-raising and farming. At the outbreak of World War I, Mr. Chetwynd joined up with the Royal Field Artillery and went overseas in 1916. He was wounded in action on the Somme in 1918, while Acting Battery Commander, and won the Military Cross. Mr. Chetwynd returned to Canada in 1919 and resumed his cattle-raising business until 1942, when he joined the staff of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway as right-of-way agent, public relations officer, and general " trouble-shooter " for that company. He remained with the P.G.E. until he entered politics. Mr. Chetwynd was first elected to the British Columbia Legislature in June, 1952, for the constituency of Cariboo. He was appointed Minister of Fisheries, Minister of Trade and Industry, and Minister of Railways on August 1st, 1952. He was re-elected in 1953 and again in 1956, at which time he was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Fisheries. Mr. Chetwynd died on April 3rd, 1957. two grandsons. He leaves his wife, one son, and ANNOUNCEMENT The first report of the " Fisheries Office " of the Provincial Government dealing with the fisheries of British Columbia was published in 1901. This Report has been published annually for the past fifty-six years. In 1947, by an Act of the Legislature, the Department of Fisheries was established with a Minister of Fisheries as head of the Department and a Deputy Minister as administrator. On March 28th, 1957, the Department of Fisheries was abolished, and it became the Fisheries Branch of the new Department of Recreation and Conservation created by an Act of the Legislature. The Honourable Earle C. Westwood is the Minister and Dr. D. B. Turner, Acting Deputy Minister. All matters relating to the management and administration of the Fisheries Branch, Game Commission, Parks Branch, Photographic Branch, and the British Columbia Government Travel Bureau come under the jurisdiction of the Department of Recreation and Conservation. Mr. George J. Alexander, Deputy Minister of the former Department of Fisheries, retired on October 31st, 1956. He served the Government of the Province in commercial fisheries work from 1934 to 1956, following extensive service in the fishing industry at points along the coast of British Columbia. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Value of British Columbia's Fisheries in 1956 Shows an Increase 9 Review of British Columbia's Salmon-canning Industry, 1956 9 The Canned-salmon Pack for British Columbia, 1956 10 British Columbia's Canned-salmon Pack by Districts 10 Other Canneries 16 Mild-cured Salmon 17 Dry-salt Salmon 17 Dry-salt Herring 17 Halibut-fishery : 17 Fish Oil and Meal 18 Net-fishing in the Non-tidal Waters 19 Condition of British Columbia's Salmon-spawning Grounds 20 Value of Canadian Fisheries and the Standing of the Provinces, 1955 20 Species and Value of Fish Caught in British Columbia 21 Contributions to the Life-history of the Sockeye Salmon (Paper No. 42) (Digest) 21 Herring Investigation 22 APPENDICES Contributions to the Life-history of the Sockeye Salmon (No. 42). By D. R. Foskett, B.A., M.A., and D. W. Jenkinson, Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Biological Station, Nanaimo, B.C 25 The Status of the Major Herring Stocks in British Columbia in 1956-57. By F. H. C Taylor, Ph.D.; A. S. Hourston, Ph.D.; and D. N. Outram, B.A., Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Biological Station, Nanaimo, B.C 45 Report of the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission for 1956 78 International Pacific Halibut Commission, 1956 84 Salmon-spawning Report, British Columbia, 1956 88 Statistical Tables 101 REPORT OF THE PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES FOR 1956 VALUE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA'S FISHERIES IN 1956 SHOWS AN INCREASE The total marketed value of the fisheries of British Columbia for 1956 amounted to $67,522,000.* This was an increase of $6,854,000 over the production for 1955. The principal species marketed in 1956 were salmon, with a value of $44,306,000; herring, with a value of $10,660,000; and halibut, with a marketed value of $6,636,000 (livers and viscera excluded). The value of the salmon production in 1956 was $1,436,000 more than in 1955, and the herring production in 1956 increased $3,337,000 in comparison with the year previous. It should be noted that the herring figures are for the calendar year and, consequently, somewhat distort the picture as this fishery extends from November to March. The herring values quoted also include those fish landed in the months of January and February, which properly belong to the 1955-56 herring- fishing season. The value of the halibut-catch was $2,712,000 more than in 1955. In the 1956 season the marketed value of shell-fish amounted to $2,074,000. The clam production was $360,000; oyster production, $425,000; crab production, $984,000; and shrimp production, $305,000. The value of boats engaged in commercial fishing in 1956 was $43,143,000, and the total value of gear used in British Columbia's fisheries during 1956 was $7,675,000. The above figures were taken from the "Preliminary Fisheries Statistics of British Columbia," published by the Department of Fisheries of Canada, Vancouver, B.C. REVIEW OF BRITISH COLUMBIA'S SALMON-CANNING INDUSTRY, 1956 During the 1956 season eighteen salmon-canneries were licensed to operate by the Provincial Department of Fisheries. This was two less than operated in 1955. The location of the canneries operated in 1956 was as follows: Fraser River and Lower Mainland, 10; Central Area, 2; Skeena River, 5; and Queen Charlotte Islands, 1. No canneries have been operated on the Nass River or on Vancouver Island for some years. There were no canning operations on Rivers Inlet during 1956. For the past few years the tendency has been to operate fewer canneries in remote areas and concentrate canning operations in more central locations. This has been made possible by the use of large, fast packers capable of carrying sufficient ice to transport the salmon in good condition over long distances to the processing plants, and equipped with radio-telephones for direct communication with the fishermen and shore plants. The only disruption in the 1956 fishing season occurred during the period October 15th to December 5th, due to a price dispute between the herring seine-fishermen and the fishing companies. The reader, when referring to the canned-salmon pack, should take into consideration the quantities of spring, cohoe, and chum salmon which find an outlet in the fresh and frozen-fish trade, also the large amount of chum salmon which is exported to the United States for processing each fall. Since 1947 fresh chum salmon have been permitted to be exported to the United States after September 1st in each year, which has had the effect of reducing the British Columbia canned-salmon pack. ♦This figure does not include Japanese-caught tuna canned in British Columbia. 9 K 10 BRITISH COLUMBIA THE CANNED-SALMON PACK FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA, 1956 The total canned-salmon pack for British Columbia in 1956, according to the annual returns submitted to the Provincial Department of Fisheries by those canners licensed to operate, was 1,112,844 cases, compared with 1,410,298 cases canned in the year previous. The 1956 pack was the lowest since 1944. The 1956 pack was 297,454 cases less than in 1955 and 367,705 cases below the average annual pack for the previous five-year period. The 1956 canned-salmon pack was composed of 320,093 cases of sockeye, 11,672 cases of springs, 1,254 cases of steelheads, 212,140 cases of cohoe, 363,614 cases of pinks, and 204,070 cases of chums. The 1956 sockeye-pack of 320,093 cases was 75,272 cases higher than the pack for the previous year and 129,040 cases less than the cycle-year 1952. The spring- salmon pack of 11,672 cases was the smallest pack since 1952, in which year 9,279 cases were canned. The total cohoe-pack of 212,140 cases was the largest since the record pack of 313,674 cases in 1951. The 1956 pink-salmon pack was 363,614 cases, compared with 831,225 cases in 1955 and 337,060 cases in the cycle-year 1954. The chum- salmon pack in 1956 was 204,070 cases. This is compared with 128,289 cases in the year previous and 96,005 cases in 1952, which was the smallest pack for this species on record. In considering the pack of chum salmon, due allowance must be made for the large numbers which are exported to the United States each year. The reader is referred to the tables in the Appendix to this Report for a breakdown of the different species of canned salmon by districts. In the Appendix to this Report is published, for the first time, a table giving a complete summary of the total numbers and weight of all salmon caught by commercial fishermen in British Columbia during 1956. These figures are compiled from sales-slips received by the Department of Fisheries of Canada, Vancouver, B.C. The reader is cautioned that the total figures include all species of salmon used for processing, canning, fresh and frozen, and exported in the raw state to the United States. Any attempt to estimate the total run of any species of salmon to any river system should take into consideration the escapement to the spawning-beds. The reader is referred to " The Salmon-spawning Report, British Columbia, 1956," and " Catch Statistics," published in the Appendix to this Report. BRITISH COLUMBIA'S CANNED-SALMON PACK BY DISTRICTS Fraser River The total canned-salmon pack for the Fraser River in 1956 amounted to 113,954 cases, compared with previous packs for this river system, as follows: 1955, 294,238 cases; 1954, 563,087 cases; 1953, 496,396 cases; and 1952, 151,147 cases. The 1956 pack was composed of 88,132 cases of sockeye, 2,873 cases of springs, 337 cases of steelheads, 12,273 cases of cohoe, 348 cases of pinks, and 9,989 cases of chums. Sockeye Salmon.—In 1956 the Canadian pack of sockeye salmon for the Fraser River amounted to 88,132 cases. This was the smallest pack for this species since 1950, when the pack amounted to 108,223 cases. The 1956 pack was 124,784 cases less than the average annual pack for this river system for the previous five-year period. The 1952 cycle-year for Fraser River sockeye produced a pack of 134,625 cases. The Fraser River sockeye-salmon fishery is regulated by the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission under treaty between Canada and the United States. The Commission is composed of six members, three of whom are appointed by the Canadian Government and three by the United States Government. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 11 The Commission regulates the Fraser River sockeye-salmon fishery in such a way that the nationals of each country share the catch equally. The Fraser River Sockeye Salmon Fishery Regulations are formulated by the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission and are enforced by the Department of Fisheries of Canada. In 1956 the Commission recommended a special closed period extending from June 28 th to September 19th for the purpose of providing an adequate escapement to the spawning-beds and to obtain a closer division of the catch between Canadian and American fishermen. The efforts of the Commission are producing excellent results. According to the figures released by the Commission in 1956, the total sockeye- catch was 1,801,708 fish. The Canadian catch amounted to 894,836 fish and was 49.7 per cent of the total catch. The following table shows the percentage of catch by American and Canadian fishermen since 1939. 1939_ American (Per Cent) . 44.50 1940 37.50 1941 39.30 1942 37.20 1943 37.42 1944 29.77 1945 39.90 1946 43.90 1947 16.60 1948 59.47 1949 49.98 1950 57.70 1951 46.78 1952 49.74 1953 50.31 1954 50.44 1955 48.00 1956 50.30 Canadian (Per Cent) 55.50 62.50 60.70 62.80 62.58 70.23 60.10 56.10 83.40 40.53 50.02 42.30 53.22 50.26 49.69 49.56 52.00 49.70 In the Appendix to this Report is a table showing the total sockeye-salmon packs of the Fraser River arranged in accordance with the four-year cycles, from 1895 to 1956, inclusive, and showing the catches made by British Columbia and Washington fishermen in the respective years. The report of the activities of the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission for 1956 is published in the Appendix to this Report. Spring Salmon.—The fresh- and frozen-fish trade consumes large quantities of spring salmon; therefore, the canned pack of this species is never indicative of the size of the catch or the size of the run. The spring-salmon pack for 1956 was 2,873 cases, compared with 6,843 cases in 1955, 8,298 cases in 1954, 5,620 cases in 1953, and 2,279 cases in 1952. Cohoe Salmon.—The Fraser River produced a pack of 12,273 cases of cohoe in 1956. This is compared with 15,910 cases in 1955 and 11,948 cases in 1954. In 1953, the cycle-year, 15,480 cases were canned. Large quantities of cohoe caught in the Fraser River area enter the fresh- and frozen-fish market and, of course, are in addition to the canned-salmon pack. Pink Salmon.—The pink-salmon run to the Fraser River occurs only every alternate year, the runs coinciding with the odd-numbered years. In 1956 the Fraser River produced a pack of 348 cases, compared with 160,187 cases in 1955, 17 cases in 1954, and 204,421 cases in 1953. K 12 BRITISH COLUMBIA Chum Salmon.—The chum-salmon pack on the Fraser River for 1956 was 9,989 cases. This is compared with the 1955 pack of 7,350 cases and the 1954 pack of 45,444 cases. The 1956 chum pack was disappointing and was 9,647 cases below the average annual pack for the past five years. Skeena River The Skeena River in 1956 produced a total salmon-pack of 55,527 cases. This was the smallest pack for the Skeena since 1947, when 79,718 cases were canned. Fishing in this river was curtailed by special regulatory measures designed to increase salmon escapements in an effort to re-establish the salmon runs depleted as a result of the rock- slide which blocked the Babine River, a major spawning area, during the 1951-52 brood-year. The total pack in 1956 was 67,980 cases less than were packed in the year previous and 75,322 cases below the average annual pack on the Skeena for the past five years. The 1956 pack is compared with the pack of 1955, in which year there were a total of 123,507 cases canned. The 1954 pack was 136,500 cases, while 117,406 cases were canned in 1953. In 1956 the canned-salmon pack on the Skeena River was composed of 14,663 cases of sockeye, 371 cases of springs, 312 cases of steelheads, 8,265 cases of cohoe, 25,633 cases of pinks, and 6,283 cases of chums. The sockeye run to the Skeena River has been decreasing in latter years, and the special regulatory measures enforced to increase the escapement to the spawning-beds were justified. As a conservation measure, fishing for all species of salmon was curtailed, which resulted in the lowest salmon-pack ever recorded for the Skeena River. The reader should note that any consideration of the canned-salmon pack as a measure of the total run of any species should take into account the escapement to the spawning-beds. This is contained in the " Salmon-spawning Report, British Columbia, 1956," published in the Appendix to this Report. Sockeye Salmon.—The pack of sockeye salmon on the Skeena River in 1956, amounting to 14,663 cases, was again disappointing. This is compared with 14,649 cases packed in 1955 and 60,816 cases canned in 1954. The 1953 pack was 65,003 cases, and 114,775 cases were packed in 1952. Spring Salmon.—Spring salmon on the Skeena River, as on other river systems in the Province, are usually caught incidental to fishing for other species and find an outlet in other than the canned-salmon market; therefore, the size of the spring-salmon pack is not indicative of the size of the run of this species to any river system. In 1956 the canned pack of spring salmon amounted to 371 cases. This is compared with 1,430 cases in 1955, 1,260 cases in 1954, 1,174 cases in 1953, and 2,082 cases in 1952. Cohoe Salmon.—The Skeena River is never a large producer of cohoe salmon. In 1956 there were 8,265 cases of cohoe canned, compared with 14,192 cases in 1955 and 10,449 cases in 1954. The 1956 pack was 1,040 cases below the average annual pack for this river system for the previous five-year period. Pink Salmon.—The 1956 pack of pink salmon, amounting to 25,633 cases, was disappointing after the large pack of 86,788 cases in 1955. The 1956 pack was 13,691 cases less than the cycle-year 1954, in which year 39,324 cases were canned. The 1953 pack was 29,884 cases. Chum Salmon.—In 1956 the Skeena River produced a pack of chum salmon amounting to 6,283 cases. This is compared with 5,471 cases in 1955 and 23,135 cases in 1954. In 1953 the chum-salmon pack was 15,114 cases, while in 1952 only 4,638 cases were canned. The chum-salmon pack was 4,645 cases below the average annual pack for the previous five-year period. report of provincial fisheries department, 1956 k 13 Nass River The canned-salmon pack for the Nass River in 1956 amounted to 111,414 cases. This was the largest pack for the Nass since 1951, when the total pack was 152,742 cases. The Nass River pack has been rather consistent since 1953. In 1955 the pack was 62,081 cases, compared with 69,358 cases in 1954 and 66,510 cases in 1953. The Nass River pack in 1956 was composed of 22,505 cases of sockeye, 536 cases of springs, 217 cases of steelheads, 8,165 cases of cohoe, 44,402 cases of pinks, and 35,588 cases of chums. Sockeye Salmon.—In 1956 the Nass River produced a sockeye-salmon pack of 22,505 cases, compared with 13,654 cases in 1955, 10,285 cases in 1954, 18,162 cases in 1953, and 29,429 cases in 1952. The 1956 sockeye-pack was 3,698 cases above the average annual pack for the previous five-year period. Spring Salmon.—Spring salmon on the Nass River are caught only incidentally while fishing for other species of salmon, consequently the pack is not always an indication of the size of the run or of the catch. In 1956 the Nass produced 536 cases of springs, compared with 1,028 cases in 1955, 398 cases in 1954, 527 cases in 1953, and 641 cases in 1952. Cohoe Salmon.—The pack of cohoe salmon on the Nass River in 1956 amounted to 8,165 cases, compared with 9,356 cases in 1955, 6,024 cases in 1954, 5,118 cases in 1953, and 1,223 cases in 1952. Pink Salmon.—The Nass River produced a pack of pink salmon in 1956 amounting to 44,402 cases. This pack is compared with the cycle-years 1954 and 1952, when 36,448 and 13,016 cases, respectively, were canned. The pack in 1955 was 29,040 cases, and in 1953 there were 16,635 cases canned. Chum Salmon.—The chum-salmon pack for the Nass River in 1956, amounting to 35,588 cases, must be considered a large one when compared with the size of former packs of this species for this river system. The 1956 chum-salmon pack was the largest pack since 1951, when 37,742 cases were canned. In 1955 the pack of chums was 8,904 cases; in 1954, 15,965 cases; in 1953, 25,756 cases; and in 1952, 13,112 cases. Rivers Inlet Rivers Inlet is mainly a sockeye gill-net area. In 1956 the total pack amounted to 146,683 cases, producing a good pack of sockeye salmon. The Rivers Inlet pack in 1956 was composed of 124,634 cases of sockeye, 419 cases of springs, 55 cases of steelheads, 6,601 cases of cohoe, 12,046 cases of pinks, and 2,926 cases of chums. Sockeye Salmon.—Rivers Inlet in 1956 was one of the top sockeye-producing areas. The pack amounted to 124,634 cases, compared with 50,702 cases in 1955, 50,639 cases in 1954, 132,925 cases in 1953, and 84,297 cases in 1952. The sockeye-pack in 1956 was 35,995 cases above the average annual pack for this species for the previous five years and 34,063 cases above the average annual pack for the previous ten-year period. Spring Salmon.—Spring salmon are usually caught incidentally while fishing for sockeye in Rivers Inlet; therefore, the pack is never large in this area. The pack of spring salmon amounted to 419 cases in 1956, compared with 813 cases in 1955, 649 cases in 1954, 865 cases in 1953, and 865 cases in 1952. Cohoe Salmon.—Rivers Inlet is never a large producer of cohoe salmon. The 1956 pack of 6,601 cases was the largest since 1951, when 12,416 cases were canned. The pack in 1955 amounted to 5,316 cases, while in 1954 the pack was 4,669 cases. In 1953 there were 1,979 cases of cohoe canned from Rivers Inlet caught fish and 3,415 cases in 1952. K 14 BRITISH COLUMBIA Pink Salmon.—In Rivers Inlet, pink salmon are caught in gill-nets incidentally while fishing for sockeye salmon. The pack in 1956 amounted to 12,046 cases, while the previous years' packs were: 1955, 8,658 cases; 1954, 2,581 cases; 1953, 7,304 cases; and 1952, 12,469 cases. Chum Salmon.—In 1956 the chum-salmon pack in Rivers Inlet amounted to 2,926 cases, compared with 5,588 cases in 1955, 12,352 cases in 1954, 5,627 cases in 1953, and 3,711 cases in 1952. Smith Inlet Smith Inlet is similar to Rivers Inlet, in that both are predominantly sockeye gill-net fishing areas. Other species of salmon caught in Smith Inlet are usually caught inci- dently while fishing for sockeye. The total canned-salmon pack for Smith Inlet in 1956 amounted to 42,652 cases, composed of 36,898 cases of sockeye, 166 cases of springs, 2,249 cases of cohoe, 1,664 cases of pinks, and 1,642 cases of chums. Sockeye Salmon.—In 1956 Smith Inlet produced a pack of 36,898 cases of sockeye, compared with the previous year's pack of 28,864 cases. This area produced 18,937 cases of sockeye in 1954, 29,947 cases in 1953, and 34,834 cases in 1952, the cycle-year. The 1956 pack was 7,002 cases above the average annual pack for Smith Inlet for the previous five-year period. Spring Salmon.—The spring-salmon pack for Smith Inlet is never large as this species is only caught incidental to fishing for sockeye. In 1956 there were 166 cases of spring salmon canned from Smith Inlet caught fish, compared with the 1955 pack of 326 cases. In 1954 the pack was 177 cases; in 1953 it was 176 cases; and in 1952, 367 cases. Cohoe Salmon.—The cohoe-pack for 1956 amounted to 2,249 cases. This was the largest pack since 1951, when 3,259 cases were canned. The packs for the previous years were: 1955, 1,014 cases; 1954, 868 cases; and 1953, 615 cases. Pink Salmon.—The pink-salmon pack for Smith Inlet has never been very large. This species also is caught incidental to fishing for sockeye. In 1956 pink salmon caught in Smith Inlet produced a pack of 1,664 cases, compared with 2,275 cases in 1955, 523 cases in 1954, and 1,017 cases in 1952. Chum Salmon.—There were 1,642 cases of chum salmon canned in 1956 from Smith Inlet caught fish, compared with 2,070 cases in 1955, 2,992 cases in 1954, and 4,015 cases in 1953. In 1952 the pack for this species dropped to 315 cases. Queen Charlotte Islands The principal species of salmon caught in the Queen Charlotte Islands District are pinks and chums, although a considerable number of cohoe and springs are caught for the fresh- and frozen-fish markets. Pink salmon are caught only every alternate year in this district, the runs coinciding with the even-numbered years. All other species are caught every year. In 1956 the Queen Charlotte Islands produced a total pack of canned salmon amounting to 44,891 cases, composed of 1,323 cases of sockeye, 7,314 cases of cohoe, 18,809 cases of pinks, and 17,443 cases of chums. Sockeye Salmon.—In 1956 the sockeye-pack amounted to 1,323 cases, compared with 433 cases in 1955, 107 cases in 1954, and 246 cases in 1953. In 1952 the pack was 635 cases. In the Queen Charlotte Islands District, sockeye are caught only incidentally while fishing for other species. Spring Salmon.—As previously mentioned, spring salmon caught in this area usually enter the fresh- and frozen-fish trade. In 1956, 1 case of spring salmon was canned, compared with 16 cases in 1955, 6 cases in 1954, and 1 case in 1953. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 15 Cohoe Salmon.—In 1956 there were 7,314 cases of cohoe salmon canned from Queen Charlotte Islands caught fish, while in 1955 the pack was 11,666 cases. In 1954 the pack amounted to 11,289 cases, and in 1953, 2,437 cases were canned. Pink Salmon.—In the Queen Charlotte Islands, pink salmon run only in the even- numbered years. The expected run for 1956 did not materialize; therefore, the pink- salmon pack of 18,809 cases was most disappointing. In 1955 the pack was 548 cases, while in 1954, the cycle-year, the pack amounted to 105,123 cases. Chum Salmon.—The 1956 pack of chum salmon in the Queen Charlotte Islands District, amounting to 17,443 cases, was again disappointing. In 1955 the pack was 9,402 cases, compared with 83,805 cases in 1954 and 17,304 cases in 1953. Commenting on the spawning conditions in the area in 1956, the Chief Supervisor of Fisheries says: " The chum-salmon failure in the Queen Charlotte Islands area was pronounced and is the fourth consecutive season of poor chum-salmon runs, calling for immediate application of extraordinary measures for the rehabilitation of one of the prolific chum-streams in this area. Pink returns to this area were also disappointingly light and will also require special conservation attention." The Chief Supervisor's report on the spawning-beds, also the catch summary for each district, will be found in the Appendix to this Report. Central Area The Central Area includes all the salmon-fishing areas from the Skeena River to Cape Calvert, with the exception of Rivers Inlet. The total production of canned salmon from fish caught in this area in 1956 amounted to 324,164 cases, compared with 214,998 cases in 1955 and 327,820 cases in 1954. The 1956 pack consisted of 17,967 cases of sockeye, 1,364 cases of springs, 273 cases of steelheads, 40,299 cases of cohoe, 205,658 cases of pinks, and 58,602 cases of chums. Sockeye Salmon.—Again in 1956 the Central Area sockeye-pack was small, and the 17,967 cases canned was the smallest pack of this species since 1949, when 16,140 cases were packed. In the previous years the packs were as follows: 1955, 19,648 cases; 1954, 30,858 cases; 1953, 25,845 cases; and 1952, 26,583 cases. The sockeye-pack in the Central Area was 6,213 cases below the average annual pack of sockeye in this area for the previous five-year period. Spring Salmon.—In 1956 the pack of spring salmon in the Central Area amounted to 1,364 cases, compared with 1,864 cases in 1955, 1,645 cases in 1954, 1,568 cases in 1953, and 1,261 cases in 1952. Cohoe Salmon.—The cohoe-pack of 40,299 cases in 1956 was the largest pack of this species in this area since 1951, when 61,423 cases were canned. In 1955 the pack amounted to 24,846 cases; in 1954 it was 25,611 cases; in 1953, 21,502 cases were canned; and 17,289 cases were packed in 1952. The cohoe-pack in 1956 was 9,970 cases above the average annual pack for this area for the previous five-year period. Pink Salmon.—For years the Central Area has been a heavy producer of pink salmon. In 1956 the pink-salmon pack amounted to 205,658 cases, compared with 122,371 cases in 1955, 118,538 cases in 1954, 92,517 cases in 1953, and 207,055 cases in 1952. The pink-salmon pack in 1956 was 56,421 cases above the average annual pack for this area for the previous five-year period. Chum Salmon.—The chum-salmon pack for the Central Area in 1956, amounting to 58,602 cases, must be considered disappointing when compared with the 1955 pack of 45,950 cases. In 1954 the chum-pack was 149,672 cases, while in 1953 the Central Area produced a pack of 175,289 cases. In 1952 there were 36,605 cases canned. Reports from the spawning-grounds on the escapement of chums in the Central Area indicate that "the runs were light and below those of 1952." K 16 BRITISH COLUMBIA Vancouver Island The Vancouver Island District, like the Central Area, supports numerous races of salmon migrating to different streams. No attempt is made to deal with the various races separately. It should be pointed out, however, that the sockeye salmon caught in the Sooke traps and vicinity are not credited to Vancouver Island, but to the Fraser River, where most of them are known to migrate. Similarly, sockeye caught in Johnstone Strait between Vancouver Island and the Mainland are also credited to the Fraser River in this Report and not to Vancouver Island. These fish are known to be migrating to the Fraser River. For statistical purposes of this Report, salmon, other than sockeye, caught in Johnstone Strait between Vancouver Island and the adjacent Mainland are credited to Vancouver Island. The total salmon-pack from Vancouver Island caught fish amounted to 265,523 cases in 1956, compared with 581,599 cases in 1955 and 349,586 cases in 1954. The Vancouver Island salmon-pack in 1956 was composed of 13,970 cases of sockeye, 5,941 cases of springs, 25 cases of steelheads, 118,938 cases of cohoe, 55,052 cases of pinks, and 71,595 cases of chums. Sockeye Salmon.—In 1956 Vancouver Island and the adjacent Mainland area produced a pack of 13,970 cases, compared with 13,192 cases in 1955, 12,051 cases in 1954, 46,895 cases in 1953, and 24,252 cases in 1952. For details of the escapement to the spawning-grounds, the reader should refer to the spawning report published in the Appendix to this Report. Spring Salmon.—The 1956 pack of spring salmon credited to Vancouver Island and the adjacent Mainland was 5,941 cases, compared with 5,534 cases in 1955. This area produced 1,649 cases in 1954 and 3,115 cases in 1953. A considerable amount of spring salmon is caught each year by trolling off the west coast of Vancouver Island. The canned-salmon pack figures are not indicative of the size of the catch because troll-caught salmon from this area also find an outlet in the fresh, frozen, and mild-cured markets. Cohoe Salmon.—Cohoe are caught in large quantities by trolling off the west coast of Vancouver Island and, like spring salmon, also find a market in the fresh- and frozen- fish trade. For this reason the canned pack is not indicative of the size of the catch. Bluebacks are included with the cohoe-pack. In the Vancouver Island and adjacent Mainland area in 1956 the cohoe-pack amounted to 118,938 cases, compared with 101,349 cases in 1955, 54,783 cases in 1954, and 57,773 cases in 1953. Pink Salmon.—The pink-salmon pack for Vancouver Island and the adjacent Mainland in 1956 was 55,052 cases. This is compared with the packs in the even-numbered cycle-years—namely, 1954, when 32,913 cases were packed, and the 1952 pack of 171,812 cases. The largest pink-salmon runs and packs for this area, according to records, are produced in the odd-numbered years. In 1955 the pack amounted to 421,355 cases, compared with 439,173 cases in 1953 and 303,102 cases in 1951. Chum Salmon.—The chum-salmon pack for Vancouver Island in 1956 was 71,595 cases, compared with 40,105 cases in 1955, 248,098 cases in 1954, 124,840 cases in 1953, and a small pack of 24,039 cases in 1952. In 1956 there were 8,034 cases of cohoe imported from Alaska canned in British Columbia. OTHER CANNERIES Pilchard-canneries.—Since 1949 there have been no pilchards in British Columbia waters. No pilchard-cannery licences were issued during the 1956 season. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 17 Herring-canneries.—In 1956 one herring-cannery was licensed to operate in British Columbia, producing a pack of 11,728 cases. This pack is compared with the year previous, when a total of 25,508 cases of herring were canned in various sizes, including sardines and oval snacks. Tuna-fish Canneries.—The first commercial tuna-fish canning operation in British Columbia was licensed by the Provincial Department of Fisheries in 1948. In 1956 one tuna-fish cannery was licensed to operate. This cannery produced 56,256 cases of 7-ounce cans, 19,181 cases of 48/6-ounce cans, and 22,828 cases of 4-ounce cans. In 1955 one tuna-fish cannery operated, producing 73,126 cases of 7-ounce cans and 29,675 cases of 4-ounce cans. In 1956, as in 1955, all of the tuna canned in British Columbia were imported from Japan in a frozen condition. The tuna-fishery off the west coast of British Columbia is still in an experimental condition, consequently the catch will vary from year to year. Shell-fish Canneries.—In 1956 eight shell-fish canneries were licensed in British Columbia, all of which operated. This was two less than operated in 1955. The eight shell-fish canneries produced the following packs in 1956:— Crabs: 32,995 cases of 24/1/2's, 1,552 cases of 48/1/2's, and 2,281 cases of 48/14's. Clams: 2,206 cases of 48/1's, 9,634 cases of 24/1's, 2,709 cases of 48/1/2's, and 7,109 cases of 24/Vi's. Oysters: 5,085 cases of 48/,4's, 1,026 cases of 48/10-oz., and 1,114 cases of 48/10-ounce oyster stew. Abalones: 10 cases of 48/1's. MILD-CURED SALMON Six plants were licensed to mild-cure salmon in 1956, all of which operated. These six plants produced 703 tierces of mild-cured salmon, totalling 5,985 hundredweight. This operation is compared with the production of five plants licensed to operate in 1955 which produced a pack of 553 tierces of mild-cured salmon containing 5,085 hundredweight. DRY-SALT SALMON Since the end of World War II the business of dry-salting salmon has not been revived. In 1947 two licences were issued, but no operation took place. No licences have been issued for salmon dry-salteries since that time. DRY-SALT HERRING In 1956 one herring dry-saltery was licensed to operate, producing 1,202 boxes of dry-salt herring. This is compared with the production of one plant licensed in 1955, which produced 1,016 boxes of salt herring. HALIBUT-FISHERY The halibut-fishery on the Pacific Coast of North America is regulated by the International Pacific Halibut Commission, which Commission is set up under treaty between Canada and the United States for the protection and rehabilitation of the halibut-fishery. This is a deep-sea fishery and is shared by the nationals of the two countries, Canada and the United States. The Commission regulates the fishery on a quota basis and, on that account, there is little fluctuation in the amount of halibut landed from year to year, except when the quotas are changed by the Commission for any reason. There is, however, some fluctuation from year to year in the quantity landed by the nationals of each country. K 18 BRITISH COLUMBIA For the purpose of regulation, the coast was originally divided into a number of areas, the principal ones, from the standpoint of production, being Areas 2 and 3. The Commission has found it necessary to subdivide these areas into a number of sub-areas in order to facilitate its work and to make better use of the stock of halibut on the different banks. For a more detailed breakdown of the areas and the geographical limits of each, the reader is referred to the Pacific Halibut Regulations for 1956. The 1956 catch-limits set by the Commission for the different areas were as follows: Area 2, 26,500,000 pounds, and Area 3, 28,000,000 pounds. These were the same quantities as were permitted in 1955. In 1956 the total landings by all vessels in all ports amounted to 67,566,000 pounds, compared with 59,094,000 pounds in 1955. The 1956 catch was derived by areas as follows: Area 1a, 430,000 pounds; Area 1b, 174,000 pounds; Area 2, 35,372,000 pounds; Area 3a, 30,928,000 pounds; and Area 3b, 662,000 pounds. The total halibut-landings by all vessels in Canadian ports in 1956 was 25,935,000 pounds. This is compared with 22,601,000 pounds in 1955. The total landings by all vessels in Canadian ports in 1956 were caught as follows: Area 2, 15,686,000 pounds; Area 3a, 10,102,000 pounds; Area 3b, 147,000 pounds. Canadian vessels landed in Canadian ports in 1956 a total of 22,934,000 pounds of halibut. This catch is compared with Canadian landings by Canadian vessels in 1955 amounting to 19,850,000 pounds. The Canadian vessels took their catches by areas as follows: Area 2, 14,988,000 pounds; Area 3a, 7,799,000 pounds; and Area 3b, 147,- 000 pounds. In addition to the above, Canadian vessels landed in American ports in 1956, 2,723,000 pounds of halibut, compared with the same landings in 1955 of 2,298,000 pounds. The halibut landed by Canadian vessels in American ports in 1956 was caught as follows: Area 2, 93,000 pounds; Area 3a, 2,456,000 pounds; and Area 3b, 174,000 pounds. American vessels landed in Canadian ports in 1956 a total of 3,001,000 pounds of halibut, compared with the same landings in 1955 amounting to 2,751,000 pounds. The American catch landed in Canadian ports was caught as follows: Area 2, 698,000 pounds, and Area 3a, 2,303,000 pounds. The average price paid for Canadian halibut in Prince Rupert and the average price for all Canadian landings in Canadian ports in 1956 was 21.7 cents per pound, compared with 13 cents per pound in 1955. There was no average price immediately available for Prince Rupert alone when these figures were compiled. The average price of halibut in the Province as a whole usually reflects the Prince Rupert price. A breakdown of the value of halibut-livers and vitamin-bearing halibut viscera, which is usually included in this Report, is not available at this time. However, it is known that halibut-livers to the value of $34,708 and Vitamin A bearing viscera to the value of $5,232 were landed by the United States fleet. The Canadian fleet will have, no doubt, received proportionately a similar amount for livers and Vitamin A bearing viscera landed in Canada. The above figures relating to the halibut-catch are to the nearest thousand pounds. The statistical information for the halibut-fishery was supplied by the International Pacific Halibut Commission and is hereby gratefully acknowledged. FISH OIL AND MEAL The production of fish-oil and edible fish-meal has been an important branch of British Columbia's fisheries for a number of years. Previous to World War II, pilchards and herring were the principal species used for reduction to meal and oil. The products of the reduction plants found a ready market, the meal being used as a supplementary food for animal-feeding and the oil being used in manufacturing processes of many kinds. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 19 The demand for natural sources of vitamins stimulated the production of vitamin oils from fish products, and at the outbreak of World War II the demand for natural sources of vitamins greatly increased the production of fish-oils of high vitamin content. This increased demand brought into use other fish besides herring and pilchards during the war years and immediately afterwards. Dogfish and shark livers were in high demand in those years. Recently, however, the increased production of synthetic Vitamin A has lessened the demand for fish-liver oil as a natural source of this vitamin, and if the price of synthetic Vitamin A falls much lower, the market for livers containing this vitamin may very soon disappear. In addition to the production of oils from British Columbia's various fish and fish- livers in recent years, there has been considerable activity in the use of cannery-waste and viscera for the production of various pharmaceutical products. Besides the high vitamin-content oils used in the medicinal field, British Columbia's fish-oils of lower vitamin potency find an outlet in many manufacturing processes, and large quantities are used for the feeding of poultry and live stock. Fish-liver Oil.—In 1956, only four plants were licensed to reduce fish-livers to oil, all of which operated. The four plants processed 648,134 pounds of livers and produced Vitamin A to the extent of 2,355,410 million U.S.P. units. This production is compared with that of 1955, in which year four plants operated and produced a total of 4,760,668 million U.S.P. units of Vitamin A from 1,198,010 pounds of fish-livers. Herring Reduction.—The winter herring-fishery has developed into British Columbia's second important fishery in dollar value. The season generally runs from late in September or early in October through until the following March, with a short break at the Christmas period. Many of the boats used in catching herring are also used in salmon-fishing, and, generally speaking, the herring-fishery does not get into full swing until the boats have been released from fishing for salmon. In 1956 thirteen herring-reduction plants were licensed to operate, producing herring-meal to the extent of 32,772 tons and 3,602,937 imperial gallons of oil. This production is compared with the year previous, when fifteen plants produced 47,097 tons of meal and 4,475,536 imperial gallons of oil. Whale Reduction.—In British Columbia there is only one shore-based whaling- station. In 1956 operations from this station killed 375 whales, compared with 630 in 1955. Miscellaneous Reduction.—Dogfish and fish-offal reduction plants are licensed by the Provincial Department of Fisheries under miscellaneous reduction licences. These plants operate on cannery-waste and the carcasses of dogfish and produce meal and oil for various purposes. The oil produced from the carcasses of dogfish should not be confused with the oil produced from dogfish-livers, the latter being a high-potency oil which is reported in another section of this Report. In 1956 ten plants were licensed to operate, producing 1,925 tons of meal and 187,787 imperial gallons of oil. This production is compared with 1955, when nine plants were licensed and produced 1,993 tons of meal and 201,690 imperial gallons of oil. NET-FISHING IN NON-TIDAL WATERS Under section 73 of the British Columbia Fishery Regulations, fishing with nets in certain specified non-tidal waters within the Province is permissible under licence from the Provincial Minister of Fisheries. This fishery is confined almost exclusively to the residents living within reasonable distance of the lakes in question. In the Appendix to this Report there again appears a table showing the name and number of lakes in which net-fishing has been permitted, together with the number and approximate weight of the various species of fish taken from each lake. K 20 BRITISH COLUMBIA It will be noted that there are three different kinds of fishing licences issued for net-fishing in the non-tidal waters of the Province—namely, fur-farm, ordinary, and sturgeon. The fur-farm licences are issued to licensed fur-farmers, and the coarse fish taken under these licences are used for food for fur-bearing animals held in captivity. Ordinary fishing licences are issued for the capture of fish other than trout, salmon, or sturgeon, while licences issued for sturgeon-fishing are used exclusively for that fishery. A detailed account of the fish taken by the licensed nets in the different waters of the Province is again carried in the table appearing in the Appendix to this Report. CONDITION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA'S SALMON-SPAWNING GROUNDS We are again indebted to the Chief Supervisor of the Department of Fisheries of Canada and the officers of his department, who conducted the investigation, for furnishing us with a copy of the Department's report on the salmon-spawning grounds of British Columbia and permitting it to be published in the Appendix to this Report. The Chief Supervisor's courtesy in supplying us with this information is gratefully acknowledged. VALUE OF CANADIAN FISHERIES AND THE STANDING OF THE PROVINCES, 1955 The value of fisheries products of Canada for the year 1955 totalled $179,068,000. During that year British Columbia produced fisheries products to the value of $60,668,- 000, or 33 per cent of Canada's total. British Columbia, in 1955, led all of the Provinces of Canada in respect to the production of fisheries wealth. Her output exceeded that of Nova Scotia, second in rank, by $16,668,000. The marketed value of the fisheries products of British Columbia in 1955 was $8,754,000 less than the year previous. The value of salmon amounted to $42,869,000. The following statement gives the value of fisheries products of the Provinces of Canada for the years 1951 to 1955, inclusive:— Province 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 $83,812,704 40,296.367 21,154,877 5,511,379 7,924,530 7,524,392 3,212,629 862,327 1,748,444 2,261,964 29,000,000 $56,635,0001 42,435,000 20 503,700 6.113.000 8.343 700 5,959,700 3,758.700 942,900 1,440,000 2,225,100 $65,455,0001 40,012,200 17,522,700 5.804 000 7,916,100 4,784,500 4 048,900 1,085.900 1,281,300 1,511,500 $69,422,0001 41.000 OOO2 18,158,0002 5,423,0002 7,890 000 5,435,000 4,000,0002 1,150 000 1,644,000 2,040,000 28.000,0002 $60,668,0001 44,000,0002 21,200,0002 Quebec Ontario — — .. Manitoba. 6,000,0002 7,300.000 6,000,000 4,500 0002 1,000 000 Saskatchewan— 1,800,000 1,600.000 Newfoundland (estimated) 25,000,0002 Totals $203,309,613 $148,357,200 $149,422,100 $184,162,000 $179,068,000 3 This figure does not include imported Japanese-caught tuna canned in British Columbia. 2 Estimated figures. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 21 SPECIES AND VALUE OF FISH CAUGHT IN BRITISH COLUMBIA The total marketed value of each of the principal species of fish taken in British Columbia for the years 1952 to 1956, inclusive, is given in the following table:— Species 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 Salmon Halibut. ._ $40,495,000 5,531.000 4,235,000 $47,936,000 5,552,702 6,518,000 251,000 384 000 449,000 313,000 663,000 854,000 361,0001 304,000 6.000 (3) 29,000 C2) 7,000 17,000 (2) 6,000 34,000 $50,281,000 5,965,000 7,340,000 467,000 487,000 306,000 257,000 879,000 461,000 290,0001 470,000 4,000 30,000 41,000 82,000 4,000 9,000 (2) 9,000 57,000 $42,869,000 3,924,000 7,323,000 $44,306,000 6 636,000 10,660,000 Pilchard... 521,000 590,000 477,000 310.000 475,000 1 533.000 227.0001 438,000 3,000 20,000 75,000 445,000 399 000 436 000 265,000 996,000 710,000 281,0001 420,000 457,000 Ling cod 532,000 360,000 139,000 984,000 903,000 305,000! 425,000 14,000 35,000 17,000 1,000 13,000 (2) 7,000 106,000 21.000 33,000 Perch 36,000 Smelts 15,000 (2) 5,000 115,000 1,000 11,000 (2) Skate 7.000 Eulachons 86,000 349,000 («) ( = ) 26,000 54,000 355,390 (2) (2) 13,000 3,000 427,000 (2) (2) 1,000 Whales (2) C2) (2) (2) Liver and viscera— 132,000 254,000 5.000 2,016,000 42,000 158,000 Other liver and oil 1,000 Miscellaneous _ 1,142,000 1,399,000 1,555,000 1,419,000 Totals $56,635,000 $65,455,092* $69,422,000* $60,668,000* $67,522,000* i Shrimps and prawns. 2 Included in miscellaneous. 3 Skate and flounders. * This figure does not include imported Japanese-caught tuna canned in British Columbia. Miscellaneous includes octopus, whales, and fish products, meal and oil, which cannot be separated into species, with a value of $500 or less. The above figures were supplied by the Federal Department of Fisheries, Vancouver, and are hereby gratefully acknowledged. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIFE-HISTORY OF THE SOCKEYE SALMON Paper No. 42 (Digest) This paper was prepared this year by D. R. Foskett, B.A., M.A., and D. W. lenkin- son, of the Pacific Biological Station of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Nanaimo, B.C. This is the forty-second consecutive paper in this series reporting on the sockeye salmon in the commercial catch in the main runs north of the Fraser River. The samples of sockeye, from which the reported data are taken, were obtained from the commercial fishery in each area, which is mainly a drift gill-net fishery. The authors point out that since gill-nets are selective in removing salmon from a fish run—that is, they tend to select fish of certain sizes or sex—the samples taken may not be completely typical of the whole run of fish being sampled. The data of the sockeye catch were obtained from the Statistical Branch of the Department of Fisheries of Canada, Vancouver, B.C., and the pack figures were obtained from the Provincial Department of Fisheries, Victoria, B.C. K 22 BRITISH COLUMBIA In commenting on the individual runs, it is pointed out that the pack of 22,505 cases of sockeye salmon on the Nass River was quite good for this area and above the average of 17,899 cases for the last ten years. The run in 1956 resulted from the spawning escapements of 1951 and 1952, which were reported as very satisfactory. Commenting on the Skeena River, the authors point out that the effect of the Babine slide, which occurred in 1951, was noted in 1955 in the small proportion of 4-year-old fish in the catch sample, as was expected. In the 1956 sockeye-catch sample, the expected fall-off in the 5-year fish occurred as a direct effect of the slide. The catch sample consisted mainly of 4-year fish which came from the 1952 spawning escapement after the partial clearance of the Babine River. The yield of 14,663 cases of sockeye in 1956 was a slight increase over the previous year's commercial catch, which represented the lowest on record for the Skeena River. With respect to Rivers Inlet, the 1956 sockeye-catch produced 124,634 cases, which was nearly two and one-half times that of the previous year. It is pointed out that the catch was the result of the spawning escapement from the 1951 run which produced a pack well above the average. The 1951 spawning escapement, as reported in the Department of Fisheries of Canada's spawning report for 1951, was medium to heavy, and from this came 90 per cent of the 1956 run, according to the sample studied. The Smith Inlet sockeye run of 1956, which yielded 36,898 cases, was 30 per cent above the ten-year average of 27,725 cases. The catch sample consisted mainly of 5-year- old fish, the result of heavy supplies of sockeye reaching the spawning-grounds in 1951. For a more detailed analysis of the sizes making up the different runs, the reader is referred to the paper which appears in the Appendix to this Report. HERRING INVESTIGATION Research on Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) in British Columbia was continued in 1956-57 by the Fisheries Research Board of Canada at the Biological Station, Nanaimo, B.C. The purpose of herring research is to obtain the scientific basis for a management policy that would permit the maximum sustained yield from this resource. The research involves:— (1) A general continuing study of all major British Columbia herring populations to provide information on the status of these populations and to indicate the general application of specific studies. (2) Detailed studies, in certain populations, of problems in population dynamics at various life-history stages. The problems involved concern, in general, the relationship between the size of spawning stock and the strength of the resulting year-class, and the efficacy of catch quotas in preventing over-utilization and in stabilizing abundance at a high level. General Studies of Adult Stocks of All Major Populations Although tag returns in 1956-57 were fewer in number (1,708) and were attended by more uncertainty as to the most probable area of recovery than in previous years, they confirmed once again the relative discreteness of the populations as now defined. Emigration in 1956-57 followed a normal, average pattern in most populations. Relative abundance in each of the major populations was assessed from the size of the catch made in the sub-district occupied by each population and from an estimate of the spawning population derived from information on the amount of spawn deposited. In 1956-57 the total catch was 177,087 tons, the lowest since 1947-48, a decrease of 29 per cent from the record catch of 1955-56. The amount of spawn deposited (131.1 miles) was 30 per cent less than in 1955-56. Thus herring were appreciably less abundant REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 23 in 1956-57 than in the previous season. The greatest decreases in relative abundance occurred in the upper and lower Queen Charlotte Islands and the lower west coast sub- districts. However, abundance was also appreciably lower in the lower central and middle east coast sub-districts. In the northern sub-district, there was a substantial increase in relative abundance from the low levels of the preceding three seasons. In the upper central sub-district abundance increased somewhat in 1956-57, but still remained below average. In the lower east coast sub-district there was little evidence of any change in abundance. Late inshore migration again apparently hindered the exploitation of the upper west coast population. However, the amount of spawn deposited there indicated that while abundance may have decreased from the 1955-56 level, it still remained above average. The decreased relative abundance in most populations in 1956-57 resulted primarily from the weakness of the dominant year-classes contributing to the fishable stocks. In the upper and lower Queen Charlotte Islands populations the 1954, 1953, and 1952 year-classes (fish of ages III, IV, and V respectively) were weak. In the lower central sub-district also, the 1952 and 1953 year-classes (ages IV and V) were relatively weak, and had not the 1954 year-class (age III) been of at least average strength, abundance in this sub-district would have declined further. The powerful 1951 year-class, which as V-year fish contributed so strongly to the high 1955-56 catches in the lower Queen Charlotte Islands and lower central sub-districts, could not be expected as Vl-year-old fish in 1956-57 to make again an appreciable contribution to these populations. In the northern sub-district, where abundance increased substantially in 1956-57, the 1953 and 1954 year-classes (ages IV and III respectively) were of at least average strength and were stronger than in other Northern British Columbian populations. In Southern British Columbia populations (District 3) relative abundance is dependent mainly on the contributions of the year-class providing fish of age III, and to a lesser extent on that providing fish of age IV. In the lower west coast sub-district the dominant year-class (the 1954, age III) was very weak, and the 1953 year-class (age IV), although it appeared of average strength in 1955-56, made a poor contribution in 1956-57. In the middle east coast population, the 1952 year-class appears to have been the last of a series of three strong year-classes. The 1953 year-class (age IV) was of below averge strength, and the 1954 year-class of only average strength. In the lower east coast population, the 1953 year-class (age IV) was relatively weaker than the 1952 and preceding recent year-classes, but the 1954 year-class (age III) was probably as strong as those year-classes. Relative abundance in 1957-58 will depend principally on the contributions to the adult stock of the 1954 and 1955 year-classes. The 1954 year-class appears to be of average strength in most Southern British Columbia populations, but of below average strength in some northern populations. Present indications, on the basis of the proportion of Il-year fish in the catches in 1956-57, suggest that the 1955 year-class may be of average strength in southern populations, but possibly of somewhat above average strength in some northern populations. No substantial change in total catch is, therefore, expected in 1957-58. No significant differences were noted in the size of the fish at each age in the various populations in 1956-57, indicating that feeding conditions were probably normal. In the summer of 1956 a fishery for reduction purposes occurred, taking 30,579 tons of the total catch of 177,087 tons. This summer fishery was more substantial and more widespread than those in previous years. While catches were made in all sub- districts except the upper west coast, 44 per cent came from the upper east coast sub- district, 28 per cent from the northern sub-district, and 13 per cent from the lower east coast sub-district. Tag-recoveries from these fisheries, although relatively few in number, suggested that in most areas the same stocks were fished in summer as in winter. However, the degree of intermingling with adjacent stocks was greater in summer than in K 24 BRITISH COLUMBIA winter. In all areas the summer-fished stocks contained a smaller proportion of younger fish and a greater proportion of older fish than the equivalent winter-fished stocks. The differences in age composition between the summer- and winter-fished stocks suggest that new recruits do not join the fishable stocks until the time of the autumn pre-spawning migration. The summer-fished stocks appeared to consist mainly of fish recruited in previous years and were probably the residues of the previous season's spawning populations. Investigations of Special Problems The juvenile (I-year) herring research programme was terminated after the 1956 season. While this programme yielded valuable information on herring at this stage in their life-history, the effort involved in estimating the distribution and abundance of juveniles in a given area precluded the extension of this programme to other parts of the coast, or its continuation as a basis for the prediction of relative abundance at recruitment. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 25 APPENDICES CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIFE-HISTORY OF THE SOCKEYE SALMON (No. 42) By D. R. Foskett,* B.A., M.A., and D. W. Ienkinson, Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Biological Station, Nanaimo, B.C. INTRODUCTION This is the forty-second report in a series which was begun in 1914 by the Commissioner of Fisheries for the Province of British Columbia and has since been continued without interruption since that time, the reports appearing each year in the Report of the Commissioner of Fisheries, latterly the Report of the Provincial Department of Fisheries. The reports give, for each year, pertinent information regarding the sizes, sex ratios, and age compositions of the sockeye caught in each of the major sockeye- salmon fishing areas of the British Columbia coast, with the exception of the Fraser River, which since 1937 has been within the jurisdiction of the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission. The areas dealt with, therefore, include the Nass River, Skeena River, Rivers Inlet area, and Smith Inlet area. The samples of sockeye, from which the reported data are taken, are obtained from the commercial fishery in each area, which is, in the main, a drift gill-net fishery. To the extent, therefore, that gill-nets are selective in removing salmon from a run of fish— that is, tend to select fish of certain sizes or sex—the samples taken may not be completely typical of the whole run of fish being sampled. It has already been shown, in No. 38 of this series, that at Rivers Inlet that portion of the run that escapes the fishery and reaches the spawning-grounds (termed the " spawning escapement ") may have a quite different size, sex, and age composition from that taken by the fishery. The data herein reported pertain to the 1956 catches of sockeye. The numbers of sockeye caught in the four areas under review were taken from the statistical records of the Department of Fisheries, Vancouver. The sockeye-pack in numbers of cases given in the tables was supplied by the British Columbia Department of Recreation and Conservation, Victoria, B.C. DESIGNATION OF AGE-GROUPS AND TREATMENT OF DATA Two outstanding features in the life-history of the fish have been selected in designating the age-groups—namely, the age at maturity and the year of its fife in which the fish migrated from fresh water. These are expressed symbolically by two numbers—one in large type, which indicates the age of maturity, and the other in small type, placed to the right and below, which signifies the year of life in which the fish left fresh water. The age-groups which are met most commonly are:— 3i, 4-i—the " sea types " or fish which migrate seaward in their first year and mature in their third and fourth year respectively. 32—" the grilse," almost exclusively males and frequently called " jacks," which migrate seaward in their second year and mature in their third year. * Now on the staff of the Canadian Wildlife Service, National Parks Branch, Department of National Resources and Northern Affairs. 3 K 26 BRITISH COLUMBIA ^2j 52—fish which migrate seaward in their second year and mature in their fourth and fifth years respectively. ^3, 63—fish which migrate seaward in their third year and mature in their fifth and sixth years respectively. 64, 74—fish which migrate seaward in their fourth year and mature in their sixth and seventh years respectively. Fish were measured to the nearest quarter of an inch, but when averaged the average has been recorded to the nearest tenth of an inch to avoid using fractions of more than one decimal place. Weights were taken to the nearest tenth of a pound. This has resulted in an even-pound and half-pound bias when the data are grouped to the nearest quarter-pound. 1. THE NASS RIVER SOCKEYE RUN OF 1956 (1) General Characteristics The pack of 22,505 cases of sockeye salmon (Table I) was quite good for the Nass area and above the average of 17,899 for the last ten years (1946-55). The run in 1956 resulted from the spawning escapements of 1951 and 1952, which were reported as very satisfactory. In both these years the commercial fishery was good, packs of 24,405 and 29,492 cases respectively being made. (2) Age-groups The Nass River sockeye-catch sample contained 27 per cent 4-year fish, 59 per cent 5-year fish, and 14 per cent 6-year fish (Table I). Of these fish, 35.5 per cent had spent one year in fresh water, migrating seaward early in their second year; 63 per cent had spent two years in fresh water, migrating seaward early in their third year. The remainder of 1.5 per cent had migrated to sea as fry, returning as adults in their fourth year (Tables II and III). (3) Lengths and Weights The average weights for the main age-groups of the year's samples were slightly less than the previous ten-year average, though in most cases slightly greater than in 1955 (Tables IV and V). (4) Distribution of Sexes In the Nass River sockeye sample, 49.5 per cent were males and 50.5 per cent females. The percentage of males in the main age-groups was as follows: 42, 50 per cent; 52, 44 per cent; 53, 47 per cent, and 63, 61 per cent (Table VI). 2. THE SKEENA RIVER SOCKEYE RUN OF 1956 (1) General Characteristics The effect of the Babine Rive slide, which occurred in 1951, was noted in 1955 in the small proportion of 4-year fish in the catch sample, as was expected. In the 1956 sockeye-catch sample, the expected fall-off in the 5-year fish occurred as a direct effect of the slide. The catch sample consisted mainly of 4-year fish, which came from the 1952 spawning escapement after the partial clearance of the Babine River. The yield of 14,663 cases of sockeye in 1956 was a slight increase over the previous year's commercial catch, which represented the lowest on record from the Skeena River (Table VII). report of provincial fisheries department, 1956 k 27 (2) Age-groups The 84 per cent of 4-year fish in the Skeena River sockeye-catch sample was the highest percentage of that age-group ever recorded for that area. Of the remainder, 15 per cent were 5-year fish and 1 per cent 6-year fish (Table VII). (3) Lengths and Weights From a consideration of Tables X and XI it can be seen that the size of the Skeena River sockeye caught in 1956, in all but the 6-year fish, was well above the average. The lengths and weights for the main age-groups were as follows: The male 42 fish averaged 23.6 inches and 6 pounds, and the female 42's, 22.9 inches and 5.3 pounds; the male 52 fish averaged 26.1 inches and 8.2 pounds, and the female 52's, 24.9 inches and 6.8 pounds; the male 53 fish averaged 23.9 inches and 6.6 pounds, and the female 53's, 23.5 inches and 6.2 pounds; the male 63 fish averaged 25.9 inches and 7.6 pounds, and the female 63's, 23.7 inches and 5.6 pounds (Tables VIII, IX, X, and XI). (4) Distribution of Sexes The distribution of sexes in the Skeena River sockeye-catch sample (Table XII) again shows two trends which are almost invariable. These are that the catch as a whole contains over 50 per cent females, and that the 52 age-group fish in the catch contains an even greater percentage of females. 3. RIVERS INLET SOCKEYE RUN OF 1956 (1) General Characteristics The 1956 sockeye-catch, with a total of 124,634 cases, was nearly two and one-half times that of the previous year (Table XIII). In the main, the catch was resultant of the spawning escapement from the 1951 run which, itself, produced a pack well above the average. The 1951 spawning escapement, quoting from the Federal Department of Fisheries "Salmon Spawning Report, British Columbia 1951," was medium to heavy, and from this came 90 per cent of the 1956 run, according to the sample studied. (2) Age-groups Three age-groups were present in the 1956 catch sample: 52, 90 per cent, 42, 10 per cent; and two fish of the 53 age-group were noted. These proportions are quite normal for the area (Table XIII). (3) Lengths and Weights Lengths and weights were found to be quite normal and were well within the range recorded in previous years. The average length for both the 42 male and female fish was 21.5 inches. The average length of the 52 male fish was 25.3 inches, and of the females, 24.3 inches (Tables XVI and XVII). The average weights in both age-groups were slightly above the ten-year average, with the male and female 42 fish both at 4.7 pounds. The average weight of the 52 male fish was 8 pounds, and of the females, 6.9 pounds (Tables XIV and XV). No escapement records are available this year. (4) Distribution of Sexes In the two age-groups, the usual relationship of a larger proportion of males amongst the 4-year-old fish sample, and a smaller proportion amongst the 5-year-old fish, again occurred (Table XVIII). The over-all proportion of male fish in the catch sample was 39 per cent. K 28 BRITISH COLUMBIA 4. THE SMITH INLET SOCKEYE RUN OF 1956 (1) General Characteristics The yield of 36,898 cases of sockeye salmon from Smith Inlet was 30 per cent above the ten-year average of 27,725 cases. The catch sample consisted mainly of 5-year-old fish, the result of heavy supplies of sockeye reaching the spawning-grounds in 1951. (2) Age-groups The similarity of the Smith Inlet to the Rivers Inlet sockeye populations showed itself in the usual two main age-groups. Four per cent of the catch-sample were 4-year- old fish, and 96 per cent were 5-year-old fish (Table XIX). The three age-groups were 96 per cent 52 sockeye, 4 per cent 42 sockeye, and only one 53 fish was present in the sample. (3) Lengths and Weights The size of the Smith Inlet sockeye, as with those of Rivers Inlet, was well within the normal range over the last ten years (Tables XXII and XXIII). The average length for the 42 male fish was 22.5 inches; weight, 5.6 pounds; for the female fish, 22.1 inches and 5.2 pounds. In the 52 age-group, the male fish averaged 24.9 inches and 7.6 pounds, and the female 52's, 24.3 inches and 6.9 pounds. The one male 53 fish in the catch sample was 22.2 inches in length and weighed 4.7 pounds (Tables XX and XXI). (4) Sex Distribution As in the Rivers Inlet sample, the Smith Inlet fish showed a predominance of males in the 42 age-group (65 per cent), while among the 52 age-group the females represented 62 per cent (Table XXIV). The over-all catch sample consisted only of 38 per cent male fish. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 29 Table I.—Nass River Sockeyes, Percentages of Principal Age-groups in Runs of Successive Years and Packs Year Pack in Cases Number of Sockeye1 Percentage of Individuals 42 52 53 63 1912 36,037 23,574 31,327 39,349 31,411 22,188 21,816 28,259 16,740 9,364 31,277 17,821 33,590 18,945 15,929 12,026 5,540 16,077 26,405 16,929 14,154 9,757 36,242 12,712 28,562 17,567 21,462 24,357 13,809 24,876 21,085 13,412 13.083 9,899 12,511 10,849 13,181 9,268 27,286 24,405 29,492 18,163 10,285 13 fi .4 8 15 4 19 9 10 30 7 8 10 6 11 4 23 12 8 30 25 28 10 28 35 13 11 16 22 21 14 23 37 22 5 15 46 13 15 12 39 3 41 28 23 35 12 27 27 12 41 14 17 15 16 22 14 7 2 6 3 8 12 7 6 9 15 17 4 7 9 10 7 4 4 13 8 7 7 13 15 11 12 12 16 6 19 9 19 22 20 15 9 63 71 45 59 66 71 45 65 72 75 91 77 91 67 63 81 61 60 54 67 61 55 74 73 67 68 70 66 59 52 66 67 32 37 72 56 60 48 71 31 46 46 40 70 50 2 1913. 1914 2 10 1915 8 1916 8 1917 4 1918 9 1919 6 1920 6 1921 8 1922 1 1923 6 1924 2 1925 2 1926 13 1927 4 1928 ... 1929 3 6 1930 3 1931 6 1932 7 1933 _ 3 1934 4 1935 - . 6 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 10 1941 1942 5 15 38 1943 1944 1945 1946 _ 3 1947 ■ 1948 — 12 1949 .... 7 1950 6 1951 13 1952 1953 1954 304,500 198,400 101,600 154 004 4 9 5 1955 1956 _ 77 505 I 754 ROO 14 1 To nearest hundred. K 30 BRITISH COLUMBIA Table II.—Nass River Sockeyes, 1956, Grouped by Age, Sex, Length, and by Their Early History Number of Individuals Length in Inches 41 42 43 52 5 3 63 Total 1 M. F. M. 1 F. M. F. 1 M. 1 F. 1 M. F. M. F. 18% 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 3 1 1 ..._. 1 1 1 2 3 2 3 7 4 3 4 2 1 3 1 1 1 1 2 8 3 2 6 7 3 9 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 11 4 6 10 25 19 22 19 32 17 16 9 13 9 7 6 3 1 2 2 2 3 7 10 29 13 22 22 34 23 15 17 23 13 7 7 7 3 1 1 5 1 1 1 1 1 3 8 11 5 6 9 3 1 4 7 1 1 1 3 3 6 6 4 4 5 4 2 2 3 4 2 1 2 1 19 . 1 2 3 3 4 13 7 15 8 7 31 10 10 13 4 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 —- 5 3 8 4 8 14 34 10 11 6 15 4 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 19.4 19.4 19% 20 20%._ 2W2 1 2 1 5 20% 21 21 Vi _ 7 8 21 !/2 15 2134 8 22 19 2214 31 22V_ 90 22% 36 23 23 Vi 59 47 23VS 93 23% _ - - 24 82 57 241/4 - - -- . 24% 24% 58 86 51 25 41 25.4 33 25 V_ 40 25% - 23 26 . 20 26Vi _ 23 261/2 26% 26 12 27 12 27.4. 27V_ 12 4 27% 28 28% 3 4 8 28Vi 2 28% 1 Totals 5 | 9 138 | 136 2 39 | 50 238 269 83 | 52 1,021 72.8 1 22.8 93.5 1 77.8 20.9 25.6 1 24.4 24.3 23.6 26.4 1 25.4 24.0 REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 31 Table III.—Nass River Sockeyes, 1956, Grouped by Age, Sex, Weight, and by Their Early History Number ol Individuals Weight in Pounds 4 L 4 2 43 52 5 3 6 _ Total M. F. M. F. M. 1 1 F. 1 M. 1 F. 1 1 M. F. M. F. 3 1 1 ..._. 1 3V4 1 3 V. _ 1 2 2 5 3% 3 3 4 1 3 4 4Vi 2 6 2 5 15 4V_ 1 3 28 1 13 46 4% 5 14 2 17 38 5 2 11 7 17 25 1 4 5 6 29 30 1 64 5V4 74 5V_ 4 23 28 4 33 50 1 1 144 5% 1 21 3 5 20 27 1 2 80 6 1 26 13 2 2 1 4 4 22 21 25 20 3 3 6 82 6V4 _ ' 71 6V_ ■ 1 1 15 3 5 5 10 4 44 17 26 6 4 3 8 6 118 6% 40 7 4 4 6 12 3 4 2 35 7V4 _ 1 1 2 3 12 1 6 18 17 6 6 6 2 2 11 3 7 7 1 38 7V. 62 7% 2 1 2 16 8 ...... 2 1 5 6 2 1 1 5 9 14 3 2 16 8V4 12 8V. 23 8% 2 1 6 3 12 9 — 1 3 2 4 9Vi _ _ 1 -- 2 9V4 1 1 1 6 2 2 2 7 9% _ _. 4 10 . 2 lOVi 2 Totals 5 9 138 136 2 | ...... | 39 | 50 238 269 83 52 1,021 5.5 5.4 5.8 5.0 4.1 1 1 7.6 1 6.4 6.4 5.7 8.1 7 6.1 TaWe 7F.—Nass River Sockeyes, Average Lengths in Inches of Principal Age-groups, 1912 to 1956 Year 42 52 53 63 M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. 1912-41 24.5 23.8 23.9 22.8 23.5 23.4 23.4 23.4 23.3 23.8 23.6 24.0 23.9 23.9 24.1 23.1 23.5 23.7 23.0 23.2 22.2 22.7 22.8 22.4 22.9 22.6 22.8 23.1 23.1 23.1 22.9 23.1 22.3 22.8 26.3 25.6 26.1 26.1 25.7 25.0 26.3 25.9 26.2 26.2 26.0 26.2 26.8 26.9 26.5 26.0 25.6 25.2 24.5 24.9 24.8 24.6 24.4 24.9 24.1 25.3 23.8 24.7 24.8 25.3 25.6 25.3 24.7 24.4 26.1 25.4 24.9 24.1 24.8 24.7 24.9 24.5 25.0 24.7 24.5 25.1 24.8 24.9 25.3 24.1 24.3 25.3 24.6 24.3 23.5 23.8 24.0 23.9 23.6 24.1 23.7 23.7 24.1 23.9 24.1 24.5 23.2 23.6 27.7 27.0 26.9 27.1 26.8 25.1 28.1 27.0 27.7 26.1 26.7 27.4 27.6 27.7 27.7 26.9 26.4 1912-41 (conversion) 1942 _ 25.7 1943 1944 1945 .. .... 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 25.8 25.8 25.5 26.0 25.6 26.7 25.5 25.6 26.4 26.3 26.5 26.0 25.1 25.4 1953 _ 1954 1955 1956 K 32 BRITISH COLUMBIA Table V.—Nass River Sockeyes, Average Weights in Pounds of Principal Age-groups, 1914 to 1956 Year 42 52 53 h M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. 1914-41 _ 6.0 5.8 5.2 5.7 5.7 5.6 5.8 5.8 5.9 5.9 6.0 6.0 6.2 6.4 5.6 5.8 5.4 5.1 4.7 5.0 5.3 4.9 5.3 5.3 5.1 5.2 5.2 5.2 5.4 5.5 4.9 5.0 7.3 7.1 7.6 7.7 7.0 8.1 7.7 8.1 7.9 7.9 7.9 8.4 8.3 8.8 7.8 7.5 6.4 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.4 6.7 6.2 7.1 5.8 6.6 6.6 6.9 7.2 7.4 6.8 6.4 6.9 6.2 5.9 6.7 6.5 6.5 6.3 7.0 6.5 6.4 6.7 6.7 6.6 7.4 6.1 6.4 6.2 5.6 5.3 5.7 5.9 5.4 5.6 6.0 5.4 5.5 5.7 5.7 5.8 6.3 5.4 5.7 8.0 7.5 7.9 8.2 7.2 8.9 8.1 9.1 7.7 8.2 8.8 8.7 9.0 9.5 8.3 8.1 7.0 6.7 1943 6.9 1045 7.1 1946.. 7.0 6 9 1949 . 68 1950 . 7.1 1951 1952 1953. _ .. 1954 7.6 7.5 7.9 7 8 1955 1956 . 6.9 7.0 Table VI.—Nass River Sockeyes, Percentages of Males and Females, 1915 to 1956 Year 42 52 53 63 Per Cent Total Males Per Cent Total Females M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. 49 42 51 53 37 62 50 45 57 41 46 49 50 42 50 50 51 58 49 47 63 38 50 55 43 59 54 51 50 58 50 50 47 48 67 45 37 59 52 54 56 42 47 56 44 44 60 44 53 52 33 55 63 41 48 46 44 58 53 44 56 56 40 56 45 44 47 39 38 45 51 52 51 43 46 49 46 44 47 47 55 56 53 61 62 55 49 48 49 57 54 51 54 56 53 53 63 70 74 60 53 75 81 66 50 58 70 59 62 45 68 61 37 30 26 40 47 25 19 34 50 42 30 41 38 55 32 39 47 45 54 50 38 50 56 53 53 44 49 50 48 43 49 50 53 1942... ... .. - . . 55 1943 -- 46 1944 , 50 1945 62 1946... JO 1947 -- 47 1949 . 1950 47 56 1951 _ . . . 1952 51 1953.. 1954 1955 1956 _ 52 57 51 REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 33 Table VII.—Skeena River Sockeyes, Percentages of Age-groups in Runs of Successive Years and Packs Year Pack In Cases Number of Sockeye1 Percentage of Individuals 42 52 h 63 1907 108,413 139,846 87,901 187,246 131,066 92,498 52,927 130,166 116,553 60,923 65,760 123,322 184,945 90,869 41,018 96,277 131,731 144,747 77,784 82,360 83,996 34,559 78,017 132,372 93,023 59,916 30,506 54,558 52,879 81,973 42,491 47,257 68,485 116,507 81,767 34,544 28,268 68,197 104,279 52,928 32,534 101,267 65,937 47,479 61,694 114,775 65,003 60,817 14,649 14,663 1 57 50 25 36 34 57 51 27 15 69 70 56 23 51 62 62 51 62 39 40 44 57 58 49 67 45 64 50 80 39 36 39 37 20 13 14 80 17 21 33 66 48 33 15 84 43 50 75 64 38 29 34 60 71 22 16 29 69 45 26 28 39 30 52 30 37 36 34 31 20 40 15 35 15 52 54 39 52 63 70 82 13 76 72 61 26 43 54 59 14 13 9 9 9 6 6 12 8 7 3 9 9 7 6 8 28 7 5 7 18 11 11 16 11 4 8 7 16 7 12 8 3 6 4 4 4 3 6 10 14 1 1908 -- 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 _ 1916 18 1917 5 1918 6 1919 4 197,0 8 1921 _ 3 1922 _— 2 1923 7 1924 .. _ 1 1925 _ 1 1926 3 1927 -. 1 1928 3 1929 _ 1930 _ 2 1 1931 _ 2 1932 12 1933 2 1934 _ - 1 1935 2 1936 2 1937 - —~ - - 4 1938 _ _ . .- 5 1939 — _ — 4 1940 — 1 1941 - 1 1942 - 3 1943 _ 6 1944 — 4 1945 ..- _ - 5 1946 - 9 1947 _ - 1 1948 _ _ . 1 1949 _ 3 1950-. _ 3 1951 _ 1 1952 1,294,500 659,200 571,900 157,362 149,100 1953 3 1954 .. ... ... 1055 2 11 1 1956 . 1 To nearest hundred. K 34 BRITISH COLUMBIA Table VIII.—Skeena River Sockeyes, 1956, Grouped by Age, Sex, Length, and by Their Early History Length in Inches Number of Individuals 42 52 53 63 Total M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. 19% 1 2 2 2 5 3 2 5 4 6 8 24 16 13 17 41 26 15 25 4 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 3 10 6 11 18 15 16 18 38 16 13 11 17 5 1 3 1 1 1 1 4 1 5 2 4 1 1 1 1 z 1 2 2 6 2 2 12 2 4 9 5 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 20 2 20Vi 3 20V__ 2 20%. . 5 21. 21V4 15 21V4 . 9 21% 13 22 22V4.... 23 19 22V4 . .... 23 22% 27 23 ... 63 23 Vi 23 VS.... 33 30 23% 31 24.. 65 24% 35 24V. 18 24% 41 25 •• 6 25V4 7 25V. 18 25% 1 26 12 26V4 5 26V4. _ _ _ 7 26% 2 27 1 27Vi. 27V4 1 27% 1 28 Totals 1 230 207 22 50 3 1 2 5 520 Average lengths 23.6 22.9 26.1 24.9 23.9 23.5 25.9 23.7 23.5 REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 35 Table IX.—Skeena River Sockeyes, 1956, Grouped by Age, Sex, Weight, and by Their Early History Weight in Pounds Number of Individuals 42 < 2 5 3 63 Total M. F. M. F. 1 M. F. M. F. 3 5 2 4 13 5 6 5 31 17 20 23 48 11 8 11 8 9 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 6 8 25 22 13 21 50 14 22 5 14 1 1 3 1 1 1 4 5 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 5 7 5 5 5 8 5 4 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 :::: 1 2 1 1 1 3%... 3Vi 6 3% 6 4 10 4% 8 4V4 38 4% 28 5 21 5%.. 27 5V_ 83 5% 33 6 48 6V4. 36 6V_ .... .... 69 6% 7... 16 16 714 21 7V_ 7% 8 16 14 7 8Vi 6 8V2 8%..., 4 1 9 _ 2 9V4 9Vi 9% 1 10 _ 10% lOVi- . 1 1 Totals -.. 230 207 22 50 3 1 2 5 520 6.0 5.3 8.2 6.8 6.6 6.2 7.6 5.6 5.9 Table X.—Skeena River Sockeyes, Average Lengths in Inches of Principal Age-groups, 1912 to 1956 Year 4 2 52 5 3 63 M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. 1912-41 1912-41 (conversion) 1942 23.7 23.0 22.6 21.9 22.4 22.6 22.7 22.3 23.0 22.5 22.8 22.7 23.3 23.2 22.2 22.5 23.6 23.1 22.4 22.3 21.9 21.7 22.3 22.0 22.0 22.3 22.2 22.3 22.6 22.6 22.8 22.4 22.1 22.9 25.8 25.1 25.2 25.1 24.8 24.9 25.4 25.1 25.3 25.3 25.7 25.9 25.8 26.2 26.6 25.6 26.1 24.9 24.2 24.3 23.9 23.9 24.1 24.3 23.8 24.1 24.5 24.4 24.8 24.7 25.0 25.2 24.5 24.9 24.2 23.5 24.1 23.3 22.5 23.3 23.9 23.0 23.0 23.2 23.9 23.6 23.2 23.6 23.9 23.0 23.9 23.4 22.7 23.7 22.6 21.7 22.6 23.2 22.4 22.1 22.3 23.4 22.9 22.8 22.9 22.9 22.6 23.5 25.8 25.1 26.3 25.8 25.0 25.0 25.5 26.3 26.0 24.8 25.5 26.0 26.1 26.0 26.4 25.2 25.9 24.8 24.1 24.9 1943 ... _ 1944 24.7 23.7 1945 24.3 1946 1947 1948... 1949 _ 1950 24.4 25.8 24.5 23.9 24 3 1951 24 6 1952 1953 1954 1955 24.6 25.5 24.9 24.0 23.7 1956- - K 36 BRITISH COLUMBIA Table XI.—Skeena River Sockeyes, Average Weights in Pounds of Principal Age-groups, 1914 to 1956 Year 4 2 52 5 3 63 M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. 1914-41 1942 . 5.4 4.9 4.7 5.1 5.2 4.7 4.9 5.5 5.0 4.8 5.1 5.6 5.8 4.9 4.9 6.0 5.0 4.7 4.6 4.6 4.9 4.2 4.7 4.9 4.7 4.3 5.0 5.0 5.5 4.9 4.8 5.3 6.8 6.7 6.8 7.0 6.7 6.9 6.9 7.3 7.1 7.2 7.6 7.5 8.0 8.8 7.4 8.2 6.1 6.0 5.9 6.1 6.1 3.8 5.9 6.1 6.3 5.9 6.5 6.4 6.9 7.2 6.4 6.8 5.7 5.8 5.5 5.3 5.6 5.8 5.3 5.4 5.3 5.8 5.6 5.6 5.8 6.2 5.5 6.6 5.1 5.4 4.9 4.6 5.0 5.1 5.0 4.7 4.8 5.1 5.0 5.0 5.2 5.2 5.0 6.2 6.8 7.2 7.3 7.1 6.7 7.0 7.7 7.7 6.6 6.8 7.6 7.4 7.8 8.6 7.1 7.6 6.0 6.6 1943 . _ . 6.1 1944 5.8 1045 6.2 1946 6.1 1947 6.8 1948 64 1949 5.7 1950 . . 5.6 1951 .. ._ 6.4 1952 ... 6.0 1953 1954 7.3 7.2 1955 _ 6.1 1956 5 6 Table XII.—Skeena River Sockeyes, Percentages of Males and Females, 1915 to 1956 Year M. F. M. Per Cent Total Males Per Cent Total Females 1915-41 (average). 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 195J 1956 48 42 50 54 41 50 50 50 54 56 41 52 40 44 57 53 52 58 50 46 59 50 50 50 46 44 59 48 60 56 43 47 43 25 31 34 35 32 29 29 30 40 37 34 34 38 42 34 57 75 69 66 65 68 71 71 70 60 63 66 66 62 58 66 46 33 43 43 38 38 33 47 36 44 39 48 39 43 47 44 54 67 57 57 62 62 67 53 64 56 61 52 61 57 53 56 REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 37 Table XIII.—Rivers Inlet Sockeyes, Percentages of Age-groups in Runs of Successive Years and Packs 1 To nearest hundred. 2 Age-class represented but less than 0.5 per cent. Year Pack in Cases Number of Sockeye1 Percentage of Individuals 42 52 53 63 1907 87,874 64,652 89,027 126,921 88,763 112,884 61,745 89,890 130,350 44,936 61,195 53,401 56,258 121,254 46,300 60,700 107,174 94,891 159,554 65,581 64,461 60,044 70,260 119,170 76,428 69,732 83,507 76,923 135,038 46,351 84,832 87,942 54,143 63,469 93,378 79,199 47,602 36,852 89,735 73,320 140,087 37,665 39,495 142,710 102,565 84,298 132,925 50,640 50,702 124,634 21 80 35 13 26 39 57 46 5 49 81 74 43 23 59 81 55 77 49 53 67 44 77 57 53 60 27 67 69 59 8 8 76 57 37 3 55 84 13 38 41 73 60 45 10 79 20 65 87 74 61 43 54 95 51 18 24 54 77 38 16 40 18 48 44 27 55 20 41 46 37 70 32 28 40 91 91 23 41 63 97 44 14 87 60 58 26 39 54 90 l 2 2 2 3 4 3 2 2 5 1 2 1 1 3 1 3 1 1 2 1 1 (2) 1 1 1 1 (a) (2) 1908 1909 - 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 .... 1916 1917 .... . 1918 . 1919 1920 - 1921 1922 1923 ... ... ... 1924 1 1925 1926 .. . . 1 1927 _ _- 1928 1 1929 2 1930 1 1931 1937 1 1 1933 1934 1 1935 _. 1 1936 ~ _ 1937 . _. 1938 2 1939... 1940. 1941 -- 1942 1 1943 . . 1 1944 1945 -. 1946 _ 1947 1948 - 1949 1950 1051 i (2) (a) (2) 1 1059 938,700 1,522,300 575,700 584,128 1,072,300 1953 1954 195. 1956 K 38 BRITISH COLUMBIA Table XIV.—Rivers Inlet Sockeyes, 1956, Grouped by Age, Sex, Length, and by Their Early History Number of Individuals Length in Inches 4 2 52 53 Total M. F. M. F. M. F. 19% . .. 1 2 2 5 8 7 3 2 4 5 5 5 1 4 1 4 3 2 2 2 1 2 4 2 2 2 6 3 4 3 3 3 3 2 3 1 2 1 1 1 1 3 19*4 19% 20 .. - _ 2 1 1 3 2 6 3 3 4 5 7 7 14 7 11 16 15 23 20 45 27 43 23 38 14 14 5 6 2 1 3 2 7 14 15 20 14 27 22 41 36 55 49 71 51 76 49 42 20 20 10 3 4 2 9 20% _ 12 20V_ . _ 9 20% _ _ . 5 21 10 21V4 11 2IV2 _ 14 21% _ 17 22 29 22*4- - 22*_ _ _ 22 30 ??% 21 23 _ 39 23% .- 30 23VS - - - - 52 23% 54 24 —. - 65 24V4 - 24V_ _ _ 62 87 24%... 25 .— _ _ - 66 99 25% 69 25 Vi 87 25% 47 26 63 26V4 33 26V4 26% - _ _ 41 14 27 . - -. 14 27V4 . 5 27 Vi . 6 27% - - - 2 Totals _ - — 68 47 367 | 649 1 | 1 | 1,133 21.5 21.5 25.3 24.3 23.2 1 22 1 24.3 REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 39 Table XV.—Rivers Inlet Sockeyes, 1956, Grouped by Age, Sex, Weight, and by Their Early History dumber of Individuals Weight in Pounds 4 2 52 53 Total M. F. M. F. M. F. 3V4 3*4 _. . 6 7 8 9 6 6 3 2 8 4 4 1 2 1 1 1 4 3 6 3 7 7 4 5 2 3 2 2 2 1 4 7 1 1 4 6 11 19 1 1 1 10 3% _ _ 4 _ 11 17 4% 18 4V_ 20 5 22 36 5% _ 1 20 37 5*4 - 5% _ - 10 4 14 7 12 8 15 12 11 25 34 17 48 25 28 40 33 39 30 61 33 73 46 55 37 60 23 24 14 13 53 43 fi 61 6*4 _ . .. 38 6V2 77 6% _ 41 7 89 714 59 7*4 _ 66 7% _ _ _ 62 8 94 8*4 .... _ 40 8*4 _ 72 8% _ 39 9 ... . 41 9V4 _. 24 1 1 25 9*4 _ 20 16 7 9 2 4 " 1 24 9% 16 10 - 8 10*4 9 10*4 - - 2 10% . ...... | ...... 2 | ...... 11 - - 2 Totals 68 47 367 | 649 1 | 1 | 1,133 4.7 4.7 8.0 1 6.9 6 4.7 1 7.0 Table XVI.—Rivers Inlet Sockeyes, Average Lengths in Inches of the 42 and 52 Groups, 1912 to 1956 Year M. M. 1912-41. 1912-41 (conversion).. 1942 1943.. 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948. 1949 .. - 1950 1951 1952... 1953 1954 1955 1956 22.4 21.6 21.9 20.5 21.1 20.9 20.6 20.6 21.4 20.9 21.1 21.9 21.5 21.6 22.0 21.2 21.5 22.4 21.6 21.3 21.1 21.0 21.2 21.1 20.7 21.3 21.4 20.8 21.9 21.5 21.8 21.6 21.0 21.5 25.4 24.6 25.0 24.3 23.5 24.2 25.1 24.0 25.2 23.8 25.2 25.8 26.0 26.5 26.1 25.4 25.3 24.7 23.9 23.8 23.7 23.3 23.9 24.1 23.5 24.2 22.8 24.2 24.8 25.0 25.3 25.1 24.5 24.3 K 40 BRITISH COLUMBIA Table XVII.—Rivers Inlet Sockeyes, Average Weights in Pounds of the 42 and 52 Groups, 1914 to 1956 Year M. M. 1914-41.. 1942 1943 1944 1945.. 1946.. 1947-. 1948_ 1949.. 1950.. 1951.. 1952.. 1953- 1954.. 1955- 1956. 4.9 5.1 4.1 4.6 4.3 3.9 4.1 4.7 4.4 4.2 5.2 4.9 4.7 5.2 4.5 4.7 4.8 4.6 4.4 4.4 4.4 3.9 3.9 4.6 4.3 3.9 5.0 4.7 4.7 4.8 4.2 4.7 7.0 7.2 6.8 6.2 6.6 7.2 6.4 7.9 5.9 7.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 7.4 8.0 6.5 6.4 6.3 6.0 6.4 6.2 5.9 7.0 5.9 6.4 7.4 7.4 7.6 7.6 6.5 6.9 Table XVIII, -Rivers Inlet Sockeyes, Percentages of Males and Females, 1915 to 1956 Year 41 42 52 Per Cent Total Males Per Cent Total Females M. F. M. F. M. F. 1915-41 (average) _ — 1942 36 50 50 64 50 50 63 61 62 67 70 79 72 50 70 75 66 58 55 67 67 59 37 39 38 33 30 21 28 50 30 25 34 42 45 33 33 41 34 35 34 33 39 37 35 38 22 36 30 34 33 29 31 36 66 65 66 67 61 63 65 62 78 64 70 66 67 71 69 64 50 38 36 59 57 53 36 45 63 41 44 44 49 52 48 39 50 62 1°43 64 1944 41 1Q45 43 1»47 64 1948 1949 _ - 55 37 losn 59 1951 1952 _ . 56 56 195 . 51 1954 48 1955 52 1956 61 REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 41 Table XIX.—Smith Inlet Sockeyes, Percentages of Age-groups in Runs of Successive Years and Packs Year Pack In Cases Number of Sockeye1 Percentage of Individuals 4i 42 52 62 53 1925 . 33,764 17,921 22,682 33,442 9,683 32,057 12,867 25,488 37,369 14,607 31,648 12,788 25,258 33,894 17,833 25,947 21,495 15,939 15,010 3,165 15,014 14,318 36,800 10,456 13,189 42,435 49,473 34,834 29,947 18,937 28,864 36,898 2 1 50 11 5 7 92 17 22 8 89 61 42 4 50 89 95 90 5 83 77 91 10 38 58 96 3 (2) (2) 1 (~2) 1926 _ 1927 _ 1928 1929 _ - 1930 1931 . 1932 1933 " 1934 1935 - 1936 _ _ . 1937 1938 1939. - 1940 1941 ... .... ... 1942 .. 1943 1944 1945 — - .... 1946 1947 1948 - ._. 1949 (2) (2) (2) l (2) l 1950 .._ 1951 ... - 342,200 367,100 190,800 325,478 442,300 1952. 1953 1954 1955 (2) 1956. . 1 To nearest hundred. 2 This age-class was represented by less than 0.5 per cent of the number of fish in the sample. K 42 BRITISH COLUMBIA Table XX.—Smith Inlet Sockeyes, 1956, Grouped by Age, Sex, Length, and by Their Early History Number of Individuals Length in Inches 4 2 52 53 Total M. F. 1 M. F. 1 M. F. 20*4 _ ... 20*4 _ 1 1 1 4 4 4 2 1 3 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 3 5 9 13 19 26 40 34 46 39 46 30 15 9 10 6 1 1 1 1 1 4 12 19 31 37 63 81 68 78 66 56 38 24 13 7 2 1 1 20% 1 21 1 21% 21*4 _ _ 1 2 21% _. 3 22 10 22% 22*4 - 22% - — 8 10 17 23 24 23% 36 23*4 23% 47 76 24 - — 100 24% 24*4 24%. _ 25 ... 25% 97 119 100 102 77 25*4 70 25% _ _ ... 26 . 43 22 26%... 26*4 11 10 7fi3^ 6 27 27% - . . 1 1 27*4 1 1 Totals 22 12 360 | 602 1 | ..... | 997 Average lengths 22.5 22.1 24.9 | 24.3 1 22.2 | | 24.5 1 1 REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 43 Table XXI.—Smith Inlet Sockeyes, 1956, Grouped by Age, Sex, Weight, and by Their Early History Weight in Pounds * Number of Individuals 4 2 52 53 Total M. 1 F. 1 1 M. F. 1 M. F. 4 1 1 2 4 6 3 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 1 1 2 3 1 7 3 6 9 25 18 14 38 63 25 37 34 36 9 8 8 7 4 2 3 2 1 6 22 24 28 33 117 59 72 61 87 30 15 19 17 5 3 1 1 1 4*4 _ - 1 4*4.— 3 434 5 5 10 5 *4__ . 10 5*4 _ _ 36 5 34 . — 31 6 36 6% _ 42 6*4 —. 6% 144 78 7 . _ 86 7% - 7V_ 100 151 73/4 - 8 55 52 8Vi 53 8V2 53 834 14 9 11 9*4 _ 9V_ .... 8 8 934 _ 4 10 - 2 1014 .... ... .. 10*4.- 3 Totals - 22 12 360 | 602 1 | | 997 5.6 5.2 7.6 1 6.9 4.7 1 ...... 1 7.1 Table XXII.- -Smith Inlet Sockeyes, Average Lengths in Inches of Age-groups, 1945 to 1956 Year 41 42 52 62 h M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. 1945 _ 25.4 26.3 23.5 24.3 25.0 22.2 21.3 23.2 21.9 21.4 21.6 22.8 21.8 22.9 22.3 21.8 22.5 22.0 22.7 23.4 21.7 21.7 21.7 22.0 22.4 22.3 21.9 21.6 22.1 25.1 24.7 25.2 25.0 24.6 24.8 25.6 25.7 25.9 25.7 25.3 24.9 24.4 24.0 24.3 24.3 24.3 24.0 24.8 24.9 25.2 24.9 24.6 24.3 26.7 25.0 25.5 25.1 25.1 20.5 23.4 22.9 22.8 23.0 22.2 1946 1947- 1948 1949 — 1950 1951 1952. 1953 1954 _ 23.1 23.3 23 5 1955 . 22.3 1956 K 44 BRITISH COLUMBIA Table XXIII.—Smith Inlet Sockeyes, Average Weights in Pounds of Age-groups, 1945 to 1956 Year 4 1 4 2 5 2 6 2 5 3 M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. 1945 7.9 8.0 6.1 5.9 7.1 4.9 4.6 5.7 5.1 5.0 4.9 6.0 4.8 5.9 5.2 5.0 5.6 4.7 5.8 5.5 5.4 5.1 5.0 5.2 5.2 5.3 4.7 4.7 5.2 7.1 7.3 6.9 7.6 7.2 7.4 8.2 8.0 8.2 7.9 7.5 7.6 6.5 6.6 6.0 6.9 6.7 6.6 7.3 7.1 7.6 7.0 6.9 6.9 10.3 7.5 7.3 7.2 7.3 4.0 6.4 5.7 5.7 5.8 4.7 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 5.4 1953 1954.. 1955 - . 5.8 5.8 4.8 1956 Table XXIV.—Smith Inlet Sockeyes, Percentages of Males and Females, 1945 to 1956 41 4 _ 52 62 53 Per Cent Per Cent Year Total Males Total Females M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. 1945 - 73 27 49 51 61 39 1946 59 1947 38 62 47 53 46 54 1948 79 21 42 58 11 89 43 57 1949 36 64 SO 20 40 60 100 77 23 1950.. ... 86 14 42 58 100 49 51 1951 72 28 41 59 ICO 100 48 52 1952....... 57 43 38 62 100 63 37 40 60 1953 100 60 40 36 64 71 29 58 42 1954 25 75 70 30 25 75 25 75 52 48 1955 .. ... 76 24 37 63 100 54 46 1956 65 35 38 62 100 I 38 62 REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 45 THE STATUS OF THE MAJOR HERRING STOCKS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA IN 1956-57 By F. H. C. Taylor, Ph.D., A. S. Hourston, Ph.D., and D. N. Outram, B.A., Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Biological Station, Nanaimo, B.C. INTRODUCTION This report is the tenth of a series of annual reports on the results of herring research carried out at the Biological Station, Nanaimo, B.C., by the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. The various aspects of the research programme discussed in previous years were outlined in 1955-56 (Taylor, Hourston, and Outram, 1956). Continuing the policy of the past three years, the degree of integrity, present status, and level of abundance of each of the major British Columbia herring stocks in 1956-57 are discussed. THE 1956-57 FISHERY The total catch in the 1956-57 season (May 1st, 1956, to March 10th, 1957) amounted to 177,087 tons, the lowest since 1947-48; 30,579 tons were taken in the summer fishery lasting from the beginning of June* to the end of September, and 146,508 tons in the regular winter fishery. The summer fishery in 1956 was more substantial and more widespread than in preceding years, with catches being made in all sub-districts except the upper west coast (Table I). In 1953, 10,600 tons were taken in the summer, 8,600 tons from the middle east coast sub-district and 2,000 tons from Swiftsure Bank (Area 21) in the lower west coast sub-district; in 1954, 4,868 tons were taken, entirely from the middle east coast sub-district; in 1955 there was no summer fishery. In 1956 the August fishery in Queen Charlotte Sound, in the upper east coast sub-district, provided 44 per cent of the total summer catch of 30,579 tons, the September fishery in Caamano Sound in the northern sub-district 28 per cent, the lower east coast fishery (May to September) 13 per cent, and the September fishery on Swiftsure Bank 7 per cent. The remaining 8 per cent came from small fisheries in the upper and lower central, the middle east coast, and upper Queen Charlotte Islands sub-districts. In general, individual catches were small in comparison with those made in the winter fishery. Availability or catch per unit of effort (Table I) in nearly all sub-districts was much lower than in the subsequent winter fisheries. In the regular winter fishery, catches (Table I) were below the average of the last five years in all sub-districts except the lower Queen Charlotte Islands and lower central, and, with one exception, were well below the 1955-56 catches. Only in the northern sub-district was the catch greater than in 1955-56, but still below the five-year average. In the lower Queen Charlotte Islands, in Area 2be, the catch was the second largest recorded, although it was only about one-third of the phenomenal catch of 85,609 tons made in 1955-56. The catch in Area 2ae of the upper Queen Charlotte Islands sub- district was sharply down in comparison to previous years and was the poorest since the area was first exploited in 1953-54. Catches were made on the west coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands for the first time in 1956-57; 117 tons were taken in one day's fishing in Renfell Sound in Area 2aw and 512 tons in Louscoone Inlet in Area 2bw during the first half of February. In the northern sub-district, the quota was taken for the first time in three years, with the winter fishery accounting for 22,983 tons out of the season's total of 31,461 * In all sub-districts, except the lower east coast of Vancouver Island where the fishing season commences on May 1st. K 46 BRITISH COLUMBIA Fig. 1. Map showing the division of the British Columbia coast into districts, sub-districts, and areas. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 47 tons. In contrast to the previous season when the fishery depended on populations (probably local) in Tuck Inlet and Morse Basin, the greater part of the 1956-57 catch was from the main migratory population fished in Hecate Strait off the southern tip of Porcher Island. In the upper central sub-district (Area 6), the catch, although well below average, was considerably greater than in 1955-56. Meyers Pass and Green Inlet were the main fishing areas. In the lower central sub-district (Areas 7 to 10), the catch, while slightly above the 1951-52 to 1956-57 average, was well below that of 1955-56. The main fishing- grounds were in Kildidt Sound and Kwakshua Passage, farther to the south than in the previous year. In the middle east coast sub-district, the catch was 17,753 tons, almost double the normal quota of 10,000 tons, although only slightly more than one-half the record catch of the previous year. Almost the entire catch was made in the Deepwater Bay region of Area 13 during the first three weeks of December. In 1955-56 the main fishery occurred in January and early February, with approximately two-thirds of the catch being made in Area 13 and one-third in Area 14. Availability was higher in 1956-57 than in 1955-56. In the lower east coast sub-district, while the quota was taken, the catch was about 20 per cent smaller than in 1955-56. Because of the delay in the start of the season due to price negotiations, this fishery, usually the first to occur, was about a month later than usual. It did not start until the first week in December, and for the first time in a number of years the quota was not taken before the Christmas closure. Availability was about the same as in 1955-56. The catch in the lower west coast sub-district was the lowest recorded. Almost the entire catch was made in Barkley Sound, and represented the smallest catch from this area since 1941-42. The upper west coast sub-district produced only 541 tons of fish, almost all from Ououkinish Inlet. In spite of the low catch, the level of abundance in this sub-district, as indicated by the amount of spawn deposited, was probably above average. TAGGING The coastwise adult herring tagging programme was discontinued after 1954, when it was considered that the general relationship between most major populations was sufficiently well understood for the practical purposes of management, and that the annual variations in the extent of intermingling between populations were not large enough to warrant the continued expenditure entailed (Taylor, 1955). In 1955 and 1956 adult tagging was confined to the Strait of Georgia in an effort to determine more precisely the complex relationships between the middle and lower east coast populations. This programme was suspended after the 1956 season when it became apparent that no additional information was likely to be obtained because of difficulties in separating tags recovered from these populations when the fisheries occur, as is often the case, at approximately the same time. No adult herring were tagged, therefore, in the spring of 1957. Juvenile herring also have been tagged to provide information on the juvenile stocks reared in certain areas and on the spawning stocks that support the fisheries in these and other areas (Taylor, Hourston, and Outram, 1956). From 1952 to 1954 this programme was confined to the lower west coast sub-district and in 1955 and 1956 to populations in the Strait of Georgia and adjacent San Juan Islands area. This programme was terminated after the 1956 season, when the entire juvenile herring research programme was discontinued. The data on the 1956 juvenile herring taggings are summarized below:— K 48 BRITISH COLUMBIA Sub-district and Area of Tagging Middle East Coast- Area 13 Number Tagged in 1956 3,130 Area 14 4,060 Area 15 7,253 Area 16 3,102 Lower East Coast— Area 17a 3,075 Area 17b 3,023 Area 18 6,058 Area 19 3,106 San Juan Islands 6,003 Total. 38,810 TAG RECOVERY In the 1956-57 season, tags were recovered only by magnets in reduction-plant meal-lines. No tag-detector was operated, even on an experimental basis, because the difficulties introduced by the increased use of electricity to operate plant machinery proved insurmountable (Taylor et al., 1956). For reasons discussed in previous reports {see Taylor et al., 1956), the various reduction plants differ in their efficiency in recovering and submitting tags found on the magnets. Tests to determine the efficiency of the various plants in recovering tags were conducted in the same manner as in previous years (Stevenson, Hourston, Jackson, and Outram, 1952). The average efficiency of each plant in 1956-57, together with its average efficiency in 1955-56 in parentheses, is given below:— Adult Tags Juvenile Tags Plant Number of Tests Average Efficiencv Number of Tests Average Efficiencv West Coast of Vancouver Island - (1) 1 (3) 1 (3) 1 (2) 1 (3) 1 (2) .... (92) 84 (84) 98 (94) 68 (76) 96 (97) 86 (89) - (1) 1 (3) 1 (3) 1 (2) 1 (3) 1 (2) (60) Steveston and Vicinity 60 (53) 70 (80) 30 (60) 70 (85) North Shore ■ 90 (75) 87 (88) 96 (91) .... (92) 68 (78) 64 (79) 90 (71) 90 (81) 64 (71) 70 (65) North and Central British Columbia 1 (2) - (1) 2 (2) 1 (2) 2 (2) 1 (2) 1 (2) (1) 2 (2) - (2) 2 (2) 1 (2) (70) 55 (50) - - (35) 80 (60) North Pacific _ 30 (70) | 82 (82) 59 (58) In 1956-57 there was little change in the general level of efficiency of adult tag recovery. Fairview and North Pacific plants in the Prince Rupert area showed increases in efficiency, while Colonial and Port Edward showed substantial decreases for the second year in succession. The Seal Cove plant has always been relatively inefficient in recovering tags. After an increase in 1955-56, the efficiency of this plant in 1956-57 fell to its normal level. The average efficiency of the major plants in Northern British Columbia in recovering juvenile herring tags was about the same as in 1955-56, while the efficiency of plants in REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 49 Southern British Columbia was somewhat less. Again, there was considerable variation in efficiency among individual plants. The greatest changes were at Colonial and North Pacific, where sharp decreases occurred, and at North Shore and Fairview, where marked increases in efficiency were recorded. Over the past four seasons there has been a decrease in the relative efficiency of juvenile tag recovery. In 1956-57 the ratio of juvenile to adult efficiency was 0.74; in 1955-56, 0.77; in 1954-55, 0.78; and in 1953- 54, 0.83. A total of 1,708 tags, including nineteen State of Washington tags, were recovered in 1956-57 from the magnets in twelve reduction plants. Of these, 272 were recovered in the summer and early fall fishery, the remainder in the regular winter fishery. Using the same methods as in previous years (Tester and Stevenson, 1948), the most probable area of recovery has been determined for each plant magnet return (Table II). The tendency for reduction plants to process fish simultaneously from a number of diffierent areas was accentuated in 1956-57 by the delay in the start of the regular winter fishery. As a result, only a small proportion, 516 out of 1,436,.or 36 per cent, of the tags recovered could be assigned with any certainty to a particular area of recovery. Recoveries from the middle and lower east coast sub-districts were the most seriously affected. Of 1,152 fish tagged and possibly recovered in these two sub-districts, the most probable area of recovery could be determined for only 239 or 21 per cent. To assess movement between populations, the probable numbers of tags in the catches were calculated from the plant magnet returns (Table III). The method used was described by Taylor and Outram (1954). Tags recovered at Port Albion and Bute- dale reduction plants were omitted, as no magnet efficiency tests were carried out at these two plants. Because of the relatively small numbers of tags certain as to area of recovery (Table III, column 9), the estimates of movement between populations are considered generally less reliable in 1956-57 than in previous years. Certain other sources of error are also liable to affect these estimates:— (1) The length of time the tagged fish have been at liberty. In 1955 and 1956 only the middle and lower east coast populations were tagged. The remaining populations have not been tagged since 1954. The majority of the recoveries from the middle and lower east coast populations in 1956-57, as in previous years, were mainly from fish that had been at liberty for one or two seasons.* From all other populations, recoveries were from fish that had been at liberty for three or more seasons. Because of the greater time at liberty, estimates of movement based on these recoveries may not be strictly comparable to estimates in.previous years or to estimates for the middle and lower east coast populations. On the basis of recoveries in 1955-56, the tendency for the degree of dispersion from the sub-district of tagging to increase the longer the fish had been at liberty was not sufficiently marked to warrant the assessment of movement on the basis of recoveries from fish at liberty for the same number of years (Taylor, Hourston, and Outram, 1956). In 1956-57, because of the additional year of liberty, this tendency might be expected to be more pronounced. However, the number of recoveries certain as to area of recovery was insufficient to provide a reliable test of this possibility. (2) Differences in the degree of exploitation of the various populations both in the same season and in different seasons. As the number of tags recovered varies with the size of the catch, differences in the amount of fish caught in the area of tagging and in areas receiving tags from it will affect estimates of the amount of movement between areas. Similarly, if the proportional sizes of the catches vary from year to year, comparisons of * More exactly eight or twenty months, since herring are tagged in March and the fishery develops in November. K 50 BRITISH COLUMBIA the degree of dispersion between years will also be affected. Errors of this type might be minimized if estimates of dispersion were based on calculations of the probable number of tags per ton in the various areas. However, because of the large and variable number of tags doubtful as to area of recovery, such calculations would not be reliable. Since the catches in the lower Queen Charlotte Islands and northern sub-districts have varied widely in the last three seasons and since neither population has been tagged since 1954, estimates of the migration of fish from these two populations will be affected the most seriously by errors from the above two sources. Estimates of dispersion from the middle and lower east coast populations will be the least affected, since catches in each have varied little in the past three years and since both have been tagged every year. Because of the relatively small number of tag returns certain as to area of recovery and because of the possibility of additional errors from the sources discussed above, estimates of movements between populations in 1956-57 should be accepted with caution. (1) In 1956-57 most of the recoveries from the regular winter fishery were from the sub-district of tagging and confirm previous conclusions on the relative discreteness of the major populations. The " homing " tendency was apparently least pronounced in the upper Queen Charlotte Islands population (Area 2ae) and most pronounced in the lower east coast population. (2) The apparent emigration of 44 per cent (14/32) from Area 2ae to the northern sub-district was very much greater in 1956-57 than in previous seasons. This estimate may be unreliable because of the small number of tags involved. It may reflect in part a greater degree of dispersion related to the longer period the tagged fish were at liberty, but more probably overestimates the true movement because of the great difference in the sizes of the catches in the two regions (Table I). (3) Emigration from the lower Queen Charlotte Islands population (Area 2be) amounted to 22 per cent (21/94) in 1956-57, compared to 3 per cent in 1955-56. The majority of the emigrants (17) were recovered in the northern sub-district, and the remainder in the lower central sub- district. Once again the apparent increase in emigration may be due to increased time at liberty, but more probably it is a reflection of the smaller relative difference in the sizes of the catches in the two regions (Table I). Eighty per cent (73/91) of the recoveries from the lower Queen Charlotte Islands region were from fish tagged there, 8 per cent (7/91) were from the northern sub-district, and 10 per cent (9/91) from the upper and lower central sub-districts. (4) Of the recoveries of fish tagged in the northern sub-district, 8 per cent (7/97) were from the lower Queen Charlotte Islands area and 13 per cent (13/97) from the lower central sub-district. Emigration in 1956-57 was similar to the average emigration (23 per cent) between 1936 and 1952 (Stevenson, 1955) and very much less than the estimate in 1955-56. The apparently great emigration in 1955-56 may have been the result of the dependence of the fishery on the isolated untagged stocks of herring in Tuck Inlet and Morse Basin rather than on the main migratory northern sub-district population tagged in previous years (Taylor, Hourston, and Outram, 1956). Thus the number of returns from the northern sub-district from fish tagged there would be proportionately smaller than normal in comparison with the number of returns from other regions. In 1956-57 the fishery, although centred farther to seaward than in other years, again apparently depended on the main migratory northern popu- REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 51 lation. Sixty-eight per cent (76/112) of the recoveries made in the northern sub-district were of fish tagged there, 15 per cent (17/112) were from the lower Queen Charlotte Islands, and 12 per cent (14/112) from the upper Queen Charlotte Islands. The remaining 5 per cent were from the upper and lower central sub-districts. (5) Emigration from the lower central sub-district amounted to 8 per cent (13/150) in 1956-57, with the major portion (5 per cent) again to the lower Queen Charlotte Islands sub-district. Limited movement occurred to the northern and middle east coast sub-districts. The pattern of emigration from the lower central sub-district was similar to that in previous years, in spite of the fact that the main centre of the fishery shifted southwards from the Thompson Channel-Seaforth Channel region to the Kildidt Sound-Kwakshua Passage region. Of the recoveries made in the lower central sub-district, 80 per cent (138/172) were from fish tagged there, 6 per cent from fish tagged in the upper central sub-district, 7 per cent from fish tagged in the northern sub-district, 4 per cent from the middle east coast, and 2 per cent from the lower Queen Charlotte Islands sub-district. (6) The fishery in the upper central sub-district was again too small to be able to assign tag recoveries to it with any degree of certainty. About 77 per cent (10/13) of the recoveries from fish tagged in this sub-district were apparently recovered in the lower central sub-district. The remainder were recovered from the northern and lower Queen Charlotte Islands sub-districts. (7) Movement from the middle east coast population amounted to 28 per cent (58/204) in 1956-57, considerably greater than in the previous two seasons (6 per cent in 1955-56 and 4 per cent in 1954-55) but less than the average of 45 per cent for the years 1936 to 1952 (Stevenson, 1955). The majority of the emigation (25 per cent) was to the lower east coast, as compared to 5 per cent in 1955-56 and 2 per cent in 1954-55. Emigration to the lower east coast was greatest from Area 14 and least from Area 13. Of recoveries made in the middle east coast sub-district, 97 per cent (146/150) were from fish tagged there, the remaining 3 per cent coming from the northern, lower central, and lower east coast populations. (8) The apparent dispersion of lower east coast herring to other sub-districts (3 per cent) was less in 1956-57 than in 1955-56 (about 15 per cent). It was all to the middle east coast sub-district. Only 54 per cent (59/110) of the recoveries from the lower east coast sub-district were from fish tagged there, and 46 per cent were from the middle east coast. The remainder were fish tagged in the San Juan Islands. (9) No tags certain as to area of recovery were obtained from the small west coast fishery. In 1956-57 there was a substantial summer and early fall fishery with a total catch of 30,579 tons (Table I). Tags were recovered from the summer fisheries in the northern, upper east coast, middle east coast, lower east coast, and lower west coast sub-districts. Of the eight tags from the northern sub-district landings, six were from fish tagged in that sub-district and the remaining two from fish tagged in the lower central sub- district. The probable number of tags in the relatively large upper east coast fishery was seventeen—fifteen from fish tagged in the middle east coast sub-district and two from fish tagged in the lower central sub-district. The relatively small number of recoveries suggests that while the stocks contained some middle east coast and a few lower central K 52 BRITISH COLUMBIA sub-district fish, the majority most probably were from the upper east coast population, which has only been very lightly tagged in the past five years, rather than from some previously unexploited stock. The relatively small middle east coast summer fishery yielded sixty-two tags certain as to area of recovery. Of these, 74 per cent (46/62) were from the middle east coast sub-district, mainly from Area 14, and 25 per cent (15/62) from the lower east coast sub-district. Recoveries from the summer fishery in 1953-54 showed a similar distribution, with 73 per cent of the recoveries from taggings in the middle east coast sub- district and 22 per cent from the lower east coast sub-district. In the winter fisheries in the same two seasons in this sub-district, 88 and 97 per cent respectively of the recoveries were from middle east coast tagged fish and 8 and 2 per cent respectively from lower east coast tagged fish. In both the summer and winter fisheries in 1954-55, the percentages of middle east coast tagged fish were lower (47 and 60 per cent respectively) and the percentages of lower east coast tagged fish higher (44 and 15 per cent respectively). The 1954-55 results were, however, probably biased by the large number of recoveries in the summer and winter fisheries from a lower east coast tagging on the border between the two sub-districts. In the summer of 1956 there was a substantial fishery for reduction purposes in the lower east coast sub-district for the first time. This fishery yielded 196 tags certain as to area of recovery. Of these, 57 per cent were from fish tagged in the lower east coast sub-district, and 43 per cent from fish tagged in the middle east coast sub-district, a pattern of recoveries similar to that obtained in the regular winter fishery. A total of eleven tags were contained in the Area 21 catches—five, or 46 per cent, from fish tagged in the middle east coast sub-district and four, or 36 per cent, from the lower east coast sub-district. There was one recovery each from an American tagging in the San Juan Islands and from an upper west coast tagging. Because of the small number of recoveries and because of the lack of tagging in the lower west coast sub- district after the spring of 1954, these results cannot be considered reliable. In 1953-54 there was also a summer fishery in Area 21. In this fishery 46 per cent (17/37) of the recoveries were from fish tagged in the lower west coast sub-district, 43 per cent (16/37) from the lower east coast sub-district, and 8 per cent (3/37) from the middle east coast sub-district. In contrast, in the 1953-54 winter fishery 95 per cent of the recoveries were from lower west coast taggings, with only 1 per cent from the lower east coast. In the middle and lower east coast sub-districts, tag recoveries suggest that, while in the summer there may be a greater degree of intermingling with adjacent populations, the stocks are the same as those fished in the winter. In Area 21 the stocks fished in summer probably consist predominantly of fish that spawn in the lower west coast and lower east coast sub-districts. Fish from the middle east coast sub-district are also present, and in some years, at least, may form an appreciable portion of the stock. The recoveries of fish from the upper east coast, lower east coast, and lower west coast fisheries which were tagged in the middle east coast sub-district tend to confirm the hypothesis that middle east coast herring migrate seaward both northward through Johnstone Strait and southward through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, but suggest that possibly the southward route in some years may be the dominant one. However, because of the small numbers of recoveries from all summer fisheries, these conclusions on summer intermingling must be treated with caution. RECOVERY OF JUVENILE HERRING TAGS Three juvenile herring tags were recovered in 1956-57. Two were from fish tagged in Barkley Sound in 1953—one was recovered in the upper west coast sub-district, the other in either the middle or lower east coast sub-district. The third recovery, made in the lower east coast sub-district, was from fish tagged in Jervis Inlet (Area 16) in 1954. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 53 SAMPLING The objective of a sampling programme is to obtain a number of individuals from a population, the average and range of whose characteristics are representative of the entire population. Each fishing season, random samples of the herring-catch are taken at the reduction plants, and age, length, weight, sex, and degree of maturity are recorded for each of a standard number of fish from every sample. Practical difficulties preclude attaining a perfect representation of the fishable stocks, but examination of the sampling data from previous years has indicated two aspects of the programme in which improvement could be made within the scope of our present operations. Firstly, the annual goal of a sample taken from every unit (that is, a certain number of tons) of fish caught seldom has been attained except at plants in the Vancouver area, where Biological Station personnel were established throughout the fishing season. Sampling at other plants is done by plant personnel who are subject to other demands on their time and who show varying degrees of conscientiousness. Since the Vancouver plants process mainly fish from the southern stocks (District 3, Fig. 1), information on the northern stocks has not been nearly so complete and reliable as that on the southern stocks. In an attempt to overcome this bias, a field station was established in Prince Rupert during the 1956-57 season to give comparable coverage on the fish landed in that area. Plants in the Prince Rupert and Vancouver areas, which handle 65 per cent of the total catch, process appreciable amounts from all sub-districts. To increase the coverage at other plants, the numbers of samples requested were increased to 50 per cent more than the number desired, and then these samples were sub-sampled to obtain a comparable catch-sample ratio. Secondly, it has been noted in past sampling programmes that two or more samples taken from the same locality on the same day may differ appreciably in their composition. In order to increase the coverage of the catch by samples, the 1956-57 programme was set up to include double the number of samples. Because the mean and range of variation in the characters sampled are demonstrated almost equally well by the first fifty fish in a sample as by 100 fish, it was possible to double the number of samples without increasing the number of fish to be processed by reducing the size of the samples to fifty fish. AGE COMPOSITION AND YEAR-CLASS STRENGTH The age of a herring can be determined from the number of growth seasons shown on its scales. Age determinations were made for each of fifty fish in forty-five samples obtained from the summer fishery in 1956 and in 575 samples obtained during the 1956-57 winter fishing season. (In 1955-56, 288 samples of 100 fish were employed.) One sample was taken for every 680 tons of fish caught in the summer fishery and for every 250 tons caught in the regular winter fishery, as opposed to one sample for every 900 tons in the previous winter season. Percentage age composition was calculated from these data for the ten major British Columbia herring populations and for stocks on the west coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands in the regular winter fishery and for fish from various statistical areas by months for the summer fishery (Table IV). These data, along with data on the average weight of fish at each age in each population (Table VII) and the total catch taken from each population (Table I), give an estimate of the number of fish at each age taken by the summer and winter fisheries from each population (Table V). Data from Table IV show the relative contributions of the various year- classes to the stocks, while data from Table V show the relative importance of these year- classes in the catch from the various populations. Data from the winter fishery indicate that the 1954 year-class dominated in most populations and appears to be somewhat stronger than the below-average 1953 year-class. A notable exception was the northern sub-district, where the 1953 year-class, of above- K 54 BRITISH COLUMBIA average strength in that sub-district, dominated the catch. The 1955 year-class made a strong showing in the upper central and upper east coast sub-districts and may be stronger than the 1954 year-class in these populations. The strong 1951 year-class (Vl-year fish) again made appreciable contributions to the lower Queen Charlotte Islands, lower central, upper east coast, and middle east coast populations, where it had dominated in the previous year's catch. However, after four successive years of supporting the fishery in most of these populations, its numbers have been reduced to a level where it can no longer be expected to make major contributions to future fisheries. On the basis of its contributions as H-year-old fish, the 1955 year-class appears to be above average in the District 2 and upper east coast populations but below average in those farther south. Thus the general picture of recruitment in recent years along the coast is that of a very strong 1951 year-class followed by a weak 1952 year-class, a below-average 1953 year-class, an average 1954 year-class, and finally the 1955 year-class, which appears above average in the north but weak in the south. Abundance in most populations reached a high level when the strong 1951 year-class was recruited and then declined as this year-class moved through the fishery. The 1951 year-class held abundance at a fairly high level as the poor 1952 year-class moved through the fishery, and the decline was buffered somewhat as the 1953 and 1954 year-classes made somewhat stronger, although no more than average, contributions to the stocks. The apparently good 1955 year-class may hold abundance at is present level in the north, but further declines can be anticipated in the south. The year-class newly recruited as Ill-year fish continued to dominate in the lower east coast and lower and upper west coast populations, indicating no major variation in year- class strength in these regions. The middle east coast and lower central populations have reverted to this pattern with the disappearance of the 1951 year-class as an important contributor to the catch. Fish of age III (the 1954 year-class) also dominated the stocks in both areas on the west coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands, forming a somewhat larger proportion of the catch in the northerly than in the southerly area. The more usual situation in the north of extended recruitment with several year-classes dominating the catch obtained in the upper and lower east coasts of the Queen Charlotte Islands and upper central populations. These populations were made up largely of III-, IV-, and Vl-year fish, II-, III-, and Vl-year fish, and II- and Ill-year fish respectively. The poor 1952 year-class (V-year fish) in all these populations and the poor 1953 year-class (IV- year fish) in the lower east coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands and upper central populations disrupted this pattern only slightly. The 1953 year-class (IV-year fish) appears to be the only one recruited to the northern population since 1951 which was not below average, and it alone dominated the population in 1956-57. In the summer of 1956, in the lower east coast sub-district (Areas 17a, 17b, 18, and 19) the 1953 year-class as IV-year-old fish formed the greatest proportion of the population from June to August. In September and in the regular winter fishery, the 1954 year-class (age III) was the dominant contributor. In the middle east coast sub- district in September, the 1953 year-class contributed the largest number of fish, but in the regular winter fishery the 1954 year-class did. In the upper east coast sub-district in June the 1952 year-class was the largest contributor, in July and August the 1954 year- class was, and in the regular winter fishery the 1955 year-class (age II) provided the most fish. In the upper and lower central sub-districts the 1951 year-class (age VI) was dominant in September, while in the regular winter fishery the 1954 year-class was dominant in the lower central and the 1955 year-class (age II) in the upper central. In all areas the stocks providing the summer fisheries contained a smaller proportion of younger fish and a larger proportion of older fish than the equivalent winter populations. In areas where samples were available for several summer months, there is an indication of a relatively small but progressive increase in the proportion of younger fish REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 55 as the summer progresses. In late summer or early fall before the winter fishery commences, a sharp increase occurs in the proportion of fish in those age-groups where recruitment is greatest. Thus, in all populations, the proportion of Ill-year-old fish increases in this interval. The increases are less marked in the middle east coast and the northern and central British Columbia populations, where a greater proportion of the recruitment occurs at older ages and hence where fish of age III generally form a smaller proportion of the population. The differences in age composition between summer- and winter-fished stocks suggest that the new recruits do not join the fishable stocks until the time of the autumn pre- spawning migration. The summer stocks appear to consist mainly of fish recruited in previous years and are the residues of the previous season's spawning populations. AVERAGE LENGTH AND WEIGHT In six of the ten major herring populations, upper and lower east coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands, northern, upper central, upper east coast, and lower west coast fish of each age were larger, on the average, in the winter of 1956-57, than in the previous year and than the ten-year average for the seasons 1946-47 to 1955-56 (Tables VI and VII). In some of these populations, however, the H-year fish were smaller than average or than in 1955-56. In the lower central and upper west coast sub-districts the fish were smaller than average and the lower central fish were smaller than in the previous season. (No data were obtained for the upper west coast in 1955-56.) Fish taken from the other two sub-districts (lower and middle east coast) were similar in length to the previous year and to the ten-year average. Irregularities in the average length and weight patterns of fish younger than III years and older than VI years probably reflect the relatively small numbers of fish sampled from these age-groups. In animal populations there is often an inverse relationship between the relative size of the population and the growth rate of individuals comprising it—that is, the population limits the amount of food available to the individual. This situation appears to apply roughly in 1956-57 to all but the northern population. Abundance in 1956-57 was generally low except for the upper west coast, lower central, and northern populations, and average size was greater except in the upper west coast and lower central populations. However, catch, spawn deposition, and average size were all high in the northern sub- district. This anomalous situation might be related to the fact than 97 per cent of the northern catch was taken on the offshore grounds fished intensively for the first time in 1956-57. If these fish were from other than the northern stock, abundance would be low in the northern population and size would consequently be greater. However, tag returns indicated that these were the northern stocks fished prior to 1955-56. The most probable explanation, therefore, appears to be that the abundance and (or) distribution of the planktonic food-supply of this population was unusually favourable in 1956 and in excess of the population requirements. The somewhat erratic growth pattern presented by the average lengths and weights of herring from the summer fisheries may be due in part to sampling inadequacies. The number of samples from any area for any month is small and may not provide a reliable indication of the population average lengths and weights. The data (Tables VI and VII) suggest that the fish in summer are longer and heavier in all populations, except the lower central, where the summer fishery (in Area 8) may have depended on a slower-growing local population. Two possible explanations of the larger size of summer-caught herring are offered. Environmental conditions may be more suitable for growth in those localities where the summer fisheries occurred than in those where the fish caught in winter had spent the summer, or more probably, considering that the greatest differences occur among the younger fish, that the younger age-groups in the summer stocks contain a greater proportion of earlier-maturing, faster-growing fish than do the same age-groups K 56 BRITISH COLUMBIA in the winter stocks. In the lower east coast sub-district there is also some indication of a progressive increase in average length and weight during the summer until September, when the fish appear intermediate in size between those taken earlier and winter-caught fish. The different size and age composition of fish taken in September may be the result of the first incursion of the winter stocks. In other sub-districts the trend in growth during the summer is less obvious and more erratic from age-group to age-group. SEX RATIO Females continued to slightly outnumber the males in the British Columbia herring stocks (Table VIII). The high sex ratios in the lower west of the Queen Charlotte Islands and the upper west coast populations probably reflect poor sampling as only two samples were obtained from each of these populations. The generally lower sex ratios in 1956-57 presumably result from the reduced number of older fish in the stocks as females tend to live longer and thus dominate the older age-groups. The only heavily sampled population (northern) which showed an increase in sex ratio over 1955-56 was also the only one to show a significant increase in average age. EXTENT AND INTENSITY OF SPAWNING Each year, officers of the Federal Department of Fisheries measure the extent and intensity of herring-spawn depositions along the entire British Columbia coast-line. Independent and more detailed surveys are also carried out by Biological Station personnel in certain regions. In 1955 and 1956, the lower and middle east coast sub-districts were surveyed, but in 1957, only the latter sub-district and the Boundary Bay region were searched for spawn. Estimates of the extent and intensity of spawn depositions provide an index of the size of the relative spawning escapements, since natural mortality during the short period between the close of the fishery and the commencement of spawning can be considered negligible. A measure of the extent of spawn deposition also provides information on the initial size of the new year-class. The length of each individual spawning-ground was measured by pacing along the beach or by reference to detailed charts. Compensation was made for width, only when this dimension was greater than 100 yards or less than 5 yards. In these cases the reported length was converted to an equivalent length at a standard width of 30 yards. The intensity on each spawning was estimated in terms of one of five categories—very light, light, medium, heavy, or very heavy—depending on the number of eggs per unit area of vegetation. The length of each spawning at the reported intensity was converted to an equivalent length in statutory miles at a standard intensity of medium, and the results totalled for each statistical area. By summing the area totals, an estimate of the amount of spawn deposited in 1957 in each sub-district and on the coast as a whole was obtained (Table IX). A total of 131.5 miles of herring spawn at standard intensity was deposited in British Columbia coastal waters in 1957, the lowest amount ever recorded, and a reduction of 30 per cent from the 1956 level. The number of miles of spawn deposited in 1957 decreased markedly in six sub-districts, increased slightly in two sub-districts, and Substantially in One. PerCent PerCent Sub-district Reduction Increase Upper Queen Charlotte Islands (x) (*) Lower Queen Charlotte Islands 71 Northern 56 Upper central 2002 1 No change. 2 Although the per cent increase in the upper central sub-district is very large, the actual increase in miles of spawn is small; deposition in 1957 was less than a mile for the second successive year. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 57 Per Cent Per Cent Sub-district Reduction Increase Lower central 39 Upper east coast 38 Middle east coast 56 Lower east coast 6 Lower west coast 33 Upper west coast 55 In the upper Queen Charlotte Islands sub-district, spawning in Area 2ae was almost negligible for the third successive year. A small spawning of 0.11 mile was located in Seal Inlet in Area 2aw. This is one of the few reports ever received from the west coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands. In the lower Queen Charlotte Islands sub-district (Area 2be), spawning was drastically reduced. Only one spawning of any consequence (at Burnaby Narrows) was reported from this sub-district. In the northern sub-district, the above-average spawn deposition was due primarily to a record spawning in Area 3, principally in the vicinity of Port Simpson. The extent of spawn also showed an increase in Area 4 for the second successive year. In both the upper and lower central sub-districts, the amounts of spawn found were well below average for the second successive year. The absence of any spawnings in the usually productive Myers Pass-Kitasu Bay region (Area 6) for the second year in a row were primarily responsible for the low level of spawning in the upper central sub-district. In the lower central sub-district, a small increase in spawn deposition in Area 8 was more than offset by substantial reduction in Area 7. The lack of spawning along the north and south-west coast of Campbell Island (Area 7) caused the reduction in the lower central sub-district. In the upper east coast sub-district, spawning was well below the average for the last twenty years. Although spawn deposition occurred on all the usual spawning- grounds, the individual spawnings were reduced in size and intensity from 1956. A small spawning occurred at Nugent Sound (Area 11) for the first time since 1954. In the middle east coast sub-district, the extent of spawn was less than one-half of the previous year. Marked reduction in the number of spawnings in Area 14, particularly in the Comox Harbour vicinity, were primarily responsible for the decrease. While no spawn was observed in Area 15 in 1956, 3.2 miles were found there in 1957. In the lower east coast sub-district, spawn deposition increased slightly in 1957. Exceptionally heavy and extensive spawnings in Nanoose Bay in Area 17a more than offset the very reduced spawnings in Area 17b, where, following four years of progressive reduction, spawning in 1957 for the first time on record was negligible. In the lower west coast sub-district, spawning was below average. The absence of the usual spawnings in Useless Inlet (Area 23) was mainly responsible for the reduced 1957 level of spawn deposition in this sub-district. The reduction in deposition in Area 23 was partly compensated for by a small increase in the extent of deposition in Area 24. In the upper west coast sub-district, spawn deposition in 1957, while less than one- half of that of the previous year, was still about average. The decrease in spawn deposition in 1957 was due primarily to a reduction in the size of the usually large spawning at Nuchatlitz (Area 25). In 1956 this locality accounted for about 80 per cent of the total spawn deposition in this sub-district, but in 1957 it produced only about 40 per cent of the total. A small increase in deposition occurred in Area 26. In Area 27 no spawning was reported in 1956; however, in 1957 a small amount again was found. In the Boundary Bay region, 2.1 miles of spawn were located in 1957, considerably less than the 15.6 miles found in 1955, the only other year in which spawning was reported there. K 58 BRITISH COLUMBIA DISCUSSION The status of the major B.C. herring stocks will now be discussed in the light of information derived from data in the previous sections. In 1956-57, herring in British Columbia were generally less numerous than in the previous season and below the average for the past five years. The total catch was only 70 per cent of the record 1955-56 catch and 90 per cent of the average catch for 1951-52 to 1956-57. Catches in all sub-districts were below average except in the northern, lower Queen Charlotte Islands, and lower central sub-districts, where they were slightly above average. The greatest declines in catch occurred in the lower west coast and upper Queen Charlotte Islands sub-districts. Spawn deposition in 1957 was only 74 per cent of the 1956 deposition, well below average. Marked decreases in the amount of spawn deposited occurred in all sub-districts except the northern, upper and lower east coast sub-districts. In the first of these, spawn deposition increased considerably in 1957, but in the other two only slightly. In the upper Queen Charlotte Islands sub-district there was a marked decline in catch for the second successive year; no spawning was reported for the third year in succession. In 1953-54, the first year this area was fished, the catch amounted to 26,600 tons and availability was very high; in 1954-55, while the catch (21,800 tons) was almost as large as in the previous year, considerably greater effort was required to take it; in 1955-56 the catch was sharply reduced to 6,458 tons, and was accompanied by a further decline in availability; in 1956-57 the catch was again markedly reduced, amounting to only 1,276 tons, and availability also was very sharply down. In 1954, 1.4 miles of spawn were reported, but in succeeding years only insignificant amounts of spawn were found. Thus, assuming the same proportion of the population was available to the fishery each year, it appears that a sharp decline in abundance has occurred in this area in the last four years. One reason for the decline undoubtedly lies in the relative strengths of the year- classes which contributed to these fisheries. In 1953-54 the 1949 year-class as V-year- old fish contributed almost one-half the catch; its contribution was over twice as large as that made by the 1951 year-class as Ill-year fish, the 1950 class as IV-year fish, or the 1948 year-class as Vl-year fish. In 1954-55, catch was maintained at a high level by the strong entry of the 1951 year-class which, as IV-year fish, provided over one-third of the catch, and almost twice as many fish as either the 1950 year-class or the 1949 year-class, which for Vl-year-old fish made a relatively substantial contribution. The catch of the 1952 year-class as Ill-year-olds was only one-third the size of the catch provided by the 1951 year-class the previous year. In 1955-56 the 1951 year-class, as V-year fish, provided about one-third of the season's reduced catch; its contribution was about twice that provided by the 1953, 1952, or the 1950 year-classes. The contribution of the 1953 year-class as Ill-year fish was only about one-fifth of the contribution made by the 1951 year-class at the same age. In 1956-57 the 1951 year-class, now at age VI, was again the dominant contributor to the very reduced catch. The 1954 year-class as Ill-year fish made a very poor showing, contributing about one-twentieth the amount the 1951 year-class did at age III. Thus it would appear that the 1949 year-class was very strong and the 1951 year- class of above average strength. The 1952 and 1953 year-classes were weak, and the 1954 year-class very weak. Thus the good catches of 1953-54 and 1954-55 were the result of large contributions by two strong year-classes—the 1949 and the 1951. The sharply declining catches of the next two seasons, although partially sustained by the remnants of the 1951 year-class, resulted from the successive recruitment of three weak year-classes. In the lower Queen Charlotte Islands sub-district, the catch, although slightly above average, was only a little over one-third the phenomenally large catch of the preceding REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 59 season. Spawn deposition was sharply reduced. The very large catch of 1955-56 resulted from the extremely large contribution of the very strong 1951 year-class as V-year-old fish. This year-class provided almost two-thirds of the catch. In 1956-57 this year-class contributed over one-third of the catch, over two to three times as much as any of the younger year-classes. The recent decrease in abundance in this population is explained by the appearance of three relatively weak year-classes, those of 1952, 1953, and 1954. The decline in catch would have been greater had it not been for the large contribution for Vl-year-old fish of the strong 1951 year-class. As this year-class cannot be expected to make a substantial contribution as VH-year-old fish, a further sharp decline will probably occur in 1957-58. The catch in the northern sub-district reached the level of the quota for the first time in three years. Spawn deposition also showed a substantial increase in this region. The increase in abundance appears to be due to the above-average strength of the 1953 year-class (IV-year fish). The strong 1951 year-class also made a good contribution as Vl-year-olds. The increase in catch may also have been influenced by the change in fishing-grounds. In 1955-56 the fishery centred in Tuck Inlet and Morse Basin and may have been dependent more on local populations. In 1956-57, on the other hand, the fishery centred in Hecate Strait, and tag returns suggest that it was dependent on the major northern population normally fished around Porcher Island. In the upper central sub-district, while catch increased considerably over 1955-56, it still remained well below average. Spawn deposition, although slightly greater than in 1956, remained at a very low level. It would appear, therefore, that although abundance has increased slightly, it is still well below average. The increase in abundance may be traced to the strength of the 1954 year-class. This year-class may be of average strength in contrast to the two preceding year-classes, which were weak. This year-class, while probably not as strong as the 1951 year-class and definitely not as strong as the 1947 year-class, appears stronger than any of the remaining recent year-classes. The 1955 year-class, which made a strong contribution as II-year fish in 1956-57, may possibly turn out to be as strong as the 1954 year-class. In the lower central sub-district, the catch, although about average for the last five years, was only about two-thirds as large as in 1955-56. Spawn deposition showed a marked decline for the second year in succession and was about 40 per cent less than in 1956. The strong 1951 year-class, although it made a contribution above average for Vl-year fish, was too old to sustain the level of abundance. The 1952 and 1953 year-classes, V- and IV-year-old fish, were relatively weak. The 1954 year-class, as in the upper central sub-district, appears relatively strong, although probably not as strong as the 1951 year-class. The 1955 year-class made an excellent showing as Il-year-old fish, particularly in the more southern areas of the sub-district. There is the possibility, therefore, that abundance may increase in 1957—58. The catch in the upper east coast sub-district was the largest recorded for this region. A substantial summer fishery (13,584 tons) occurred in 1956 off the entrance to Queen Charlotte Strait. The regular winter fishery, however, contributed only about another 1,300 tons, well below average. Spawn deposition decreased fairly sharply from the 1955-56 level, but was probably not greatly below average. As the available evidence suggests that the summer-fished stocks were of upper east coast origin, it would appear that the level of abundance in this population was fairly high in 1956-57. The strong 1951 year-class, while it by no means dominated the summer or winter fisheries, made very strong contributions to both. The 1952 year-class appears to be stronger in this population than the 1953 year-class. The 1954 year-class made a relatively good contribution to both the summer and winter fisheries and appears to be stronger than the 1953 year-class, although probably not as strong as either the 1952 or 1951 year-classes. As the 1955 year-class shows prospects of being of average strength, abundance may remain at a reasonably high level in 1957-58. K 60 BRITISH COLUMBIA In the middle east coast sub-district, the catch, although almost double the 10,000- ton quota, was well below the 1955-56 catch, and slightly below the average catch for the past five years. Spawn deposition was only a little more than 50 per cent of the 1956 deposition. Abundance in 1956-57 declined from the high level of the past few years and now is probably not above average. The 1952 year-class appears to have been the last of a succession of three strong year-classes. The 1953 year-class was below average in strength and the 1954 year-class of probably average strength. No great increase in abundance is expected in 1957-58. In the lower east coast sub-district, while the quota was again exceeded, the catch was the smallest for the past five seasons. Spawn deposition was about average, approximately the same as in 1955-56. The suggested moderate decline in abundance has probably resulted from the below-average contribution of the relatively weak 1953 year- class as IV-year-old fish. The 1954 year-class appears to be of at least average strength. No marked change in abundance is foreseen in this population. Both catch and spawn deposition were at a low level in the lower west coast sub- district in 1956-57. The catch was the smallest ever recorded from this region. Spawn deposition, while below average, was greater than in some past years. The newly recruited 1954 year-class appeared to be weak, and the 1953 year-class, although it made at least an average contribution as Ill-year fish in 1955—56, made a poor showing as IV-year fish this past season. Little increase is looked for in 1957-58 unless the 1955 year-class is stronger than expected. In the upper west coast sub-district there was again no appreciable fishery. Spawn deposition, while less than in 1956, was still above average. Abundance would appear to be at a relatively high level in this population, but the fish have not become available to the fishermen because of late inshore movement. ACKNOWLEDGMENT Each year, through their co-operation in many ways, the fishing companies, herring fishermen, and officers of the Federal Department of Fisheries materially contribute to the success of the British Columbia herring investigation. Their contributions are gratefully acknowledged. Special thanks are due to the various members of the staff of the Biological Station, Nanaimo, B.C., whose advice and effort attend these investigations. This report continues a series published until 1956 under the auspices of the British Columbia Department of Fisheries. Following the reorganization of certain Provincial Government services, the British Columbia Department of Recreation and Conservation has kindly consented to publish this report. SUMMARY Although the 1956-57 tag returns were fewer in number and were attended by more uncertainty as to the most probable area of recovery, they confirmed once again the relative discreteness of the populations as now defined. Fish from the upper Queen Charlotte Islands population, as in 1955-56 but in contrast to 1954-55, showed the greatest tendency to wander from the sub-district of tagging. Fish from the northern population, in contrast to 1955-56 but as in 1954-55, showed a relatively high "homing" tendency. The 1956-57 returns from fish tagged in this sub-district provide some confirmation of the assumption that the 1956-57 fishery, although centred in Hecate Strait, was dependent on the main northern stock, while the 1955-56 fishery centred in Tuck Inlet and Morse Basin depended to a larger degree on local untagged stocks. In all other populations from which adequate tag returns were available, the proportion of recoveries from the area of tagging followed the average pattern. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 61 The tag recoveries from summer fisheries in 1956-57 and in two previous seasons, although relatively few in number, suggest that in most areas the same stocks are fished in summer as in winter. However, the degree of intermingling with adjacent stocks is greater in summer than in winter. The total catch in 1956-57 was 177,087 tons, the lowest since 1947-48. Of this total, 30,579 tons were taken in a summer fishery. In the summer fishery, 44 per cent of the catch came from the upper east coast sub-district, 28 per cent from the northern sub-district, and 13 per cent from the lower east coast sub-district. The remaining 15 per cent came from small fisheries in the lower west coast, upper and lower central, middle east coast, and upper Queen Charlotte Islands sub-districts. In the regular winter fishery, catches were below average in all sub-districts, except the northern, lower Queen Charlotte Islands, and lower central. The greatest declines occurred in the lower west coast and upper Queen Charlotte Islands sub-districts. Spawn deposition in 1957 was the lowest recorded, and represented a reduction of 30 per cent from the 1956 level. The greatest decreases occurred in the lower Queen Charlotte Islands, middle east coast, upper west coast, lower central, upper east coast, and lower west coast sub-districts. A substantial increase in spawn deposition occurred in the northern sub-district, and slight increases in the lower east coast and upper central sub-districts. In 1956-57, herring were relatively less abundant than in 1955-56 in the upper and lower Queen Charlotte Islands, lower central, middle and lower east coast, and upper and lower west coast sub-districts. In 1956-57 the strong 1951 year-class, although it made relatively substantial contributions for the Vl-year-old fish to the catches in some sub-districts, was too old to sustain the level of abundance in any population. In the upper and lower Queen Charlotte Islands sub-districts, the low level of abundance is associated with the weakness of the year-classes providing fish of ages III, IV, and V (the 1954, the 1953, and the 1952 year-classes respectively). In the lower central sub-district the 1952 and 1953 year- classes were relatively weak, and had the 1954 year-class not been of at least average strength, abundance would have been lower. In the middle east coast sub-district, the 1952 year-class appears to have been the last of a succession of three strong year-classes. The 1953 year-class (IV-year fish in 1956-57) was of below average strength, but the 1954 year-class (age III) may be of average strength. In the lower east coast sub-district the decrease in abundance was relatively slight and may be traced to the below-average strength of the 1953 year-class (IV-year-old fish). The 1954 year-class was probably of average strength. In the lower west coast sub-district, in common with other Southern British Columbia populations, newly recruited fish of age III formed the bulk of the population. In 1956-57 the dominant year-class (that of 1954) was very weak. The 1953 year-class (age IV) made a poor contribution, although it had appeared to be of average strength the previous season. Only in the northern sub-district did fish appear to be definitely more abundant than in 1955-56. In this sub-district the 1953 year-class (age IV) appeared to be of about average strength and the 1954 year-class (age III) of probably average strength. In the upper central sub-district, although abundance showed probably a slight increase over the 1955-56 level, it still remained well below average. In this sub-district the 1954 year-class was probably of average strength, while the two preceding year- classes were weak. In 1956-57, fish of each age were somewhat larger than in 1955-56 and larger than the average for the last ten years in the upper and lower Queen Charlotte Islands, northern, upper east coast, and lower west coast populations. In the lower central and the upper west coast sub-districts, the fish were smaller than average, and the lower central fish were smaller than in 1955-56. Fish in the lower and middle east coast sub- K 62 BRITISH COLUMBIA districts were similar in size to those of the previous year and close to the ten-year average. Females continued to outnumber males in all populations. REFERENCES Stevenson, J. C. (1955): The movement of herring in British Columbia waters as determined by tagging, with a description of tagging and tag recovery methods. Rapp. et Proc.-Verb., Cons. Explor. Mer. 140, II, pp. 33-34. Stevenson, J. C; Hourston, A. S.; Jackson, K. J.; and Outram, D. N. (1953):* Results of the west coast of Vancouver Island herring investigation, 1951-52. Rept. British Columbia Fish. Dept, 1951, pp. 57-87. Taylor, F. H. C. (1955): The status of the major herring stocks in British Columbia in 1954-55. Rept. British Columbia Fish. Dept., 1954, pp. 51-73. Taylor, F. H. C, and Outram, D. N. (1954): Results of investigation of the herring populations on the west coast and lower east coast of Vancouver Island in 1953-54. Rept. British Columbia Fish. Dept., 1953, pp. 52-82. Taylor, F. H. C; Hourston, A. S.; and Outram, D. N. (1956): The status of the major herring stocks in British Columbia in 1955-56. Rept. British Columbia Fish. Dept., 1955, pp. 51-80. Tester, A. L., and Stevenson, J. C. (1948): * Results of the west coast of Vancouver Island herring investigation, 1947-48. Rept. British Columbia Fish. Dept., 1947, pp. 41-86. ' Reprints were published in year following the date of publication of report, Table I.—Catch and Availability by Sub-district for the 1956-57 and 1955-56 Seasons Sub-district Season Catch, 1956-57 Catch, 1955-56 Average Catch, 1951-52 to 1956-571 Catch per Unit of Effort, 1956-57 Catch per Unit of Effort, 1955-56 Upper Queen Charlotte Islands— Summer2— Winter3 Winter Winter Winter Summer Winter Summer Winter Summer Winter Summer Winter Summer Winter Summer Winter Summer— Winter .... Winter Summer— Winter 344 1,276 117 25,626 512 8,478 22,983 355 5,043 792 29,323 13,584 1,312 906 17,753 4,007 39,164 2,114 2,858 541 6,458 85,609 35 15 33 19 58 52 14 38 30 45 24 14 73 13 56 19 42 44 14,033 24,987 58 Area 2aw Lower Queen Charlotte Islands— 138 28,306 8,382 27^962 5,266 11,429 22 Lower central—Areas 7 to 10 Upper east coast _. 1,869 46,391 920 29,652 98 46 20,401 47 Lower west coast _ . . 48,709 18,847 560 46,567 13,837 7,249 59 88 62 Total (tons) 30,579 146,508 250,444 196,486 - 1 Catches in 1952-53 omitted. 2 Summer fishery, June 1st to September 30th, except in lower east coast sub-district where the opening date is May 1st. 3 Winter fishery, October 1st to February 5th, in District 3 and to March 10th in District 2. Because of a delay in reaching a price agreement, the season started on December 4th in 1956-57. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 63 Table II.—Number of Tags Recovered by Plant Crews, according to Area of Tagging and Probable Sub-district of Recovery, for the 1956-57 Fishing Season SUMMER FISHERY, 1956-57 Sub-district and Area of Tagging Probable Sub-district of Recovery OS o5 Ih O 5 -; -JO Sw Lower Queen Charlotte Islands Area 2be Northern Area 4.. Area 5.. Lower Central Area 7.. Middle East Coast Area 13 Area 14.. Area 15. Lower East Coast Area 17a Area 17b . Upper West Coast Area 25 18S 16AA 18Q 18N 16X 17FF 17HH 17KK 19A 20A 19B 19C 20B 20C 20D 20E 20F 18A 19D 19E 17E 18C 19G 20H 18B 19H 19K 20J 20K 15F 17J 18E 19M San Juan Islands, U.S.A. QuilceneBay I 1952 I 1954 I | 1954 1952 1953 1953 1953 1955 1956 1955 1955 1956 1956 1956 1956 1956 1954 1955 1955 1953 1954 1955 1956 1954 1955 1955 1956 1956 1951 1953 1954 1955 1956 2 1 [ 1 I 2 1 | 24 3 I 42 .... 1 I I 9 7 4 1 13 22 4 32 38 4 10 2 1 2 2 25 2 2 2 25 51 1 2 1 1 K 64 BRITISH COLUMBIA Table II.—Number of Tags Recovered by Plant Crews, according to Area of Tagging and Probable Sub-district of Recovery, for the 1956—57 Fishing Season—Continued WINTER FISHERY, 1956-57 Probable Sub-district of Recovery to .0 S (/. 8 c/_ v. u Sub-district and Area _> on '5b C aS □ ra "ra o U C3 o 0 ra o O O U C u o of Tagging o DO C. O cn CD*. d fi t« tn CA V. CB^ ■a *- 0 60 H <** aS 33 a U u ra w [3 ra W 1 >• b2 c _= ra S rt, o a o Lj O u O i. 1. k, ^i -J -— -O 4> Tl "u w _> aj ■a V K tt »*H H T3„ _D c. S"» S ra a. ? a •a > s a t- « "a cn cd H -> Du o_= o Z S3 o 1-1 a D is o o a v5 ra C— o h Upper Queen Charlotte Islands 1 Area 2ae .. 18T 1954 4 2 6 18U 1954 13 1 8 22 18W 1954 1 1 — — .... .... - .... 2 Lower Queen Charlotte Islands | Area 2be — 16CC 1952 10 2 1 l 14 17QQ 1953 13 3 1 _.- 1 18 17RR 1953 10 1 .... 1 12 18S 1954 29 7 .... 2 — .... - 3 41 Northern Area 4 16Z 16AA 1952 1952 1 1 — .... — 1 2 1 17MM 1953 1 6 1 8 I7NN 1953 1 2 1 1 5 17PP 1953 1 1 2 18P 1954 1 1 18Q 1954 1 10 .- 1 11 18R 1954 1 24 2 — — — .... — 28 Area 5 . — 18N 1954 - 1 13 6 i - 2 23 Upper Central Area 6 14BB 15V 1950 1951 — — 1 1 — .... — — - .... 1 1 17LL 1953 4 4 18M 1954 2 — — 5 .... 1 l 9 Lower Central Area 7 15AA 15BB 1951 1951 .... — 2 4 — .... - 2 l 2 7 16U 1952 1 3 4 16W 1952 10 1 11 16X 1952 3 1 4 16Y 1952 13 1 14 17EE 1953 1 3 15 2 21 17FF 1953 23 1 24 17GG 1953 1 11 1 13 17HH 1953 4 - 1 4 1711 1953 4 4 17KK 1953 5 5 18J 1954 13 1 14 18K 1954 15 1 l 17 18L 1954 3 — .... 9 i — 1 l — 15 Area 10 15CC 1951 — — 1 .... - - - 1 Upper East Coast Area 12 17DD 1953 — 14 4 18 Middle East Coast Area 13 19A 1955 6 2 1 57 6 72 20A 1956 — — — 1 45 6 206 16 274 Area 14 14A 1950 1 ! 11 16A 1952 2 1 2 1 1 6 17B 1953 1 | .- 1 18B 1954 1 [ - 1 19B 1955 1 24 j 1 26 19C 1955 ~ — — — 1 2 .... 5 1 1 I 9 REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT. 1956 K 65 Table II.—Number of Tags Recovered by Plant Crews, according to Area of Tagging and Probable Sub-district of Recovery, for the 1956-57 Fishing Season—Continued WINTER FISHERY, 1956-57—Continued JUVENILE HERRING TAG RECOVERIES o -0 Probable Sub-district of Recovery Sub-district and Area a a es "ra "ra ra o U o 0 ra o O ra o O ra o O o o -J of Tagging OB <D cn CO vS cn w (B'j XI « 0 H &?. &?. E O <_ O ra W w N & £ c1-! rara .3 00 o I* o u o .c _> D. ^ U CD CD P. 5 E ^3 ... "ra H 0> >> DO OJ5 JO Z D o -1 a § O 0 0 z9 s<3 C- o H 20B 1956 1 1 10 12 20C 1956 20 7 113 5 145 20D 1956 ..... 1 13 1 1 53 5 72 20E 1956 1 10 6 77 4 98 20F 1956 1 13 9 1 88 6 118 14B 14C 1950 1950 - .... - 1 1 1 1 15A 1951 1 3 4 15B 1951 3 3 17A 1953 - 1 2 5 7 18A 1954 .... 12 12 12 1 17 19D 1955 2 11 2 52 3 71 19E 1955 — — 14 4 — 55 3 73 20G 1956 - 1 1 Lower East Coast 18C 19F 1954 1955 1 1 2 2 5 3 8 19G 1955 3 2 5 20H 1956 — 7 -- 23 2 [ 32 18D 19H 1954 1955 — 2 — 1 4 .... | 1 .... 1 6 19K 1955 1 1 1 20J 1956 22 11 33 20K 1956 1 — 15 27 2 | 45 Area 18 _ 15F 18E 1951 1954 .... .... 1 1 1 1 2 18F 1954 4 4 19L 1955 2 2 19M 1955 .... _.. — 2 2 Lower West Coast Area 24 16K 1952 1 .... 1 1 17T 1953 — .... 1 Upper West Coast Area 25 18H 1954 1952 1953 -- 1 1 .... .... 1 1 Area 26 16T 17AA 17BB 1953 .... .... .... .... 1 San Juan Islands, U.S.A. 1955 1956 1956 .... — .... .... 1 1 .... 1 .... 1 3 5 1 1 3 3 8 1956 1 .... | 1 Locality Unknown _. .... .... .... 2 Middle East Coast 19B 17YY 17BBB 1955 1953 1953 - — — 1 1 _.. 1 1 1 | 1 Lower West Coast Area 23 — 1 I 1 .... -- I 1 K 66 BRITISH COLUMBIA Table III.—Probable Numbers of Tags in the Catches during the 1956-57 Season, Based on Magnet Recoveries, Shown by Area of Tagging and Probable Sub-district of Recovery, with Actual Number of Tags1 in Parentheses. SUMMER FISHERY, 1956-57 Probable Sub-district of Recovery Sub-district and Area of Tagging co i a* CJ w. ui-h &S u O as co •a G c 1 <U -0 0J 1—1 &s u o PT3 a £ "3 a ID u Ih OJ o t-4 to rt 0 gw ft CQ E_ rt CA ra o CD w *tn o ra JW co rt O ■Ss* g 'ra ,-< K ra aj fo H3 q a «_ CD-- si 5(5 Zw ra o O -S n ra rar£i Su SI §3 .-• *ra o H ■o a ra ox: JO z O Lower Queen Charlotte Islands 1 (1) 1 Northern 4 (2) 2 (1) 2 (1) i (i) 3 (3) 37 (31) 6 (5) 8 (7) 6 (5) 1 (1) 4 (2) 2 (1) 5 (4) 18 (15) 115 (99) 17 (15) 30 (25) 94 (80) 6 (5) 1 (1) 2 (2) (1) 4 (2) 2 Lower Central 2 (2) 7 (6) 5 (5) 3 (3) (1) 5 Middle East Coast 7 (5) 69 (59) 8 (7) 22 (18) 84 (71) 5 (4) i (i) 4 (4) i (i) 17 (15) 1 (1) 6 (5) 2 (2) . (4) 19 (16) 132 (114) 18 Lower East Coast 4 (4) (16) 36 (30) 96 Area 18 (82) 6 Upper West Coast 1 (1) 1 (1) (5) 1 United States of America 1 (1) (1) 2 (2) WINTER FISHERY, 1956-57 Upper Queen Charlotte Islands 16 (6) 2 (1) 73 (47) 6 (4) 1 (1) 14 (8) 17 (11) 58 (34) 18 (13) 4 (3) 4 (3) 9 (6) 32 (15) 94 (61) 68 (41) 29 (21) 6 (5) 1 (1) 3 (2) 1 (1) 32 Lower Queen Charlotte Islands (15) 101 Northern 2 (2) (67) 71 1 (1) (44) 32 (23) 1 No magnet efficiency tests were carried out at the Butedale or Port Albion plants. Therefore, in calculating the probable number of tags, recoveries at these plants were omitted. Hence the actual number of recoveries in Table III will not agree in all cases with those in Table II. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 67 Table III.—Probable Numbers of Tags in the Catches during the 1956—57 Season, Based on Magnet Recoveries, Shown by Area of Tagging and Probable Sub-district of Recovery, with Actual Number of Tags1 in Parentheses—Continued. WINTER FISHERY, 1956-57—Continued Probable Sub-district of Recovery Sub-district and Area of Tagging co -a a a J <D^_ UH &s u 0 CD VI O.H PO co al U cn Clt-t OS u O _!" £ ra o-= JO a N ID U O Z "ra t-j a o O IH o J co cd o hU <_> w ft W a « PW co rt &8 2 ™ cn ra o i-O *t_ o ra JW CO rt O CD 4_> > CO ,3>S '3 i—i tn <n 01 q «CN EtJ £% ■e.2 5Q Z" co M O 0 B « TJ U ? J "rt O H T3 a rt ■h o Upper Central 1 (1) 8 (6) 2 (1) 3 (2) 10 (8) 137 (105) 1 (1) 13 (10) 149 (114) 1 (1) 16 (14) 63 (60) 97 (88) 44 (40) i (i) 13 (11) 2 (1) 4 (3) 16 Lower Central l (i) 1 (1) (12) 167 Area 10 - (129) 1 Upper East Coast Area 12 ~ 16 (14) 4 (4) 17 (15) 15 (14) 4 (4) 1 (1) 2 (2) (1) 20 Middle East Coast 1 (1) 3 (2) 3 (2) 53 (51) 62 (59) 31 (30) 9 (8) 32 (27) 10 (8) 1 (1) 310 (251) 446 (363) 157 (129) 1 (1) 37 (31) 52 (42) 13 (12) 1 (1) 1 (1) 15 (12) (18) 391 (327) 558 1 (1) (465) 206 (174) 1 Lower East Coast 2 13 (12) 45 (39) 1 (1) 15 (14) 45 (39) 1 (1) (1) 53 (2) (46) 99 Area 18 — - (83) 14 Lower West Coast Area 24 (13) 1 Upper West Coast (1) 1 United States of America 2 (2) 2 (2) 2 (2) (1) 19 (16) JUVENILE HERRING TAG RECOVERIES Middle East Coast 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 Area 23.. Lower West Coast 3 (1) (1) 3 (1) K 68 BRITISH COLUMBIA Table IV.—The Average Percentage Age Composition of Herring Sampled from Each Major Population or Sub-district during the 1956-57 Winter Fishing Season and by Months for Each Statistical Area during the 1956 Summer Fishing Season. (Comparable data for the previous four seasons are also shown together with the ten-year average for the seasons 1946-47 to 1955-56, inclusive. Dominant year-classes are given in italics.) WINTER FISHERY Population and Fishing Season In Year of Age III VI VII VIII rx-i West Coast, Queen Charlotte Islands Area 2a w- Area 2bw- -1956-57 i.. •1956-571.. Upper East Coast, Queen Charlotte Islands2 1952-533.. 1953-54 ... 1954-55 ... 1955-56 ... 1956-57— Lower East Coast, Queen Charlotte Islands* 1952-533.. 1953-54... 1954-556.. 1955-56— 1956-57 — Northern Ten-year average 1952-53 1953-54.. 1954-55 1955-56 1956-57 Upper Central Ten-year average. 1952-53—. 1953-54— 1954-55. 1955-56 1956-57 — Lower Central Ten-year average — 1952-53 1953-54. 1954-55...... _ 1955-56 1956-57 Upper East Coast Ten-year average 1952-53— 1953-54 1954-55 _ 1955-56 1956-57. Middle East Coast Ten-year average 1952-53 1953-54... 1954-55 1955-56- 1956-57 0.05 0.10 0.20 0.02 0.22 0.70 0.42 0.06 0.34 0.40 0.18 0.39 0.03 0.01 10.49 1.11 2.42 7.81 13.81 6.04 0.16 20.47 5.57 1.27 1.96 2.78 8.85 11.31 19.81 6.94 5.12 12.53 84.74 55.14 4.66 16.84 41.60 9.93 30.99 2 AS 6.02 9.39 1.22 63.41 40.60 27.18 13.77 24.71 24.94 38.24 15.39 23.42 26.27 34.34 28.35 4.90 56.30 18.39 31.04 24.74 74.47 18.82 12.72 35.11 7.46 29.89 9.14 28.13 5.52 70.41 5.74 10.20 7.64 13.76 19.61 47.97 24.13 33.88 1.14 9.31 65.87 34.37 17.15 26.10 38.03 41.18 28.59 37.71 13.08 42.31 31.71 17.63 21.27 40.90 20.49 21.39 38.24 9.82 15.71 35.80 23.58 29.37 70.78 9.77 39.96 23.47 24.39 14.11 63.43 1.26 6.76 33.37 24.04 18.00 69.83 9.96 13.11 19.34 20.45 15.20 45.23 19.45 7.57 31.17 17.00 40.98 45.88 28.68 18.74 2.44 13.22 35.10 18.07 23.85 15.88 8.82 62.25 9.71 23.18 25.72 23.80 15.32 20.84 12.88 18.01 28.49 4.93 4.08 1.14 1.88 23.59 26.69 4.39 10.86 64.77 7.04 7.22 36.36 6.61 10.10 41.16 7.75 15.18 6.30 18.82 8.25 39.14 23.76 2.44 15.34 10.66 14.81 9.92 22.26 11.76 8.62 27.60 6.77 11.03 13.33 5.02 3.28 15.85 6.01 14.06 0.94 0.87 0.15 1.06 4.29 9.70 1.32 2.65 3.46 11.56 3.09 28.41 2.32 3.36 5.40 15.41 4.25 3.16 6.77 2.01 7.78 12.43 1 9.92 1 2.18 2.33 | 0.68 | 4.18 0.29 | 5.22 1.34 | 5.94 2.94 1 2.94 | 2.89 0.70 2.35 0.39 1.93 0.38 0.98 0.08 2.54 0.58 1.04 0.15 0.62 0.19 1.31 0.28 1.11 0.24 0.68 0.21 0.05 0.82 0.19 1.42 0.48 0.13 0.33 0.38 0.03 0.63 0.07 1.12 0.45 9.09 2.27 0.45 0.08 1.58 0.54 ! 1.43 0.14 | 1 0.91 0.20 0.66 0.10 1.91 0.39 0.12 1.37 0.40 1.41 0.11 0.29 0.10 0.56 0.63 0.17 0.14 0.08 0.06 0.14 0.03 0.10 0.04 0.02 0.28 2.27 0.04 0.05 0.16 1 No catch in previous seasons. 2 No samples were obtained prior to the 1952-53 season. 3 No fishery. 4 No samples were obtained prior to the 1950-51 season. 5 No samples obtained. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 69 Table IV.—The Average Percentage Age Composition of Herring Sampled from Each Major Population or Sub-district during the 1956—57 Winter Fishing Season and by Months for Each Statistical Area during the 1956 Summer Fishing Season—Cont'd. WINTER FISHERY—Continued Population and In Year of Age Fishing Season I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX+ Lower East Coast 0.28 0.12 0.02 0.04 0.07 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.26 3.48 2.65 0.79 2.81 4.37 1.12 7.71 8.88 2.72 16.82 11.89 2.55 3.32 22.57 6.24 58.25 60.53 57.98 57.18 53.07 74.91 58.47 55.66 64.29 59.39 63.70 72.11 43.44 60.74 46.14 34.57 51.55 30.30 32.83 34.23 33.37 29.86 19.36 26.69 32.86 26.71 19.81 15.86 24.83 31.64 14.60 41.85 50.40 28.87 6.38 3.25 6.18 6.05 10.70 2.98 5.74 1.95 5.47 3.32 7.04 0.34 15.90 1.35 9.04 6.78 15.46 1.07 0.54 0.62 0.50 1.71 1.37 1.07 0.54 0.53 0.59 1.29 0.17 3.83 0.40 2.04 1.68 4.12 0.19 0.05 0.14 0.10 0.24 0.18 0.20 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.14 1.25 0.07 0.94 0.26 — 0.04 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.04 0.06 0.04 0.45 0.07 0.01 1952 53 .... 1953-54 . 0.01 1954-55 1955-56 1956-57 .. . ... 0.02 Lower West Coast 0.02 1952-53 _ 1953-54 1954-55 1955-56 0.05 1956-57 Upper West Coast 0.15 1952 53 1953 54 1954-55 1955-565 1956-57 - B No samples obtained. SUMMER FISHERY Population and Fishing Season In Year of Age III IV VI VII Upper Central Area 6—September, 1956 Lower Central Area 8—September, 1956 Upper East Coast Area 12— June, 1956 August, 1956 September, 1956 Middle East Coast Area 14— July, 1953 . August, 1953 . September, 1953.. Area 16— June, 1953 July, 1953 Area 14— July, 1954. 0.33 September, 1956. Lower East Coast Area 17a— May, 1956 . June,1956 September, 1956 Area 17b—July, 1956.. Area 18— June, 1956— July, 1956 . September, 1956— Area 19—September, 1956. _ Lower West Coast Area 21—July, 1953 3.70 20.41 0.86 0.90 3.23 18.73 6.18 0.28 13.65 14.29 13.95 43.11 44.90 21.19 14.29 23.26 19.66 14.29 29.53 30.81 2.05 2.76 26.19 ] 40.48 | 4.76 | 53.49 17.99 12.24 15.79 36.89 22.76 35.78 23.02 37.35 3.63 0.58 0.22 15.38 39.85 77.32 19.48 2.11 39.54 9.57 24.47 36.05 10.92 12.74 65.91 87.50 30.93 15.46 52.89 46.81 28.36 44.88 47.34 41.28 43.38 38.91 25.00 12.50 32.19 29.71 23.57 8.29 1.03 20.31 37.09 24.36 27.25 20.49 13.37 25.71 19.85 9.09 36.34 | 47.25 9.30 13.92 1.62 11.31 2.96 8.08 2.42 0.11 0.23 8.40 3.25 1.18 2.06 6.76 0.28 12.36 1.62 4.12 16.92 0.67 7.70 7.56 0.58 0.58 16.60 2.27 0.90 10.65 1.74 0.37 1.57 0.96 0.14 0.72 0.37 K 70 BRITISH COLUMBIA Table V.—Number of Fish of Each Age (in Millions) in the Catch from Each Population during the 1956—57 Winter Fishing Season and by Months for Each Statistical Area during the 1956 Summer Fishing Season. (Comparable data for the previous four seasons are also shown. are given in italics.) WINTER FISHERY Dominant year-classes 1 No catch in previous seasons. 2 No catch. 3 One hundred and eighty-five tons caught; no samples obtained. 4 Five hundred and fifty tons caught; no samples obtained. 5 One hundred and three tons caught; samples'inadequate. 6 Eighty-three tons caught; 45 tons by seine shown here but not in previous Reports. Population and In Year of Age Fishing Season I II HI IV V VI VII VIII IX X West Coast Queen Charlotte Islands Area 2aw—1956-571 .. 0.05 0.77 1.65 83.61 28.74 17.16 2.92 7.23 0.39 0.72 65.44 85.36 14.23 2.51 0.03 0.54 0.03 0.63 0.40 7.17 8.72 3.62 0.70 18.95 5.21 0.18 6.34 1.91 0.76 3.39 0.01 0.24 0.04 0.09 0.48 0.48 1.35 2.37 0.41 0.64 0.21 + 2.78 0.21 3.25 2.05 0.09 2.08 0.60 0.93 0.34 0.56 4.59 0.86 0.02 1.45 0.27 0.23 0.72 0.03 0.14 0.20 0.07 0.22 0.02 + 0.59 0.91 0.16 0.89 0.38 0.39 0.07 1.11 0.31 0.14 0.17 0.08 0.16 0.11 0.07 0.34 ...... ...... 1.22 Area 2bw—1956-571 4.08 Upper East Coast, Queen Charlotte Islands 1952-532 _ - ... 1953-54 _ 1954-55 0.12 7.43 16.32 9.59 0.71 107.98 37.71 16.57 1.86 32.78 30.91 6.89 2.61 2.22 307.50 208 74 1955-56. 1956-57.. Lower East Coast, Queen Charlotte Islands 1952 533 0.07 69.45 11.72 1953-54 1954-554 1.05 45.40 0.23 4.87 5.09 10.78 13.93 0.06 5.30 14.53 32.12 42.44 0.99 13.94 14.26 20.74 61.28 723 64.39 34.84 4.34 73.33 129.86 11.90 81.70 0.21 14.14 73.50 0.48 5.20 2.14 66.51 125.38 36.91 45.12 1.67 18.91 1955-56 100.91 51.94 6.87 70.77 8.98 68.57 39.05 0.21 77.14 21.81 4.82 27.02 2.66 234.14 25.86 47.11 164.24 408.15 21.53 4.73 59.42 28.11 25.38 25.48 0.24 5.11 4.73 0.43 1.45 2.17 15.85 19.85 242.67 24.76 56.52 6121 2.02 33.28 9.21 4.00 35.37 0.12 0.97 1.01 0.06 0.82 0.78 3.49 4.63 12.59 45.40 655.67 1956-57 _ _. 0.44 221.74 Northern 1952-53 — 1953-54 1954-55 1955-56 18.39 249.60 183.43 121.79 1956-57.... 199.72 Upper Central 1952-53 . 1953-54 1954-55 . ..... 1955-56..... 0.01 0.44 0.63 0.04 0.41 0.72 0.14 0.05 0.13 0.24 0.86 103.10 116.45 37 91 1956-57 76 97 Lower Central 1952-53...... _. 1953-54 8.90 1954-55... 1955-56. 1956-57 Upper East Coast 1952-535 361.76 343.42 1953-54 8.60 9.06 1.87 6.02 0.18 4.40 15.44 28.97 1.78 60.90 49.67 1.90 3.78 0.24 50.42 95.15 36.00 61.58 14.05 75.7 J 2.16 1.10 0.10 70.08 112.83 73.94 27.28 6.11 18.15 4.57 1.12 0.04 27.55 20.03 96.90 34.58 2.15 3.24 0.60 2.23 0.02 10.47 5.04 18.92 18.09 92.42 156.35 11.10 14 48 1954-55 1955-56 ... 1956-57 Middle East Coast 1952-53° + 0 58 1953-54 . 1954-55 166.36 248 70 1955-56.. 1956-57 .... 259.23 145 52 REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 71 Table V.—Number of Fish of Each Age (in Millions) in the Catch from Each Population during the 1956-57 Winter Fishing Season and by Months for Each Statistical Area during the 1956 Summer Fishing Season—Continued. WINTER FISHERY—Continued Population and In Year of Age Total Fishing Season I II HI IV V VI VII VIII IX X Lower East Coast 1952-53 1953-54 0.12 2.00 3.54 13.55 20.75 4.45 0.04 7.92 11.86 25.00 0.63 57.59 283.14 261.95 246.47 297.91 0.12 194.15 41.89 129.16 17.75 30.51 167.41 151.56 137.66 76.99 0.07 86.22 13.97 30.65 6.11 2.98 29.55 26.41 48.26 11.85 + 18.36 2.34 8.36 0.08 0.51 3.02 2.22 7.36 5.45 + 1.98 0.42 1.47 0.04 0.06 0.67 0.31 1.07 0.72 + 0.58 0.02 0.27 1.02 0.17 0.03 0.20 0.16 0.16 0.21 0.07 0.04 0.09 0.08 ...... 0.12 0.03 87.80 487.62 1954-55 456.00 1955-56 461.73 1956-57 Lower West Coast 1952-537 0.08 397.69 0.23 1953-54...... 1954-55— 1955-56... 0.27 0.02 309.81 70.52 195.01 1956-57. 24.61 Upper West Coast 1952-53- 1953-54 42.42 21.62 39.80 31.07 9.03 4.32 2.19 0.92 94.46 1954-55 3.95 62.09 1955-568 1956-57... 2.44 1.37 0.73 0.20 4.74 SUMMER FISHERY 2 No catch. 7 Twenty-three tons caught; not shown in previous Reports. 8 Five hundred and sixty tons caught; no samples obtained. Upper Central Area 6—September, 1956. 0.10 0.41 0.98 42.40 2.19 0.53 2.76 10.00 1.39 2.42 5.28 0.12 0.13 0.44 0.33 2.34 0.72 0.33 2.71 1.89 6.52 0.15 0.41 1.63 19.34 0.70 1.23 4.34 16.22 1.08 0.48 14.34 2.56 0.09 2.06 0.64 2.68 2.86 1.02 1.03 0.27 8.48 0.21 0.76 3.75 17.70 0.60 1.07 3.60 10.23 0.29 0.03 5.51 2.03 0.08 1.25 0.28 0.87 1.69 0.52 0.37 022 1.17 0.65 13.69 0.40 0.38 0.98 3.65 0.07 0.01 0.14 1.59 0.10 0.29 1.41 0.08 0.09 0.03 0.04 0.15 0.05 0.17 0.02 0.01 0.51 0.04 0.06 0.03 0.01 0.03 0.01 0.71 Lower Central Area 8—September, 1956 2.89 Upper East Coast Area 12— June, 1956 7.01 August, 1956..... September, 1956 .. ... 3.64 1.00 0.03 0.11 1.40 0.65 0.19 0.08 98.37 4.89 Middle East Coast Area 14— July, 1953 3 34 August, 1953... . ... 12.12 September, 1953 43 42 Area 16— June, 1953 July, 1953 0.01 3.49 3.12 Area 14—■ July, 1954 1.83 0.68 0.01 0.78 0.10 0.49 1.09 0.28 27.12 5 48 September, 1956 _ Lower East Coast Area 17a— May, 1956 0.01 June, 1956 September, 1956 Area 17b—July, 1956 Area 18— June, 1956. 0.04 0.01 0.40 1.35 6.50 6 58 July, 1956 September, 1956.. 4.11 Area 19—September, 1956 0.28 2.16 Lower West Coast Area 21—July, 1953 2.47 17.95 K 72 BRITISH COLUMBIA Table VI.—The Average Length in Millimetres of Herring Sampled from Each Major Population or Sub-district during the 1956-57 Winter Fishing Season and by Months for Each Statistical Area during the 1956 Summer Fishing Season. (Comparable data for the previous four seasons are also shown together with the ten-year average for the seasons 1946-47 to 1955-56, inclusive.) WINTER FISHERY 1 No catch in previous seasons. 2 No fishing. 3 No samples obtained. Population and In Year of Age Fishing Season I II III TV V VI VII VIII IX X+ West Coast Queen Charlotte Islands Area 2aw—1956-571 144.00 140.58 191.42 191.03 161.47 204.15 206.25 179.48 175.69 184.32 176.27 186.59 192.43 215.00 211.58 198.92 197.14 201.68 200.62 200.30 202.32 227.00 221.58 211.81 208.13 214.50 213.52 214.55 210.70 221.25 235.00 236.33 237.00 236.50 243.50 210.00 253.33 262.00 244.00 254.00 Area2BW—1956-571 " 230.89 223.81 216.68 228.87 223.70 226.67 216.51 228.50 232.70 Upper East Coast, Queen Charlotte Islands 109.50 1952-53 2 1953-54.. 1954-55 ... — 1955-56 . 122.00 97.00 101.41 132.53 147.28 139.06 146.59 151.03 160.50 153.83 145.24 149.41 144.30 155.58 145.40 138.00 143.43 149.50 146.96 145.76 147.11 148.05 139.36 148.11 126.59 132.66 143.07 135.39 137.22 165.58 162.59 159.54 171.13 181.05 231.09 243.67 231.54 236.00 223.10 1956-57.. . _ Lower East Coast, Queen Charlotte Islands Ten-year average . 1952-533 1953-54 : ... 178.85 197.23 204.67 228.00 224.50 226.89 217.60 217.00 238.88 229.00 230.67 237.17 215.12 241.00 1954-553 1955-56.. 186.19 189.83 173.78 182.72 177.12 181.53 176.76 179.79 172.93 192.96 165.24 162.18 161.38 177.81 170.96 185.36 158.15 161.46 180.16 171.30 160.43 154.67 159.13 135.67 168.97 181.38 177.93 174.03 176.53 181.72 180.62 197.74 204.45 190.70 200.95 200.98 193.91 190.39 198.26 188.19 208.01 182.90 179.17 170.43 196.08 187.39 200.22 184.06 180.63 196.47 182.81 179.28 179.24 165.32 162.90 189.57 197.68 199.05 196.28 190.15 198.00 200.90 203.16 211.89 202.46 210.98 215.88 205.37 200.03 208.88 203.16 215.63 198.12 193.65 200.29 207.56 201.93 210.70 195.62 194.64 205.18 193.76 198.27 215.06 215.04 208.69 215.87 223.45 218.03 211.48 216.07 204.82 223.44 214.00 188.23 235.00 217.77 208.96 219.58 203.75 201.68 212.24 206.51 213.39 224.82 207.92 207.37 207.23 221.00 224.58 224.26 215.95 217.56 214.66 221.92 223.82 211.18 222.00 232.42 222.23 217.89 230.02 210.79 228.00 1956-57 Northern 101.44 117.43 227.17 219.35 1952-53 1953-54 _ 230.00 237.50 247.00 216.73 250.00 1954-55 - 1955-56 1956-57 109.39 105.50 122.00 128.00 Upper Central 1952-53 _ 1953-54 1954-55 219.33 1955-56 1956-57 223.00 210.79 226.59 211.67 207.08 217.56 214.60 216.69 216.58 232.62 Lower Central 111.38 119.18 112.22 103.24 114.00 95.00 100.06 220.70 1952 53 1953 54 222.00 :::: 1954-55 1955-56 208.50 202.40 211.36 235.00 1956-57 Upper East Coast 252.63 192.25 _ ' 1952-533 1953 54 114.25 101.00 132.35 135.61 115.79 134.39 146.68 138.73 148.32 150.12 147.03 153.10 202.62 178.41 198.98 200.62 209.86 215.77 213.68 204.99 206.06 209.22 231.91 225.85 237.50 227.71 1954-55 | 1955 56 1 -- 1956 57 214.90 228.72 228.62 230.88 227.67 226.83 222.79 219.00 232.57 229.00 236.33 246.37 246.00 246.00 Middle East Coast 103.89 107.75 1952 53 1953 54 - -. 269.00 238.20 1954 55 1955 56 234.36 240.00 1956-57 REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 73 Table VI.—The Average Length in Millimetres of Herring Sampled from Each Major Population or Sub-district during the 1956-57 Winter Fishing Season and by Months for Each Statistical Area during the 1956 Summer Fishing Season—Continued. WINTER FISHERY—Continued Population and In Year of Age Fishing Season I II Ill rv V VI VII VIII IX X+ Lower East Coast 99.51 106.50 155.00 155.94 151.97 163.09 160.16 158.67 162.65 162.12 160.53 164.34 165.12 157.40 153.72 145.86 187.16 183.81 187.22 188.88 186.44 185.57 186.55 184.02 185.34 182.31 185.74 187.72 188.45 187.81 181.01 180.52 183.68 198.63 195.96 199.49 199.58 198.36 197.89 200.61 197.83 199.81 198.64 197.71 200.97 201.91 199.25 198.05 194.96 199.96 210.29 208.64 210.70 210.63 208.26 210.98 209.68 209.41 211.16 210.38 204.18 215.00 215.35 207.10 210.71 210.04 211.73 218.74 214.45 222.89 225.25 215.85 216.84 219.24 219.20 222.52 221.81 216.46 232.00 223.02 228.50 222.64 216.21 213.25 226.13 222.80 226.70 238.33 224.08 223.22 224.87 211.00 241.38 220.00 227.71 227.81 233.33 227.33 230.50 235.50 232.23 239.50 232.75 1952-53.. 1953-54 237.00 1954-55 1955-56. 1956-57. 99.00 107.06 97.00 90.50 140.00 236.14 Lower West Coast Ten-year average. 1952-53 278.00 1953-54-- 271.00 278.00 1954-55 1955-56 233.00 221.00 1956-57 Upper West Coast 100.60 99.50 229.51 233.00 231.83 230.75 233.91 238.57 230.75 1952-53 1953 54 1954-55 153.97 236.00 1955 563 - -- 1956-57 SUMMER FISHERY Upper Central Area 6—September, 1956 Lower Central 181.60 148.67 181.50 175.65 174.73 179.72 182.54 177.54 171.42 165.57 191.83 187.00 187.09 171.93 186.26 176.02 182.19 182.74 184.48 183.36 198.94 167.50 192.20 192.67 192.00 201.35 202.61 200.26 195.55 191.33 204.07 205.28 197.50 198.14 205.03 196.24 195.76 200.35 200.09 194.67 210.74 174.27 198.70 206.95 191.33 215.01 215.47 214.92 211.65 212.00 213.29 212.98 206.98 206.78 212.21 209.83 203.80 209.96 205.50 213.96 179.76 207.75 210.56 197.25 223.83 225.76 224.06 223.00 225.33 184.00 220.50 234.67 230.95 230.06 231.00 227.50 211.00 214.00 223.00 221.00 229.75 Upper East Coast Area 12— June, 1956 143.60 146.20 140.50 136.00 147.80 130.46 140.17 173.00 162.83 September, 1956 Middle East Coast Area 14— July, 1953 240.00 237.54 269.00 September, 1953 Area 16— June, 1953 109.00 July, 1953 Area 14— July, 1954 224.18 217.48 213.00 212.06 218.18 221.85 214.30 214.87 Lower East Coast Area 17a— May, 1956 June, 1956 229.00 September, 1956 _ Area 17b—July, 1956 Area 18— June, 1956 -. - 244.00 222.00 160.00 163.00 130.41 227.00 July, 1956 222.00 Area 19—September, 1956 .... 3 No samples obtained. K 74 BRITISH COLUMBIA Table VII.—The A verage Weight in Grams of Herring Sampled from Each Major Population or Sub-district during the 1956—57 Winter Fishing Season and by Months for Each Statistical Area during the 1956 Summer Fishing Season. (Comparable data for the previous four seasons are also shown together with the ten-year average for the seasons 1946-47 to 1955-56, inclusive.) WINTER FISHERY Population and In Year of Age Fishing Season I II III rv V VI VII VIII IX X+ West Coast Queen Charlotte Islands Area2AW—1956-571 16.50 20.00 78.50 82.51 53.03 100.85 113.25 76.54 67.00 85.52 74.38 85.58 93.82 104.00 128.67 103.12 129.00 148.64 126.24 110.89 135.16 137.12 131.36 129.84 168.00 152.20 Area 2bw—1956 571 28.00 33.39 158.00 165.78 154.36 174.33 173.46 189.44 156.48 Upper East Coast, Queen Charlotte Islands 157.50 198.00 1952-53- 1953-54 25.09 39.93 32.03 34.06 38.65 43.00 41.11 42.26 38.82 35.98 40.36 37.13 28.88 38.12 35.05 41.83 41.27 40.95 40.46 33.89 35.72 26.74 30.49 36.03 30.23 40.93 50.84 57.78 54.12 64.44 77.70 68.00 95.17 114.52 111.42 106.90 116.29 105.33 121.15 135.13 112.95 130.68 130.77 114.41 113.70 122.74 117.64 135.96 108.21 105.14 112.29 116.31 117.84 126.10 101.66 108.54 126.40 102.30 115.98 131.87 163.38 154.60 159.11 142.11 143.33 215.00 155.00 201.50 129.00 145.00 1954-55 200.00 1955-56 1956-57 _ 13.00 249.00 Lower East Coast, Queen Charlotte Islands 9.11 1953 54 93.08 150.75 147.42 143.34 121.26 143.32 145.19 138.24 140.48 136.99 122.24 153.41 138.80 97.15 155.00 132.55 131.56 146.07 115.69 124.25 141.15 125.97 146.95 154.40 134.53 127.16 139.27 152.43 161.45 166.83 144.78 141.82 150.94 170.00 166.30 168.67 135.83 1954-553 11.44 31.22 180.17 145.15 1955-56 87.54 87.00 67.33 80.31 71.76 79.53 76.33 74.37 72.28 91.93 60.22 64.10 60.03 77.07 68.35 82.37 53.09 60.02 83.16 69.00 64.42 ..... 109.14 119.22 89.69 110.76 105.91 95.62 94.38 103.36 95.35 118.41 85.68 84.16 70.57 99.06 94.23 106.57 84.18 85.31 110.31 85.34 84.03 163.11 164.36 124.96 157.22 164.32 147.00 151.78 170.56 136.60 169.00 1956-57- . .. Northern 156.50 1952-53 1953-54- 182.62 154.00 170.00 185.33 148.82 193.00 181.00 1954-55 1955-56 199.00 200.00 156.87 1956-57 . 15.19 10.50 20.50 28.00 16.15 18.00 17.44 14.06 15.50 9.00 12.68 17.50 14.00 Upper Central 1952-53 1953 54 144.15 1954-55 156.67 130.00 136.41 160.91 125.50 126.23 155.83 143.81 162.36 1955-56 . . _ 175.03 169.86 1956 57 _ - Lower Central 1952-53- . - 1953-54 131.00 1954-55 _ . .. 1955-56 . .. 122.00 118.80 157.11 180.00 1956-57 Upper East Coast 146.44 109.33 1952 533 1953-54 34.90 32.84 17.89 54.13 49.50 29.84 42.59 45.24 42.84 47.19 56.37 61.17 32.97 70.48 79.71 69.59 70.65 79.54 79.54 79.61 85.03 66.78 62.38 105.69 106.97 103.04 104.41 94.34 105.58 117.70 117.04 86.25 116.10 125.39 130.17 134.00 142.57 124.42 120.02 136.98 157.45 170.05 183.00 186.29 144.00 184.30 156.00 195.94 1955-56 1956 57 153.70 171.03 165.00 183.69 167.00 160.66 171.08 Middle East Coast 36.71 11.91 180.25 186.50 1953-54 185.00 1954-55 1955-56. - — 1956-57 177.89 210.00 174.80 186.50 1 No catch in previous season. 2 No fishing. 3 No samples obtained. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 75 Table VII.—The Average Weight in Grams of Herring Sampled from Each Major Population or Sub-district during the 1956—57 Winter Fishing Season and by Months for Each Statistical Area during the 1956 Summer Fishing Season—Continued. WINTER FISHERY—Continued Population and In Year of Age Fishing Season I II Ill IV V VI VII VIII IX X+ Lower East Coast 11.03 12.83 47.58 44.89 46.36 56.64 51.36 48.80 53.33 51.67 53.72 57.83 57.40 87.74 76.78 88.41 94.08 85.16 83.08 87.67 78.83 85.55 83.06 85.99 88.74 82.27 77.41 84.59 107.67 93.56 107.69 113.45 105.53 104.41 109.65 100.06 106.65 107.68 106.64 130.68 118.66 127.25 131.96 124.75 135.27 129.55 121.18 126.75 124.91 119.25 147.89 135.30 148.66 163.44 140.22 149.87 146.17 143.60 148.35 151.40 138.89 156.11 158.50 143.25 141.86 167.56 146.40 157.50 178.33 161.92 162.56 157.29 123.00 165.75 131.00 144.00 171.60 168.00 145.00 180.67 176.95 185.00 181.00 179.67 1952-53. 1953-54 186.00 1954-55 1955 56 173.00 167.50 171.68 1956-57 10.00 15.61 8.50 8.50 37.00 10.20 9.75 197.00 Lower West Coast 164.75 1952 53 1953-54 155.00 1954-55 1955 56 140.00 1956 574 Upper West Coast Ten-year average 1952 53 _ - . 43.52 36.23 46.44 111.98 100.25 98.51 104.91 109.93 137.25 114.70 123.85 134.67 184.14 185.80 180.00 1953 54 1954-55 174.00 1956 57 83.48 135.73 131.75 SUMMER FISHERY Upper Central Area 6—September, 1956- Lower Central Area 8—September, 1956- Upper East Coast Area 12— June, 1956.. August, 1956 September, 1956- Mlddle East Coast Area 14— July, 1953 August, 1953 September, 1953.. Area 16— June, 1953 July, 1953 Area 14— July, 1954 September, 1956 Lower East Coast Area 17a— May, 1956 June, 1956. September, 1956.. Area 17b—July, 1956 Area 18— June, 1956 July, 1956 . September, 1956.— Area 19—September, 1956 Lower West Coast Area 21—July, 1953 - 14.00 42.20 40.80 34.00 31.89 40.67 26.64 72.00 60.17 59.00 59.00 34.81 86.80 44.50 85.50 81.25 80.23 77.03 83.33 78.14 74.34 60.44 101.00 92.25 87.69 83.21 100.83 84.81 93.80 93.11 91.93 91.83 86.68 122.00 64.33 107.40 110.88 111.71 112.91 117.53 117.00 111.66 93.60 124.56 133.89 103.27 131.58 136.06 121.54 120.59 126.65 122.36 118.83 103.41 153.51 69.09 115.61 136.18 118.50 139.65 146.40 151.80 140.56 158.00 144.23 151.32 122.98 149.98 154.45 146.52 137.65 147.54 152.00 122.48 161.42 76.35 137.00 146.50 125.00 160.21 168.75 175.33 165.17 163.38 167.78 129.00 169.76 171.72 174.92 160.14 166.13 138.00 195.33 79.00 157.50 176.17 180.82 192.45 195.17 174.00 136.00 190.20 172.20 203.00 210.00 209.54 216.00 185.50 164.33 208.00 185.00 194.00 230.00 192.00 3 No samples obtained. 4 Salted—no weights taken. K 76 BRITISH COLUMBIA Table VIII.—Average Sex Ratio (Females/Males) in Populations of Herring on the British Columbia Coast during the Past Five Fishing Seasons. Population Fishing Season 1952-53 1953-54 1954-55 1955-56 1956-57 Upper west coast, Queen Charlotte Islands Lower west coast, Queen Charlotte Islands 0.88 1.13 1.37 1.00 1.02 0.84 1.06 1.24 1.05 0.484 1.12 1.02 0.96 1.07 1.01 0.81 1.07 1.08 1.05 1.12 1.15 1.16 1.12 1.24 0.92 1.07 1.15 1.18 1.00 1.04 1.23 1.15 1.10 1.15 1.04 0.93 1.00 1.91 1.01 1.07 1.09 1.03 1.02 1.08 0.92 0.98 1.97 1.04 1 Based on only thirty-four fish and so omitted from averages. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 77 Table IX.—Number of Statutory Miles of Herring Spawn, Adjusted to Medium Intensity, Deposited in British Columbia Waters and at Boundary Bay in 1957, by Area and Year. (Comparable data are also given for the preceding four years. Figures in parentheses include surveys carried out by Biological Station personnel.) Statutory Miles of Spawn of Medium Intensity 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 Upper Queen Charlotte Islands 3.2 -- 1.9 - - 0 1 Totals _ 3.2 10.2 0.9 16.1 3.3 1.9 20.2 0.5 5.4 10.5 11.3 4.3 18.8 9.7 2.6 5.8 11.9 0 1 Lower Queen Charlotte Islands 2 8 Northern 11.1 9.8 10.8 Totals _ 20.3 6.8 29.4 0.2 4.2 9.2 16.4 4.7 28.0 2.7 0.4 5.8 23.1 4.0 28.2 8.9 1.1 1.6 20.3 0.3 18.8 1.4 0.1 4.1 31.7 Upper Central 0.9 Lower Central Area 7 (Bella Bella) _ — 11.4 Area 8 (Bella Coola) Area 9 (Rivers Inlet) _ Area 10 (Smith Inlet).. 1.6 0.1 1.7 Totals _ 43.0 24.7 36.9 0.4 14.0 39.8 9.2 24.4 15.9 14.8 Upper East Coast 0.1 Area 12 (Alert Bay) - - 9.8 Totals- Middle East Coast 24.7 5.8 23.7 3.0 3.2 14.4 3.2 11.4 2.4 4.8 9.2 12.2 (13.8) 19.0 (21.0) 1.4 (1.6) 4.0 (4.0) 15.9 -■■ (5.3) 21.7 (22.6) ( ) 2.0 ( ) 9.9 2.8 (2.0) 6.1 2.8 (3.2) 1.1 (1.1) Totals _ 35.7 17.6 82.4 2.5 ...... 21.8 0.8 61.5 1.9 — 36.6 (40.4) 9.0 (9.4) 6.5 (28.8) 1.4 (5.2) 23.8 (27.9) 3.0 (4.2) 9.4 (7.7) 1.8 (9.1) (■■'■) 12.8 (12.4) Lower East Coast Area 17a (Nanaimo)- — 16.9 0.5 4.9 102.5 7.8 (13.1) 7.0 (7.8) 64.2 4.6 (11.0) 4.2 (4.5) 16.9 (43.4) 5.6 4.7 14.2 (21.0) 13.4 1.1 22.3 Lower West Coast 7.9 Area 24 (Clayoquot Sound)- _ — 1.8 Totals 14.8 (20.9) 11.4 (36.4) 4.4 (8.0) 10.8 (11.5) 8.8 (15.5) 7.1 (17.5) 3.2 (4.8) 7.2 (7.3) 10.3 6.9 8.6 2.6 14.5 53.2 0.9 9.7 Upper West Coast 22.0 1.6 0.8 Totals 26.6 (55.9) 17.5 (29.6) 18.1 (15.6) 54.1 24.4 United States of America 2.1 (2.1) Grand totals, all areas 287.8 (323.2) 206.8 (225.6) 169.3 (215.2) 177.2 (188.1) 131.5 (131.1) • K 78 BRITISH COLUMBIA REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES COMMISSION FOR 1956 The International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission was appointed under a convention ratified in 1937 between Canada and the United States for the protection, preservation, and extension of the sockeye-salmon fisheries in the Fraser River system. For nineteen years the Commission has been conducting scientific investigations of these sockeye runs in order to successfully perform its obligations under the terms of this convention. Since 1946 the Commission has been recommending, to the two national governments, fishing regulations considered necessary to the fulfilment of the convention. Such regulations must provide, in so far as is practicable, equal division of the allowable catch of Fraser River sockeye between the fishermen of the two nations. The investigations carried on by the Commission deal with practically all phases of the life-cycle of the sockeye salmon as they may affect or assist in the fulfilment of the Commission's duties. In addition, an increasing amount of time is being devoted to protection of the fishery from possible adverse effects of general water-use development resulting from population and industrial growth in the Fraser River watershed. Among the most important factors arising from the researches is the basic evidence of the intimate relations of the sockeye salmon throughout its whole life-history with its environment. Their life-cycles are on strictly hereditary time schedules which are set by the unvarying cycle of the run. Throughout their lives their reproductive functions, growth, and migrations coincide with the environmental conditions, and this precise interrelation is absolutely essential to their survival. The appreciation of this general fact of hereditary sensitivity is of practical importance in the programmes for the rehabilitation and extension of the runs of sockeye salmon, and is extremely pertinent in relation to considerations of the possible adverse effects of industrial and other water-use developments on the river system. Recommendations for regulations governing the 1956 sockeye-fishery in convention waters were adopted by the Commission on April 13th, 1956, as the orders and regulations controlling the taking of sockeye in convention waters during 1956. In the high seas convention waters, the Commission recommended that the taking of sockeye be permitted from June 28 th until August 5th by troll-fishing only, with no restrictions in hours of fishing. In Canadian convention waters it was recommended that there be ninety-six-hour weekly closed periods from June 28th to August 14th, 120-hour weekly closed periods from August 15th to September 13th, and that there be no fishing from 7 a.m., September 13th, to 7 a.m., September 19th. In United States convention waters it was recommended that there be seventy-two-hour weekly closed periods from June 28th to September 2nd. Three modifications were made to these regulations, as adopted by the respective authorities of the two governments. The first modification in the regulations was a twenty-four-hour extension of the weekly close time in Canadian convention waters commencing Friday, August 3rd, and extending to Wednesday, August 8th. This action was deemed necessary to provide escapement and to obtain division of the catch between the two countries. The second amendment to the orders and regulations affecting Canadian convention waters was issued on September 7th. This amendment closed Canadian waters to linen gill-nets of less than 8 inches extension measure and nylon gill-nets of less than 8% inches extension measure during the period commencing at 7 a.m., September 10th, and extending to 7 a.m., September 14th, in order that the run of white spring salmon might be reasonably exploited. Upon termination of the closure of Canadian convention waters from September 14th to 19th for the protection of sockeye, the statutory weekly close times of the Depart- J REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 79 ment of Fisheries were in effect until October 12th, when an additional twenty-four hours per week was imposed for the protection of chum-salmon stocks. A special closure to allow for spawning escapement of species other than sockeye was imposed by the Department of Fisheries from 8 a.m., October 29th, to 8 a.m., November 12th. All salmon net-fishing closed for the balance of the season at 8 a.m., November 15th. By August 6th the extremely heavy concentration of fishing-gear in United States convention waters made it evident that a stringent curtailment of fishing time was necessary if the Commission was to fulfil its terms of reference under the convention. Consequently the orders and regulations of April 13th were amended to add thirty-nine hours to the weekly closed time for the second week in August, making it extend from 5 a.m., August 8th, to 8 p.m., August 12th. Also at this time the weekly closed time for the period August 12th to September 2nd was increased from forty-eight hours to seventy-two hours. After September 2nd the United States fishery reverted to a forty-eight-hour weekly closed time under regulations issued by the Director of the Washington State Department of Fisheries. In recent years each annual report of the Commission has emphasized the serious effect of increasing gear efficiency and the increasing numbers of fishing units on the regulations affecting the United States fishery. It has become obvious that the changeover from linen to nylon gill-nets in 1951, the addition of the power-block to the purse- seine in 1955, and the increasing numbers of gill-nets can only result in less fishing time. Fishing efficiency in United States waters is becoming so high that the fishing period is too short for sound economic operation and stable administration. The following table effectively demonstrates the necessity of the short fishing periods and the rapid rise in the ability of the United States fishing fleet to take its share of the cyclical run:— Year United States Catch United States Gear Fishing-days per Week Percentage R.N. P.S. G.N. Escapement 1956 1952 1948 906,872 1,113,475 1,089,041 85 66 71 164 207 185 491 195 130 31 5 6 32.05 26.59 34.11 1 Although fishing in 1956 was permitted for four days a week for most of the season, fishing in one week was reduced to two days during the peak of the run. It is calculated that a three-day week in 1956 without adjustment would have provided a better-balanced escapement to all areas and the same total season catch. A detailed record of the cycle-year catches of sockeye in United States convention waters is presented in Tables I and II. In respect to the excessive gear efficiency in United States waters, it should be emphasized that the Commission is specifically restricted from controlling gear in any manner except in regard to fishing time. Partial-day fishing would be advantageous to the proper management of the fishery since it would reduce the daily catch, balance the catch more evenly throughout the fishing area, and increase the number of days during which fishing would be conducted. Partial-day fishing involves serious patrol problems since gill-net fishing would of necessity have to start or stop during the hours of darkness. Such a measure also would not be the answer to the whole problem created by increased efficiency of gear. For these reasons the Commission has been reticent to recommend partial-day fishing, but would do so if such action were acceptable to the national enforcement agencies and the industry in general. In any event either control of gear or partial- day fishing, or both, is essential to the solution of a problem which currently is being solved by the unsatisfactory three-day fishing-week. K 80 BRITISH COLUMBIA Table I.—Sockeye-catch by Gear UNITED STATES TREATY WATERS Year Purse-seines Gill-nets Reef-nets Total Units Catch Percentage Units Catch Percentage Units Catch Percentage Catch 1944 1948 1952 1956 57 185 207 164 335,172 940,415 826.304 428,562 76.97 86.35 74.21 47.26 45 130 195 491 40,620 70,991 175,064 371,729 9.33 6.52 15.72 40.99 31 71 66 85 59,651 77,685 112,107 106,581 13.70 7.13 10.07 11.75 435,443 1,089.091 1,113,475 906,872 CANADIAN TREATY WATERS Year Purse-seines Gill-nets Traps Total Units Catch Percentage Units Catch Percentage Units Catch Percentage Catch 1944. 14 41 50 1.93 10.58 24.18 1,580 1,067 1,470 1,335 974,529 663,635 966,852 678,074 98.08 88.17 83.75 75.78 4 5 5 29,297 74,545 65,417 2.92 9.90 5.67 1,003,826 752,691 1,154,383 894.8361 1948 14,511 122,114 216,388 1952 1956- 1 Includes 374 troll-caught sockeye. Note.—Gear counts represent the maximum number of units delivering on any single day. Table II.—Cyclic Landings and Packs of Sockeye United States Canada Total 1956—* Total Share Total Share 1953-56— Total Share Total Share 1949-52— Total Share Total Share landings (No. sockeye).. in fish (per cent) pack (48-lb. cases) in pack (per cent) landings (No. sockeye).. in fish (per cent) pack (48-lb. cases) in pack (per cent) landings (No. sockeye)- in fish (per cent) pack (48-lb. cases) in pack (per cent) 1956 Cyclic Packs 1957. - 1Q48 1944 1940 . 1936= ... ... — 1932- .... 1928 - 1994 .. .. _ . . 1920 1916 101. 1908 1904 906,872 50.33 84,052 49.93 8,752,177 50.10 849,007 50.19 4,527,955 50.96 429,794 51.04 Cases 84,052 114,638 90,441 37,379 59,354 59,505 81,188 61,044 69,369 62,654 84,637 184,680 170,951 123,419 894,836 49.67 84,296 50.07 8,717,722 49.90 842,575 49.81 4,357,813 49.04 412,353 48.96 Cases 84,296 115,814 61,650 88,150 93,361 184,854 65,769 29,299 39,743 48,399 32,146 123,879 74,574 72,688 1,801,708 168,348 17,469,899 1,691,582 1,885,768 842,147 Cases 168,348 230,452 152,091 125,529 152,715 244,359 146,957 90,343 109,112 111,053 116,783 308,559 245,525 196,107 1 Fourteen canneries in the United States and ten canneries in Canada received the sockeye caught in convention waters. 2 1904 to 1936 from Pacific Fisherman, 1948 Year Book Number, p. 139. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 81 The basic problem in gear regulation in Canadian convention waters has been created by the addition of Juan de Fuca Strait as an effective gill-net and purse-seine fishing area. The historic Fraser River gill-net fishery for many years has been capable of taking an estimated 98 per cent of the fish available to it when operating. In addition to this high efficiency, there has been a super-saturation of gear which allows a substantial reduction in the number of units of gear normally operating without any measurable reduction in fishing efficiency. A large fleet of gill-net boats can leave the Fraser River area for Juan de Fuca Strait without reducing the 98-per-cent fishing efficiency of the residual Fraser River fishing fleet. The catch of the gill-net fleet in Juan de Fuca Strait is now reaching substantial proportions, and when combined with the increasing catch of purse-seines in the same area, it is obvious that a substantial reduction must be made in the fishing time of both areas if adequate escapement is to be secured. The changing distribution of the catch by fishing area in Canadian convention waters is best illustrated by the following table. It should be noted that a substantial percentage of the catch in Juan de Fuca Strait was taken by traps in 1944, 1948, and 1952. The traps did not operate in 1956, hence the entire catch for that year in the latter area was taken by the rapidly expanding gill-net and purse-seine fisheries. Cycle-year 1956 __ ______ Per Cent of Catch Taken in Fraser River Area ___ 65.36 Per Cent of Catch Taken in Juan de Fuca Strait 34.64 1952 __ ____ 84.00 16.00 1948 89.50 10.50 1944 97.10 2.90 In 1956, when quality of the catch in the Fraser River area was not a factor and the expected size of the total season's run was relatively small, the Commission approved recommendations for closing the San Juan fishery as being in the best interests of proper management of the entire fishery. Although generally supported by the fishing industry, these recommendations were not approved since they were beyond the regulatory powers as specified by the Sockeye Fisheries Convention. The Commission, under the proposed Pink Salmon Protocol presented for the approval of the two governments at the end of 1956, would have the power to recommend area restrictions to fishing in the convention waters of the United States and Canada. The approval of the protocol would permit the design of a new fishing policy in Canadian waters which would eliminate the conflict between the two major fishing areas. Under the provisions of the present convention, which require uniform regulations for both Juan de Fuca Strait and the Fraser River, the increasing fishing fleet in Juan de Fuca Strait can only result eventually in a two-day fishing-week throughout the Canadian fishery. Such a fishing-week is entirely impractical both to the industry and to the management agency. A detailed record of the cycle-year catches of sockeye in the convention waters of Canada is presented in Tables I and II. The total 1956 run of sockeye to the Fraser River system, including the commercial catch, Indian catch, and the escapement, was 2,743,000 fish, representing a decline of 14.4 per cent over the run of the previous cycle in 1952. In spite of substantial increases in fishing efficiency, the fishing regulations were so designed that the total escapement of 879,000 to all spawning areas actually increased by 3.2 per cent over the escapement in 1952. The 1956 escapement is considered to be satisfactory in spite of the fact that the number of spawners were below those recorded in most areas in the previous cycle-year. The Chilko run is now the principal supporter of the cycle run, and the escapement to K 82 BRITISH COLUMBIA this area was actually estimated at 147,000 fish more than is believed to be required to produce a maximum returning run. Substantial numbers of fish were found spawning in non-productive areas, which is a positive indication over and above spawning density studies that some surplus escapement occurred. The excess escapement to Chilko which resulted from emergency closures in the fishery is direct evidence of the serious management problem involved in an increasing fishery having an increasing efficiency. Fishing time is so restricted and the open period of fishing in the several major fishing areas so effective that a minor change in fishing time for the purpose of either providing the desired escapement or equal division of the allowable share of the catch has a major effect on the catch, escapement, and division of the catch. Post-season calculations indicate that the escapement would have been better distributed if a three-day fishing-week had prevailed throughout the season instead of the permitted four-day week, with a two-day special closure during the main part of the Chilko run. Increased fishing time through the reduction of the fishing fleet, fishing efficiency, or fishing area, depending upon which method or methods are most practical, is essential to eliminating the danger of underfishing, overfishing, or unbalanced catch between the fishermen of Canada and the United States. The decline in the 1956 run as well as the decline in the 1955 run is believed to be caused by poor ocean survival. Proof that ocean survival has been below that of the previous two years may be found in the following data, obtained during certain stages in the life-history of the Chilko run:— Spawning Year Survival from Egg to Fry Survival from Fry to Migrant Adult Survival 1949 -- ... Per Cent 6.71 10.27 13.12 6.04 Per Cent 56.65 52.02 Per Cent 19 001 1950 14 001 1951 5.50 1952 . .. 7.52 1 Estimated. Rehabilitation of barren streams continued to play an important part in the Commission's activities. Investigation continued of the possible use of artificial spawning- grounds adjacent to suitable lake rearing areas lacking in natural spawning-grounds. Results of the 1955 experiment at Horsefly Lake indicated survival from eggs to fry of 40 to 71 per cent, for various conditions of egg deposition, gravel type, and flow of water. A total of 264,000 fry were released to Horsefly Lake in the spring of 1956. The migration of these fish from the lake will be checked in the spring of 1957. In the fall of 1956 the artificial spawning-ground was modified slightly to give better control of the flow of water, and 247 adult sockeye and 1,098,000 green fertilized eggs were introduced to provide a measure of survival for heavy seeding conditions. Transplantations of eyed eggs were again made to the Upper Adams River. Such transplants have now been made in three out of four cycle-years. Transplants were also made to the Barriere River, in which obstructing dams have now been removed, and in a tributary of Nadina Lake, which does not at present have a sockeye run. The protection of the Fraser River sockeye and the river which forms their freshwater environment becomes increasingly a more complex problem each year and requires the careful attention of the Commission's staff. The Department of Fisheries is vested with the legal authority to obtain fish protection in the case of water-use development, and the Commission acts as technical advisers to the Department in dealing with those projects affecting sockeye in the Fraser River system. During 1956 much interest was directed by public and private power companies to the possibility of development of REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 83 hydro-electric power on the Fraser River and its tributaries. The British Columbia Electric Company made a grant of $50,000 to the University of British Columbia for a survey of existing knowledge and research on salmon-fishery problems related to hydroelectric power developments on the Fraser River. The Moran Power Development Limited made a proposal for the construction of a 720-foot dam on the Fraser River at Moran. This structure would affect from 40 to 60 per cent of the production of Fraser River sockeye, and the proposal has required the careful and continuing attention of the Commission. The British Columbia Power Commission proposed the development of power based on the diversion of water from the Chilko and Taseko Lakes. This proposal was a modified version of the original plans prepared by the Water Rights Branch, which it was hoped would satisfy fishery requirements for the preservation of the Chilko sockeye run. The Commission, after careful consideration, reaffirmed the conclusions previously reached in the Interim Report on the Chilko River Watershed, in which it was opposed to any alteration to the natural inflow of Chilko Lake. Negotiations are continuing with the Power Commission with the object of determining a mutually acceptable method of power development based on a diversion from Taseko Lake. Research continued on methods for guiding down-stream migrant sockeye away from hazardous paths at large hydro-electric dams. This research has been under way since 1953, and although small-scale experiments have given promising results, the same principles applied to full-scale tests have been entirely without success. Research also continued on the characteristics of sockeye-spawning nests and the hydraulics of flow of water through these nests. This work is directed toward understanding the causes of the low natural survival in nests as compared with survival in hatcheries or artificial spawning-grounds, and determining if corrective measures are possible. Prevention of pollution in the Fraser River and its estuarial waters presented an ever-increasing problem. During 1956, discussions were held with ten new industries regarding pollution- prevention measures, and eleven applications for disposal of raw or settled domestic sewage were reviewed. Following the discovery of a high water block to the early Stuart sockeye run in 1955 at a rapids near Yale, a survey was made of the block-site in the spring of 1956, and remedial measures were planned for completion by the spring of 1957 in order to prevent a recurrence of the blockade during the dominant-cycle early Stuart run in 1957. It is estimated that the blockade in 1955 will result in a loss of over $400,000 to the industry before the affected run can be rehabilitated. The Commission held six meetings during the year, at Seattle, Wash.; Vancouver, B.C.; Bellingham, Wash.; and New Westminster, B.C. Senator Thomas Reid, H. R. MacMillan, and A. J. Whitmore, Chief Supervisor of Fisheries, Pacific Area, represented Canada on the Commission. The Chairman for 1956-57 was Robert J. Schoettler, Director of the Washington State Department of Fisheries. Other United States Commissioners were Elton B. Jones and Arnie J. Suomela. K 84 BRITISH COLUMBIA INTERNATIONAL PACIFIC HALIBUT COMMISSION, 1956 During the year the Commission completed its twenty-fifth year of regulation of the halibut-fishery and carried forward the broad programme of statistical and biological research required by the Halibut Convention of 1953. The members of the Commission from Canada in 1956 were S. V. Ozere, Ottawa (elected Vice-Chairman); Harold S. Helland, Prince Rupert; and Richard Nelson, Vancouver. The United States members were Seton H. Thompson, Washington, D.C. (elected Chairman); Mattias Madsen, Seattle, Wash.; and J. W. Mendenhall, recently of Ketchikan, Alaska. The annual meeting of the Commission was held at the Commission's research headquarters in Seattle, Wash., from January 20th to 26th, inclusive. The results of investigations and regulations in 1955 were reviewed in conferences with representatives of halibut-fishermen's, vessel-owners', and wholesale dealers' organizations, and industry proposals regarding regulation in 1956 were discussed. Thereafter, the Commission approved a research programme and adopted regulations for the ensuing fishing season. The regulations adopted for 1956 and recommended to the two governments were not materially different from those of 1955. Abnormal fishing conditions during the 1955 season had obscured the effectiveness of the multiple seasons inaugurated in 1954. Consequently the Commission decided against any change in the regulations which would significantly alter either the amount or the disposition of fishing during 1956. The halibut regulations were approved by the Governor-General of Canada in Council on April 12th and by the President of the United States on April 18th, and became effective on the latter date. The five regulatory areas of 1955 were continued in 1956, as follows: Area 1a, the waters off the Northern California and Southern Oregon coasts, south of Heceta Head, Oregon; Area 1b, the waters off the Oregon and Washington coasts between Heceta Head and Willapa Bay, Washington; Area 2, the waters between Willapa Bay and Cape Spencer, Alaska; Area 3a, the waters between Cape Spencer and Kupreanof Point near the Shumagin Islands; Area 3b, all convention waters west of Area 3a, including those of the Bering Sea. Catch-limits of 26,500,000 pounds for the first season in Area 2 and of 28,000,000 pounds for the first season in Area 3a were continued in the regulations. Control of fishing in other areas and for other seasons, in which the total catch of halibut is comparatively small, was again accomplished by limiting the lengths of the fishing seasons. Closed nursery areas, minimum size-limits, prohibition of the use of nets for the capture of halibut, and provision for the landing of a limited amount of halibut caught incidentally by set-line vessels in areas closed to halibut-fishing were also continued without significant change. All areas were opened to halibut-fishing on May 12th. Area 1a was closed on October 23rd. The first season in Areas 1b and 2 closed on June 27th, and the first season in Areas'3a and 3b closed on August 24th, at which dates it was deemed that the catch-limits set for Areas 2 and 3a respectively would be attained. Second seasons of seven days in Areas 1b and 2 and of nine days in Areas 3a and 3b commenced on September 9th. A third season of twenty-three days in Area 3b commenced on September 30th and terminated on October 23rd. The catch landed from Areas 1a and 1b combined was approximately 600,000 pounds, somewhat below the total for 1955. The total catch from Area 2 in 1956 was 35,200,000 pounds, approximately 6,500,000 pounds more than in 1955. The catch during the first season amounted to 26,800,000 pounds, approximately the catch-limit set in the regulations. The first season lasted thirty-eight days, two weeks longer than in 1955, due primarily to an eight-day REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 85 voluntary delay in the start of fishing and a voluntary seven-day lay-in between trips on the part of the Canadian and United States fleets. The catch in Area 2 during the seven-day second season, commencing on September 9th, amounted to 7,400,000 pounds, compared to 9,400,000 and 5,300,000 pounds during the second seasons in 1954 and 1955 respectively. Landings of halibut caught incidentally to fishing for other species under permit in Area 2 after the area was closed to halibut-fishing amounted to 756,000 pounds. The amount was below the levels of 1954 and 1955. Permit fishing in September, normally a very active period of black-cod fishing, was reduced in 1956 by the occurrence of the second halibut-fishing season in that month. The combined total catch from Areas 3a and 3b amounted to 31,600,000 pounds, compared to 29,700,000 pounds in 1955 and 33,800,000 pounds in 1954. The catch in Area 3a during the first season, which lasted ninety-six days, was approximately 29,300,000 pounds, about 1,300,000 pounds over the 28,000,000-pound catch-limit provided in the regulations for that season. The first season was prolonged by almost continuously bad weather, the voluntary delay in commencing fishing, and the voluntary between-trip lay-in programme adopted by the fleets. During the second season of nine days in Area 3a, a catch of 1,500,000 pounds was taken. This was about the same as during the second season in 1955 but considerably below the 3,400,000 pounds taken in 1954. In Area 3b during the first and second seasons, only about 479,000 pounds were taken, including 294,000 pounds of dead fish retained by the Commission's tagging-vessel. The fleet largely remained to the eastward of the area as in 1954 and 1955. During the third fishing season in Area 3b, commencing on September 30th and lasting twenty-three days, the catch amounted to 264,000 pounds, compared to 934,000 pounds in 1955 and 611,000 pounds in 1954 when the third season occurred in September. The decline in 1956 resulted from the prolongation of the first season in Area 3a, which had the effect of delaying the third season in Area 3 b until October, an unattractive fishing month due to weather conditions. Part of Area 3b catch was taken in Bering Sea. United States and Canadian landings from all areas amounted to 67,400,000 pounds in 1956, compared to 59,100,000 pounds in 1955 and to 71,200,000 pounds in 1954. The lower amount in 1955 resulted chiefly from a 6,000,000-pound reduction in yield from the second fishing seasons in Areas 2 and 3a and deficits in the first-season catch- limit landings taken in the two areas. The higher catch in 1954 was due chiefly to the fact than 1954 was the first year of multiple seasons, and that the second fishing season was conducted to a considerable degree upon accumulated stocks which had been subjected to relatively little fishing for a number of years. The availability of halibut, as indicated by the catch in pounds per unit of fishing effort, was higher in each major section of Areas 2 and 3a than during 1955, in which prolonged bad weather interfered with effective fishing. During the second seasons the catch per unit effort was higher in Area 2 and lower in Area 3a than in their first seasons. Due to poor weather conditions and the lateness of the fishing season in Area 3b, the catch per unit of effort was not comparable to that of 1955. A few individual grounds in Area 2, such as Cape Scott and Goose Island, which are very important to the Vancouver and Seattle fleets, failed to show any recovery from the low level of 1955. In the important section of Area 3a between Cape St. Elias and the Trinity Islands there was a decline in the second season from 1955 to 1956. The trends on the former grounds and in the latter region suggested strongly that the heavy removals from them since 1953 had reached, if not exceeded, the current productive capacity of their stocks. Size-composition studies showed that, despite the increased entry of young noted in Area 2 in 1955, the numbers of chicken halibut (5 to 10 pounds) declined and the K 86 BRITISH COLUMBIA numbers of large (over 60 pounds) increased in the very important section of Area 2 between Goose Island and northern Hecate Strait. Similar changes were observed in the Portlock-Albatross section of Area 3a. The age composition of landings from the Goose Island section of Area 2 showed that the 6- and 7-year-olds which entered the fishery strongly in 1955 were dominant in numbers in 1956. However, the older age-classes, and particularly those over 12 years of age, were dominant in weight and largely maintained the catch. In Area 3a the strong 1944 brood was still dominant, and the catch in that area continued to depend mainly on 11- to 16-year-olds. Eight- and ten-year-olds made a strong entry into the fishery. Individuals of the 8-year group were more abundant than in any of the preceding thirteen years. In Area 3b, on the Shumagin and Makushin Bay grounds, the same strong year- classes were present as on grounds to the eastward in Area 3a. An interesting catch was made by the Commission's tagging-vessel on a spot on the Bering Sea edge in 1956. It showed the same strong age-classes as were found south of the Alaska Peninsula. It also contained numerous older fish, some up to 31 years of age, whose average weight at each age was well below that found elsewere in Area 3b. The composition of the catch suggested that the spot might contain a semi-isolated segment of stock, such as has been discovered from time to time elsewhere on the coast during the past history of the fishery. Studies of growth, begun in 1955, were intensified. Preliminary results showed that profound changes had occurred in growth from early to recent years on various grounds, and particularly in Areas 3a and 3b. These seemed to be associated with changes in the density of the halibut stocks. Additional tagging experiments were begun in 1956 to further the study of the effects of the multiple seasons on availability and utilization. Tagging was done in Area 3 b during the spring and summer and on the spawning-grounds in Area 3 a during the winter. The halibut vessel "Polaris" was chartered and operated from mid-April to mid- September in Area 3b. Seven trips were made near the Shumagin Islands, Unalaska Island, and in Bering Sea. A total of 4,674 fish, weighing approximately 194,000 pounds, were tagged. Three experiments were begun near the Shumagin Islands, two on the Bering Sea side of Unalaska Island, and two on the "edge" between Unimak Pass and the Pribilof Islands. The experiments in each location were separated by sufficient time to permit the use of tag recoveries in subsequent years for study of seasonal differences in availability. Fishing was conducted as far north as Cape Newenham and the Pribilof Islands during the tagging operations and indicated a virtual absence of halibut in that section of Bering Sea. Halibut were found in reasonable abundance along the north side of Unalaska Island and in considerable abundance on the previously mentioned spot upon the "edge" north-west of Umnak Pass. A large number were tagged in two experiments in the latter location and should help to explain the peculiar character of the fish encountered there. The halibut vessel " Pacific " was operated for six weeks in November and December on the Yakutat and " W " spawning-grounds. Halibut were difficult to locate, and only 588 fish, weighing 23,000 pounds, were tagged. The operations of the " Pacific " were so hampered by bad weather that there was doubt as to whether the fish had been late in reaching the spawning-grounds or the abundance of spawners had been below that of earlier years. To resolve these questions, arrangements were made for resumption of the " Pacific " charter for an additional trip in January, 1957. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 87 Tag recoveries in 1956 totalled 1,573, compared with 783 and 1,584 in 1955 and 1954 respectively. New experiments on Goose Island in 1955 accounted for more than one-third of the year's recoveries, which was expected in view of the large size of the experiments and the high intensity of the fishery upon the Goose Island grounds. Recoveries from 1955 experiments on the Masset and Timbered Islet nursery grounds were very low. In this they agreed with first-year returns from the 1947 Masset experiment. The migration of halibut from the nursery areas is a gradual process. The apparent utilization of the halibut on different sections of the coast appeared to vary greatly from one ground to another. The rate of utilization indicated by tag recoveries was relatively high for most of Area 2 and as far north as the Yakutat grounds in Area 3a, but became progressively lower on the grounds farther to the westward. Tag returns suggested that the stock on the far-western grounds was not being fully utilized, but were contradicted by the results of statistical and age-composition studies. Decision in this matter must be deferred until the causes of the different results obtained by the different methods are ascertained. Studies of the early bottom life of the halibut, begun in 1955 to increase knowledge of the factors that determine recruitment of young into the commercial stock, were continued in 1956. The University of Washington's research vessel "Commando" was chartered for two months in two periods between June and September and operated between the north end of Vancouver Island and Sitka Sound in Southern Alaska. As in 1955, these investigations consisted chiefly of exploratory fishing with various types of experimental gear. They were directed primarily toward increasing knowledge of the habitat of the young halibut and learning how to capture them. Fishing was conducted from the surf-line to depths as great as 70 fathoms. A total of eighty-six halibut in the 0 to 3-year-old age-classes, ranging from 3 to 23 inches in length, were caught. Though no concentrations of small fish were located, much was learned regarding methods of sampling, both as to gear and locality. Results showed that considerably more exploratory work must be done before standardized quantitative sampling techniques can be applied. A summary report upon the regulation of the fishery and upon the investigations in 1955 was published and distributed. K 88 BRITISH COLUMBIA SALMON-SPAWNING REPORT, BRITISH COLUMBIA, 1956 GENERAL Foreword.—Developments or trends of special interest associated with the 1956 salmon migration and spawning escapement include:— 1. No outstanding runs were looked for in 1956. With the exception of chums, the returns, as reflected in catches and spawning-ground escapements, indicated the occurrence of the several species at levels comparable to brood-years with normal variations as applied to the various areas and species. 2. Special regulatory measures designed to increase salmon escapements for reproduction were applied in Skeena, Butedale, and Bella Coola areas. These were fully justified in the light of developments and results achieved. 3. After a series of low-production years, the Nass area experienced excellent runs of all species of salmon. 4. There was a good run of sockeye to Rivers Inlet and Smith Inlet, providing a commercial catch of slightly less than 1,500,000 fish as well as satisfactory supplies for spawning-ground needs. 5. While the catch of pinks amounted to some 7,352,000 fish and was below general annual average, it was approximately 2,000,000 fish greater than the catch in the brood-year 1954. It is noteworthy that individual size of the fish generally was small, almost 1 pound less than normal. 6. For the second consecutive year, the outstanding feature was the serious decline in the chum run to most sections of the coast. A lengthy fishermen's strike during September and October in 1952 helped to provide brood stocks, the progeny of which would make up the runs in 1956. Although the runs in a few areas were larger than that of 1955, generally they were only about one-half of normal. Despite immediate application of added fishing restrictions designed to augment escapements for reproduction purposes, the seeding of the spawning-grounds, with few exceptions, can only be classed as light. As this year's failure follows that of the 1955 coastwise pattern, it can again only be assumed, with present information, it resulted from very unfavourable survival conditions either in fresh water or later during the longer period of existence in the ocean. 7. The chum failure in the Queen Charlotte Islands area was pronounced, and is the fourth consecutive season of poor chum runs, calling for immediate application of extraordinary measures for the rehabilitation of the once prolific chum-streams of this area. Pink returns to this area were also disappointingly light and will also require special conservation attention. 8. Despite special protective measures, chums destined for the Fraser were seriously reduced in numbers during passage through Johnstone Strait and Discovery Passage by the highly efficient and mobile seine and gill-net fleets there. Other important chum reproduction areas, in common with the Fraser, also suffered from the effectiveness of this fishing operation. These included generally the streams along the east coast of Vancouver Island below Seymour Narrows as far south as Chemainus River as well as on the Mainland streams opposite, including Jervis Inlet and Howe Sound. Further measures to provide for an adequate progressive escapement through this fishery are imperative immediately. 9. Two further aids to salmon-spawning migration were brought into operation during the year. Concrete and steel fishways were completed at Naden River, flowing into Naden Harbour on the north coast of Graham Island, in time to enable pink and REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 89 chum salmon to migrate to spawning-grounds not previously reached above the falls, and also facilitated passage of sockeye and cohoe. Two similar fishways were completed at Indian River on Princess Royal Island, where previously serious losses of spawning salmon, particularly pinks and chums, had occurred at unfavourable low-water stages. 10. The problem of securing adequate escapements for perpetuating our salmon runs was accentuated by the greater catching efficiency of the net-fishing fleet; coupled with this was the high mobility of the fleet for day-to-day concentration on high points of developing runs. Sockeye.—While the over-all return of sockeye to the Fraser system was slightly less than in the cycle-year, the escapement to the various spawning-grounds is considered satisfactory. The Chilko spawning was heavy and equal to the brood-year. In the northern area all the principal sockeye areas received satisfactory supplies— that is, Nass, Bella Coola, Rivers Inlet, and Smith Inlet. The Skeena, still in process of recovering from the Babine slide losses, experienced a run of unexpected proportions below normal but much larger than in 1955. On Vancouver Island the Nimpkish system was well stocked. The escapement to the Somass River in Alberni Inlet was light, amounting to about half of the cycle-year. Springs.—Stocks of this species throughout the Province were fairly well maintained. In District 2 the escapement to the Nass and Skeena Rivers was above average, and in Bella Coola a heavy escapement, one of the best ever observed, reached the spawning- grounds. Supplies in Rivers Inlet were better than average. Along the east coast of Vancouver Island and the adjacent Mainland, stocks were moderate except in the Campbell River and Salmon River, where they were only 40 per cent of the brood-year levels, and in the Puntledge River, where stocks were light. There was a good run, the best in the past three years, to the Somass River. In the Fraser River system the run was below brood-year levels in the Prince George, Yale-Nicola, and Mission-Harrison areas, but comparable to the cycle-year in the Quesnel-Chilko, Kamloops, and Chilliwack-Hope sub-districts. Cohoe.—The escapement of this species in District 2 was generally good and well above parent-year abundance in all sections, with the exception of the streams in the Queen Charlotte Islands and Rivers Inlet and Smith Inlet areas, where spawning was fight. In the streams of the east coast area of District 3, supplies were above average in the Alert Bay area, satisfactory in the Quathiaski and Pender Harbour districts, only fair in the Comox and Cowichan areas, and light in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith sub-district. Also the west coast of Vancouver Island streams in the Kyuquot and Clayoquot areas, as well as the Somass River, were well stocked; elsewhere spawning was generally light. Other than the Chilliwack and Nicola Rivers, which were moderately seeded, all spawning areas tributary to the Fraser system were lightly stocked. Pinks.—With the exception of the Queen Charlotte Islands and the Skeena River, where seedings were light, the escapement of pinks to all sections of District 2 was generally quite satisfactory, particularly so in the Namu-Bella Coola, Bella Bella, and Nass areas, and the northern portion of the Butedale area. In District 3, supplies to the Alert Bay sub-district and Quathiaski sub-district were satisfactory. Spawning in the Comox area was much lighter than in 1954. Supplies to Koprino River were fairly good, about equal to those of the cycle-year. This was the off-year for pinks in the Fraser system. Chums.—For a second consecutive year, with few exceptions, the escapement of chums was again one of the lightest on record. Runs to the Queen Charlotte Islands were generally light and below those of 1952. There was a medium seeding in the Nass, but stocks were below parent-year levels. Grenville-Principe area had light supplies, comparable with those of the cycle-year. K 90 BRITISH COLUMBIA The run to Butedale sub-district was light, especially in the case of the early run. In Namu, Bella Bella, and Bella Coola areas the runs were light and below those of 1952. Stocks on the spawning-grounds in Rivers Inlet were medium-heavy and better than in the parent year, while in Smith Inlet supplies were also medium-heavy, similar to those of 1952. In District 3, supplies were light, and only in Alert Bay and Quatsino sub-districts were they comparable to those of the parent year. Quathiaski, Comox, and Cowichan areas had poor runs, while stocks in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith area were very light. The escapement to Sarita and Nitinat Rivers was good, but throughout the remainder of the Barkley Sound and Nitinat areas was generally light. Other west coast sub-districts had light escapements. In the Fraser system the escapement was extremely poor. In Lower Mainland streams the escapement was about 10 per cent of normal requirements. Early runs were a failure in the Mission-Harrison area and late runs were light, being satisfactory only in the Chehalis sloughs. Stocks in the Chilliwack-Hope area were poor and far below 1952 levels. The run to Squamish was extremely light, and supplies to Indian River in the North Vancouver area totalled only 2,000, compared with a spawning of well over 20,000 in the parent year. A flash flood in the Lower Mainland streams during the first week of December caused heavy damage to chum spawning-grounds. IN DETAIL Masset Inlet and North Coast of Graham Island Area Generally the usual small run of sockeye was somewhat heavier than in the past, but the escapement to Yakoun River was lighter than for several seasons. A medium seeding of spring salmon occurred in the Yakoun River system. The run of cohoe was light to Masset Inlet streams, while in Naden River supplies were light to medium. Throughout the remainder of the area, numbers on the spawning-grounds were light. This was an on-year for pinks in Masset Inlet and Naden Harbour. The four main pink-streams on the west shore of Masset Inlet had light spawnings. In Juskatla Inlet the stocks were the heaviest for some years. Supplies to the Yakoun were moderate. Stocks in Naden River were medium, while in the outside streams flowing into Dixon Entrance seedings were light. The lightest escapement of chums ever observed occurred in Masset Inlet streams this year, with runs to the two main producers, the Awun and Ain, being very light. The escapement to Naden River was light to medium. Skidegate Inlet and West Coast of Graham-Moresby Islands Area Sockeye-supplies to Copper River and Skidegate Lake were the best in several years. Stocks of cohoe in Tlell River were heavy. Returns to Copper River and Skidegate Inlet streams were moderate, while streams on the west coast of Graham and Moresby Islands were lightly seeded. The expected returns from the heavy seeding of pinks in 1954 did not materialize in volume. Spawning in Copper and Tlell Rivers was heavy. Deena River received an adequate seeding, as did Kaisun River and the Security Inlet streams. Stocks in all other streams in the area were generally light. The chum escapement was disappointing and well below parent-year levels. Deena, Slatechuck, and Long Arm Rivers received adequate seedings, while the remaining Skidegate Inlet streams were lightly stocked. Streams on the west coast of Graham and Moresby Islands had very light spawnings, with the exception of Athlow Creek, where supplies were moderate. East Coast of Moresby Island and South Queen Charlotte Islands Area Cohoe-supplies were light in all streams in the area. The pink-seeding was generally light to very light, reflecting the poor seeding of 1954. The over-all spawning of chums REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 91 was light. Stocks in the George Bay streams were heavy, while Sedgwick Bay, Skaat Harbour, Harriet Harbour, and Huston Inlet streams were moderately supplied. All other streams in the sub-district were lightly seeded. Nass Area In general there was a moderately good escapement of sockeye to the entire Nass system. The Meziadin system, the main producer, was adequately seeded. Gingit River had a medium escapement, only slightly less than that of the cycle-year. The Damdochax system was also moderately supplied. The main spring-salmon spawning-grounds were adequately seeded. Supplies to the Meziadin were somewhat above average. Escapement to the Damdochax was moderate to heavy. A light to moderate escapement of cohoe, slightly better than that of the brood-year, 1953, occurred throughout the area. Generally there was a medium to heavy escapement of pinks. Dogfish, Toon, and Ensheshese Rivers were heavily supplied. Better than average stocks were also present in the Nass system. The chum escapement was adequate but slightly below 1952 levels. Skeena and Babine-Morice Area The below-normal run of sockeye to the Skeena River anticipated from the light seedings of 1951 and 1952 in the Babine system, the principal producer of this species, resulting from the block in the Babine River caused by the large rock-slide, developed in larger proportions than expected. Nine Mile, Morrison, and Anderson Creeks were heavily seeded. Stocks in Fulton River, Twin Creek, Grizzly Creek, and Tahlo Creek were moderately good. The total numbers of salmon passing through the counting-fence of the Fisheries Research Board located in Babine River just below the outlet of Babine Lake for 1956 were: Sockeye, 373,509; springs, 4,345; cohoe, 9,250; pinks, 2,691; and chums, 3. Spring-salmon supplies were near average in numbers but the percentage of jacks was large. The cohoe run was good, with only a few jacks present. The pink run was light, smaller than in the cycle-year. Numbers of sockeye in the Bear Lake area were light and less than those of the parent year. The spring-salmon run to Bear River was estimated at 15,000 to 20,000 fish, an improvement over the cycle-year. Good numbers of cohoe spawned in the Bear River. No pinks were observed in this system in 1956. The sockeye escapement to Nanika River was light, with stocks estimated at 5,000 to 7,000 spawners. Small runs were also present in other spawning areas of the Bulkley and Morice systems. The run of spring salmon to Morice River was average, estimated at apparently 10,000. Escapement of this species to the Upper Bulkley River was light. Average stocks of cohoe were noted in the Bulkley River and Morice Lake areas, all grounds being moderately seeded. Cohoe experienced some difficulty in surmounting beaver dams in the Upper Bulkley. A few pinks spawned in the Bulkley River below Moricetown Canyon, but none were observed above that point. Skeena-Lakelse Area The Kispiox and Allistair Lake systems were very well seeded with sockeye. Escapement to the Lakelse Lake grounds was very light. The Kitsumgallum area stocks were about average. The spring-salmon run was about average, with good numbers present in the Kitsumgallum and Kitwanga Rivers. Supplies in the Kispiox River were about average, as was the case in most of the smaller streams in the area. The cohoe spawning was good, much heavier than in the parent year. Very good seedings occurred in Lakelse system and Gitnadoix River. The escapement to the Kispiox was about average. Pink-supplies were below those of the cycle-year, 1954, the seeding in all streams throughout the sub-district being generally light. The chum escapement to the area totalled about 2,500 fish, compared to 11,000 in the parent year, 1952. K 92 BRITISH COLUMBIA Lower Skeena Area The sockeye escapement to Diana Creek and Johnson Lake, tributary to the Ecstall River, was moderate but well below that of the cycle-year. In Shawatlans River, stocks were about the same as those in 1952. The spring-salmon run to Johnson Creek was heavy and equal to that of the cycle-year. However, in Johnson Lake and Big Falls River, supplies were well below those of the brood-year. The cohoe run was light, showing decrease from the brood-year. Pink-supplies in the small streams were light and below those of 1954. In Big Useless Creek, La Hou Creek, and Moore Creek, however, stocks were on a par or better than those of the parent year. The escapement of chums to the spawning-grounds in general was light and below brood-year levels. Grenville-Principe Area The seeding of sockeye in the majority of streams and lake systems was light. In Bonilla Arm, Quinstonsta, Lewis Lake system, Endhill Creek, Gale Lake system, and Mikado Lake system, stocks were moderate, similar to the brood-year. Supplies to the Bear Lake and Mink Trap Lake systems were light. A moderately good run of cohoe was found on the spawning-grounds in most streams in the area. Supplies of pinks generally were medium throughout the area, considerably better than in the 1954 brood- year. Turn Creek on Gil Island had a particularly heavy escapement of this species. Good supplies were also found in Alpha Creek on Pitt Island and in Turtle Creek on Gil Island. The chum-spawning in practically all streams in the sub-district was light, about on a par with the brood-year. The heaviest seeding of this species occurred in the Bonilla Arm creeks and in Turn Creek on Gil Island. Butedale Area Generally there was a light escapement of sockeye, a decrease from the brood-year. Kitlope River and the rivers flowing into Douglas Channel received a light seeding. Stocks in Aristazabal Island, Laredo Channel, and Laredo Inlet streams were light and similar to those of the parent year. Supplies of spring salmon were similar to those of the brood-year. Generally the run of cohoe was good. Streams in Douglas Channel and on Aristazabal Island received excellent seedings. The escapement of pinks to the area showed a marked improvement over the past three years. Notwithstanding an intensive fishing effort, Kitimat River, Bisch Creek, Quaal River, Kitkiata River, and Kishkosh River, flowing into waters north of Wright Sound, were well seeded. This is attributed to the special closure measures applied to these waters throughout the season. Streams in the outer portion of the area received adequate stocks, with the exception of Laredo Inlet, where the escapement was light. Tolmie Channel, Klekane Inlet, Aaltanhash Inlet, Green Inlet, Sheep Passage, and Finlayson Channel streams received light to medium supplies, similar to the parent year. Generally the chum run was very light and the escapement was light. The early chum runs to Douglas Channel and Gardner Canal were exceptionally light, similar to the runs in the cycle-year. Bella Bella Area Sockeye-supplies were moderate, comparable to those of 1952. Some decrease was noted in Kwakusdis River and the East and West Tuno streams. Stocks in Kajusdis River were better than those of the cycle-year, while in Tinkey the spawning compared favourably with that of 1952. Good seedings of cohoe were noted throughout the area, especially in the Kajusdis system. The escapement of pinks was moderately heavy. Kainet River showed a marked decrease from the cycle-year, but this was more than offset by the excellent supplies present in Nameless Creek, Salmon Bay, James Bay, Neekis, Klatse, Howyet, and Gullchuck Rivers. Supplies of chums were light to moderate. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 93 Matheson Channel streams had very light seedings, with stocks in Kainet River being only 15 per cent of those of the brood-year and in Salmon Bay only about 5 per cent of those of 1952. Supplies to Neekis River and the Bullock Channel streams were moderately heavy. Elsewhere in the area the escapement was light to medium, showing slight decrease from the brood-year. Namu-Bella Coola Area The Bella Coola-Atnarko River system received a heavy supply of sockeye spawners, and about 70 per cent of the run was composed of large fish. This was the reverse of other years, when 60 to 70 per cent of the run was composed of jacks. Stocks in Koeye River were medium and in the Kimsquit system light. Namu and Kisameet Rivers received heavier supplies than usual. The spring-salmon escapement was heavy, one of the best ever seen in the Bella Coola-Atnarko system. Very good supplies of cohoe, far above average, spawned in the Bella Coola-Atnarko system. Dean Channel streams also received good supplies of this species. The pink escapement was heavy, much better than in the cycle-year. The Bella Coola-Atnarko system received a heavy seeding, the best since 1951. Koeye and Kwatna Rivers received moderate supplies, and in the latter stream there was improvement over the cycle-year. Smaller streams in the area were moderately to heavily stocked. In general the chum escapement was light and below that of the parent year, 1952. Some Dean Channel streams had moderate escapements, while supplies to the Bella Coola, Dean, Kwatna, and Nootum Rivers were light. Undoubtedly the special closure of Dean and Burke Channels throughout most of the season was well justified from the results attained. Rivers Inlet Area Generally the over-all sockeye escapement to the Owekano system was satisfactory. Supplies in the Dallac River were heavy and similar to those of the 1951 and 1952 parent years. A good escapement was also noted on Whonnock Flats at the outlet of Owekano Lake. Stocks in the Quap and Wauk-Wash Rivers were medium and showed some decrease from those of the 1951 and 1952 cycle-years. Supplies in Indian River were heavy and similar to those of 1951, while in the Gennesse River the escapement was light to medium, comparing favourably with the brood-year. The Nookins and Asklum Rivers received moderate supplies. A heavy escapement was found in Shumuhalt River, comparable to that of 1952. The Cheo River was moderately stocked. A fair escapement occurred to the Markwell River. A medium-heavy escapement of springs reached the Whonnock River. Supplies to Kilbella and Chuckwalla Rivers were light. Stocks of cohoe were light and below those of 1953. The supply of pinks was better than in the brood-year. The chum escapement to most streams was light; however, moderately heavy supplies, better than in the brood-year, reached the Whonnock, Chuckwalla, and Kilbella Rivers. Smith Inlet Area The sockeye escapement to the Long Lake system was good. The Delabah and Geluck Rivers, which comprise the principal spawning-grounds, were both heavily supplied. Stocks of springs to the Docee River were medium and showed some increase over the parent year. The cohoe escapement was light and less than that of 1953. There was a heavy escapement of pinks to the Nekite River, showing considerable increase over the brood-year. Supplies of chums to Walkum River were moderately heavy, greater than in 1952, while in the Nekite and Takush Rivers spawning was similar to that of the parent year. Alert Bay Area The escapement of sockeye throughout the area was light to medium, comparing favourably with that of the brood-year. Stocks in the Upper Nimpkish River system K 94 BRITISH COLUMBIA were most satisfactory, with the best spawning being observed on Woss Lake. Fair to good seedings occurred in Nahwitti, Quatse, Kakweiken, Mackenzie, Klinaklini, and Kingcome Rivers. Light numbers were found on spawning-grounds of other streams in this sub-district. The spawning of spring salmon was moderate, slightly less than last year. The run to Nimpkish River was satisfactory, while returns to Klinaklini and King- come Rivers were similar to those of recent years. Cohoe returned to the area in above average numbers, and the over-all escapement was considerably better than that of the brood-year, 1953. Satisfactory spawnings were observed on the Quatse, Keogh, Cluxewe, and Wakeman Rivers. A good run also occurred in the Nimpkish River, and once again Salmon River in Seymour Inlet and Tsulton River in Beaver Cove supported very good runs. Fair escapements of this species were noted in Nahwitti and Shushartie Rivers, Bughouse Bay and Embley Creeks, and to the rivers at the head of Knight and Kingcome Inlets. A medium-heavy return of pinks occurred throughout the sub-district. In Vancouver Island streams the spawning was generally heavy, particularly in Nahwitti, Shushartie, Quatse, Keogh, Tsitka, and Adam Rivers. In spite of the fact it was an off-year for the Mainland, the spawning returns were satisfactory. Stocks in the Embley, Glendale, Waterfall, and Hoeya Rivers were heavy, while streams such as the Kakweiken, Wakeman, and Viner Rivers had fair to good escapements. The over-all escapement of chums throughout the sub-district was light and similar to that of the cycle-year, 1952. The run to Nimpkish River was moderate and somewhat less than that of the brood-year. Moderate escapements also occurred in Salmon River in Seymour Inlet, Village Bay Creek in Belize Inlet, and in Nimmo, Tsibass, Mackenzie, Viner, and Klinaklini Rivers on the Mainland. Quathiaski Area The return of sockeye to Hayden Bay was light and less than that of the parent year. Supplies to Phillips River were also light, somewhat less than half brood-year numbers. Stocks of spring salmon in the Campbell and Salmon Rivers were low, estimated at 40 per cent of the brood-year escapements in both cases. Seedings in Quatum, Orford, and Phillips Rivers were also light. The early run of white springs to the head of Bute Inlet arrived in satisfactory numbers, comparable to those of the cycle-year. The spawning of cohoe in the majority of streams was satisfactory, comparable to 1953. Exceptions were Salmon, Stafford, Apple, and Orford Rivers, and Read, Fraser, Fredericks, and Christie Creeks, where returns were light and considerably less than those of the parent year. This was an on-year for pinks in the Vancouver Island, Quadra Island, and outer Loughborough Inlet streams. All spawning-grounds in these localities were well seeded, with the exception of Salmon River, where stocks were light. Campbell River showed an improved return over the brood-year, as did Grassy Creek in Loughborough Inlet. Cameleon Creek, Granite Bay Creek, and Kanish Creek supported very satisfactory numbers of this species. The number of chums which appeared on spawning-grounds in the sub-district were generally poor, comparable to the light spawnings of 1955 and considerably less than those of the cycle-year. Apple, Homathko, Orford, Salmon, and Southgate Rivers were very lightly seeded. Exceptions were Quatum River and Read Creek, where stocks were comparable to those of 1952. In Campbell and Phillips Rivers, Cameleon, Forward Harbour, and Hayden Bay Creeks, supplies were better than average but below brood-year levels. Comox Area The escapement of spring salmon to Puntledge River, estimated at 1,500, was very light, the lightest since 1941. However, stocks in both the Big and Little Qualicum Rivers, estimated at 1,200 in each stream, were more than four times greater than those of the brood-year. The escapement to Oyster River was again very light. With the exception of Englishman River and three smaller streams, the cohoe escapement was REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 95 lighter than that of the cycle-year. The escapement to Little Qualicum and Oyster Rivers was only half that of 1953, while stocks in the Big Qualicum River were only about two- thirds those of the parent year. Escapement of this species to Puntledge and Tsolum Rivers was also lighter than that experienced in 1953. Generally pink-supplies were much lighter than in brood-year, 1954. The pink escapement to Tsolum and Oyster Rivers was only 20 per cent of that of 1954, when an estimated 100,000 entered the former and 200,000 the latter stream. Numbers of this species in the Puntledge River totalled only 6,000, compared to 16,000 in the cycle-year. In Englishman River the escapement was about half that experienced in 1954, while stocks in other streams throughout the area were about equal to those of the brood-year. The chum run to Puntledge River was comparable to that of 1952. In the Little Qualicum and Big Qualicum Rivers, supplies were well below brood-year levels. In Englishman River, numbers on the spawning-grounds were only about one-tenth those of the parent year. In Oyster River, only 300 were noted on the spawning-grounds, compared to 6,000 in 1952. In the smaller streams, chum escapements were generally lighter than in the brood-year. Pender Harbour Area The escapement of sockeye to Sakinaw Lake was light, about two-thirds of the escapement in 1952. Stocks in Tzoonie River were good and substantially more than those of the parent year. Numbers of spring salmon in Tzoonie River were far in excess of those of the cycle-year, while average seedings occurred in the Toba River system and Klite Creek. Numbers of cohoe on the spawning-grounds were generally satisfactory, with about half the streams frequented by this species showing increases over the cycle- year. This was most apparent in Brem, Sakinaw, Squawawka, and Vancouver Rivers, as well as in Shannon Creek, Storm Bay Creek, and Tzoonie River. Stocks of this species in Toba River showed a marked increase over the cycle-year. This was an off-year for pinks in the area, and in those streams normally frequented by this species, only a few individual spawners were observed. A light chum escapement occurred in most of the streams throughout the sub-district, about one-quarter showing an increase over brood- year numbers. Returns to Kelly Creek, Klite Creek, Little Toba River, Toba River, and Squawawka River were double the 1952 spawnings. Some increase was also noted in Saltery Bay Creek in Jervis Inlet and in Pete Creek in Sechelt Inlet. The escapement to Deserted River in Jervis Inlet, one of the top chum-producers in the area, was only about half that of the cycle-year. Nanaimo-Ladysmith Area The spring-salmon escapement to Nanaimo River showed a marked improvement. It was much better than average and nearly double that of the brood-year. A light supply of this species also entered Chemainus River. For the second successive year the cohoe escapement showed marked decline. Stocks on the spawning-grounds were well below average, amounting to about one-third those of the cycle-year. The escapement to the secondary and minor streams was very light, and even to the main producers the runs can only be classed as light. The usual small pink-salmon run to the Nanaimo River was light. Notwithstanding the application of special conservation measures, the escapement of chum salmon was extremely light. While last year stocks were inexplicably poor, this year over-all numbers on the spawning-grounds were only 75 per cent of the 1955 level. Nanaimo River is the only stream in the area which received any appreciable escapement. Cowichan Area Stocks of cohoe salmon in both Cowichan and Koksilah Rivers were below those of 1955 and somewhat below those of the brood-year, 1953. It is estimated that 30,000 cohoe were present in the Cowichan River, while about 3,500 spawned in the Koksilah K 96 BRITISH COLUMBIA system. The run of spring salmon to the Cowichan system was much below the run experienced in 1955. It is estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 of this species spawned in the Cowichan River, which is about half of the number present last year. Generally the escapement of chums was below the parent-year level. The Koksilah River was the only stream where the escapement of this species was comparable to that of 1952. Conditions in the streams at the time chums started to move in, however, were ideal. Victoria Area Stocks of cohoe throughout the area were generally light, somewhat less than half those of the parent year. The escapement of chums to Goldstream was considerably less than that of 1952. Very light seedings occurred in Stoney, Tugwell, Muir, and Coal Creeks. In Jordan River, spawning-grounds were almost barren of this species. In De Mamiel Creek, about 11,000 chums were present. In Sooke River, stocks were in excess of those of 1952. On December 8th and 9th melting snows and unprecedented rainfall played havoc with the spawning-grounds throughout the area; for example, 14 inches of rain fell at Jordan River in twenty-four hours. Streams suffered considerable erosion, scouring of gravel-beds, and changes in course due to extreme flooding. Fortunately late runs of chums materialized at Goldstream and at De Mamiel Creek, which will assist in replacing spawn-deposits lost through flood conditions. Alberni-Nitinat Area The sockeye escapement to the Somass system was light, totalling about 10,000 fish, which is about half the number of the cycle-year. The Henderson (Anderson) Lake run was also down this year, also estimated to be less than half that of the brood-year. The escapement to Hobarton Lake was light, estimated at slightly in excess of 3,000 fish. Stocks of spring salmon in the Somass River were good, somewhat better than for the past three years. Henderson (Anderson) River received a normal escapement, while the Nitinat, Gordon, San Juan, and Sarita Rivers received light seedings. The escapement to the Nahmint River was below average, and Toquart and Effingham Rivers had their usual light runs. The escapement of cohoe to the Somass River system was satisfactory, showing improvement over the past three years. The San Juan and Gordon Rivers had fair seedings, while supplies in Maggie and Toquart Rivers were somewhat less than those of the last few years. Runs to other streams in the area were in general fairly light. This being an on-year for pinks in the area, the usual light escapement of about 2,000 fish reached the spawning-grounds of San Juan and Gordon Rivers. Several hundred pinks were also observed in each of the Toquort, Sarita, and Nahmint Rivers, as well as a few in Carnation Creek and the Somass River. Generally the chum-salmon escapement was fair. Supplies in the Sarita and Nitinat Rivers were fairly good. The escapement to Nahmint and Toquart Rivers was light for the second successive year. Effingham River was well seeded, showing some improvement over recent years. Salmon Creek in Ucluelet Harbour, Grappler Creek near Bamfield, and the Dutch Harbour creeks maintained their usual very good runs. All of the Alberni Inlet streams, which include the Somass system, were poorly seeded, and in some cases, such as Mackintosh, China, and Coleman Creeks, almost barren conditions prevailed. Clayoquot Area The Kennedy Lake system received a very poor seeding of sockeye. Runs of creek sockeye to Megin and Cecilia Lakes were light. The light run of springs to the area was about average. The seeding of cohoe was above average and generally satisfactory throughout the area. The Kennedy River system, Tofino Inlet streams, and Moyeha River had particularly good escapements. The spawning of chums throughout the area REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 97 was generally light. However, fair seedings occurred in Bowden Bay Creek, Moyeha River, Atleo River, and Tranquil Creek. Sidney Inlet streams were very lightly stocked, but showed slight improvement over recent years. Nootka Area The escapement of creek sockeye to the streams frequented by small runs of this species was about average, and small numbers were seen on the spawning-grounds in the Gold, Burman, Owossitsa, Parks, and Zeballos Rivers. The spring-salmon escapement to Gold and Burman Rivers was below average. The cohoe escapement was generally light and below that of the parent year. This being an on-year for pinks, a few of this species were observed in streams throughout the sub-district in numbers comparable to the parent year. Stocks of chums were light and lower than levels of the cycle-year. An exception was the Mary Basin streams, where fairly substantial numbers were found on the spawning-grounds. Kyuquot Area Power Lake and River creek-sockeye seeding can only be classed as exceedingly light due to adverse water conditions on the spawning-grounds. The run to Jansen Lake and River was almost wiped out for the same reason. A lighter than brood-year run of spring salmon occurred and encountered low water-levels, which delayed their arrival on the spawning-grounds. A very heavy escapement of cohoe took place in all streams throughout the area. The seeding in Easy Inlet and Nasparti Inlet streams was particularly good, as was the case in Ououkinish and Tahsish Inlet rivers. This being an on-year for pinks, this species returned in good numbers to the sub-district. Increases over parent- year spawnings were noted in nearly all streams. Good runs were reported in Kaoowinch, Tahsish, and Malksope Rivers. The escapement of chums was considerably lighter than in the parent year. The usual late run in most cases did not materialize in any strength. Fairly good numbers were found in Chamiss River and in Kaouk River in Easy Inlet. Normal runs also occurred in the Nasparti, Malksope, and Chamiss Rivers. Stocks were light in the Tahsish Inlet, Cachalot Inlet, and Kashutl Inlet areas. It was also estimated that up to 40 per cent of the chum spawn deposited was destroyed as a result of floods during November. Flood damage to Malksope and Chamiss Rivers was, however, considerably less than in the remainder of the area. Quatsino Area The creek sockeye-salmon escapement was light to fair and continued to follow the pattern of previous years. The run is of little commercial importance. Spring-salmon stocks were fairly light but comparable to those of the past few years. The cohoe escapement showed improvement over that experienced in 1955 and was on a par with that of the parent year. This was particularly apparent in the San Josef and Fisherman Rivers and in a number of smaller streams throughout the sub-district. This was a pink-salmon year for the sub-district. While the escapement was generally less in all streams than in the cycle-year, stocks in Koprino River, one of the main producers, almost equalled those of 1954. Supplies in the Cape Scott area were disappointingly light, as was the case in the Cape Cook area. Klaskish River, which had a moderate escapement in 1954, had practically no pinks on the spav/ning-grounds this year. The only major river which showed improvement over the parent year was Rupert River. While the over-all chum- salmon escapement was light, it was better than that of 1955 and compared favourably with the cycle-year, particularly so in Rupert, Marble, and Mahatta Rivers. Browning, Klaskish, San Josef, and Fisherman Rivers all showed some slight decrease from brood- year levels. K 98 BRITISH COLUMBIA Fraser River-Prince George Area Approximately 27,000 sockeye spawned in the Stuart Lake system. The early runs consisted of 25,150 fish, compared to 1952 stocks of 33,500. The late run, totalling 1,500, on the other hand, was an increase over the cycle-year. Supplies in Forfar, Kynock, and Gluskie Creeks were smaller than those of the cycle-year, while small increases were noted in Rosette Creek and Middle and Tachie Rivers. The runs commenced to arrive in Stuart Lake on July 17th, which date is comparable to the arrival date of July 18th in 1952. The early-run escapement to the Fraser-Francois system was approximately 1,610 fish, compared to 2,800 in the cycle-year. The late run to Stellako River was estimated at 38,200 sockeye, compared to 40,000 fish in 1952. Supplies of spring salmon at Tete Jaune were less than in the brood-year. The escapement to Stuart River was light and less than in the brood-year. Two hundred springs were present on the spawning-grounds in the residual Nechako River above Fort Fraser. Quesnel-Chilko Area The Chilko sockeye-spawning was heavy. Runs arrived on the spawning-ground in excellent condition, and in the Farwell Canyon area at the peak of migration there was no noticeable delay in the passage of fish. The Taseko Lake area was adequately seeded. In the Horsefly River on the Quesnel system there was a light showing of sockeye, about the same as that observed in 1952. A few were also observed in Mitchell River. Although stocks in the Upper Bowron were considerably below the brood-year levels, all spawning occurred on the best areas under ideal conditions. Supplies of spring salmon to the Chilcotin and Quesnel systems were about average. The usual small number of this species also appeared in Upper Swift River. The return to the Bowron also compared favourably with that of the parent year, and spawning conditions were better than in the past several years. Fraser River Kamloops Area.—In general the sockeye runs to the Kamloops sub-district were light and in only a few instances surpassed brood-year populations. The Adams and Little River run totalled about 10,000 fish, showing a decrease from the parent year. In Seymour River about 2,500 sockeye were found on the spawning-grounds. Supplies in Scotch Creek amounted to about 200. Stocks to Raft River were estimated at 9,000 to 10,000. Spring-salmon supplies in the Upper and Lower Shuswap Rivers totalled 6,500 fish. In the North Thompson system there was a good run to Finn Creek, almost double that of the parent year. In Raft River supplies were comparable to those of the cycle-year. The run to the South Thompson was light, with only 450 spring salmon present, compared with 2,700 in the parent year. Supplies to Eagle River totalled 800 and fell far short of the brood-year, when over 3,000 were present in this stream. Light to medium runs were also found in Salmon River, Little River, and Adams River. With the exception of Eagle River and Deadman Creek, the number of spawners in all streams barely approached or fell short of brood-year populations. Spawners in the Eagle River, estimated at 3,000, comprised the largest individual run to the area. Lillooet Area.—A fairly large spawning of sockeye occurred in the Birkenhead River. Between 9,000 and 10,000 spawned in Gates Creek, an increase over the brood- year. Small numbers were observed in Seton Creek, Anderson Lake, and in Portage Creek. A few spring salmon were observed in Seton and Portage Creeks. The cohoe run to Birkenhead was light, estimated at 2,500, compared with 5,000 in the brood-year. Only the odd spring was observed in the Yalakom River. Yale-Nicola (Formerly Yale-Merritt) Area.—The spring-salmon run to the Cold- water River and Spius Creek was fair but slightly less than runs of the past two years. The escapement to Nicola River was light. Nicola River received a moderate seeding of REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 99 cohoe, and moderate supplies were also noted in Coldwater River and Spius Creek. This was the off-year for pinks, and none of this species was observed in the streams in the area. Chilliwack-Hope Area.—Approximately 13,000 sockeye entered Cultus Lake this year, compared with 18,200 in 1952. The escapement to Chilliwack River and Kawkawa Creek was very light. Stocks of spring salmon in the Chilliwack River were comparable to those of the parent year, when 600 were present. Fifteen thousand cohoe, comparing favourably in numbers with those present in 1953, spawned in the Chilliwack-Vedder system. The main spawning took place in the upper reaches of the Chilliwack River. In 1954, 2,500,000 pink eggs were planted in the control channel at Jones Creek. Despite several severe freshets and considerable silting during the winter of 1954-55, 2,800 pinks returned to the stream this year. Of these, approximately 2,500 spawned in the control channel while 300 utilized the spawning-grounds near the mouth of the stream. The chum escapement was very light, with the Chilliwack-Vedder system supporting about 8,000 fish, compared with 42,000 in 1952. In Sweltzer Creek only 700 were observed, compared to an estimated 20,000 in the parent year. The run to Coquihalla River totalled only fifty, compared to 1,000 in the brood-year. Stocks were also very light in Silver, Succer, Luckakuck, and Jones Creeks. Mission-Harrison Area.—Supplies of sockeye generally were not up to the relatively good escapements of the brood-year. It is also estimated that there was a 25-percent loss of spawn due to flood conditions from the below-average run to Weaver Creek, which had been anticipated as a result of drought conditions in the parent year. Supplies to Harrison River and Big Silver Creek also showed decrease from previous cycles. Elsewhere throughout the district supplies were light. The early cohoe runs were very weak or non-existent. Late-run fish to the Chehalis totalled 2,000, compared with 10,000 in the parent year. The run to Weaver Creek was very light, totalling not more than 700 fish, compared with 3,000 in 1953. Supplies to Nicomen Slough and Hicks Creeks were also light, with escapements being only approximately half those of the brood-year. Stocks in the Hatzic watershed, Whonock Creek, and Suicide Creek were but a fraction of those of 1953. The early chum runs were practically non-existent. The late runs provided a satisfactory spawning in the Chehalis sloughs as well as a fair escapement to the Stave River. The seeding in Inches Creek was fair, while a moderate run occurred to Worths Creek. Supplies to all other streams in the area were very light. The early run of red springs to Chehalis River did not appear. There was, however, an unusually large number of this species in the Stave River in May and June. From the late run there was a good escapement to Big Silver River and fair supplies were observed in Spring Creek. The run of white springs to Harrison River was light, with less than 4,000 on the spawning-grounds, including approximately 800 jacks. Lower Fraser Area.—The over-all escapement of sockeye to the Upper Pitt River system was approximately 32,000 fish. A comparatively good escapement of 1,500 to 2,000 spring salmon occurred in the Upper Pitt system. While good catches of cohoe were made in the early-fall commercial fishery in the Fraser River, the over-all escapement of this species to the Lower Mainland streams was very light. The exceptions were the Nicomekl, Serpentine, and Campbell Rivers. Stocks in the Nicomekl and its tributaries, Twigg and Anderson Creeks, totalled 1,500 to 2,000, comparing favourably with the parent year. This was also the case in the Serpentine River, where 1,000 to 1,500 spawners were present, and in the Campbell River, with an estimated 500 to 1,000 of this species on the spawning-grounds. All other streams in the area had light escapements. The escapement of chums to Lower Mainland streams was very poor, in some cases practically non-existent, and in general estimated to be only about 10 per cent of normal requirements. The South Allouette River, with about 300 on the spawning-grounds, had the best seeding in the area. Supplies to the North Allouette were very light, with 150 to 200 present, compared with over 2,000 in the parent year. This was also the K 100 BRITISH COLUMBIA case with Coquitlam River, where 150 chums spawned, compared with 5,000 to 10,000 in 1952. Other streams in the sub-district had light or negligible stocks of this species on the spawning-grounds. A severe flash flood during the first week of December caused heavy damage to the chum spawning-grounds, and it is felt that this condition, together with the abnormally light runs, has created a serious situation in the area. This flood also affected the spawning of cohoe, but the damage to their spawning-grounds was not as great as in the case of the chum salmon. Squamish Area The spring-salmon run to the Squamish system was about the same as that of the parent year, when 15,000 were present on the spawning-grounds. Stocks of cohoe in the Squamish were about half those of 1953. Supplies of this species to the Cheakamus were light but slightly in excess of those recorded in the brood-year. The chum run to the area was very light, and only 10,000 were found in the Squamish River, compared with 175,000 in 1952. In the Cheakamus River 3,000 chums were present, compared with 15,000 in the brood-year, and in the Mamquam stocks were only about one-seventh those of 1952, when 10,000 spawned in this river. The runs of this species to Howe Sound and Gulf of Georgia streams were abnormally small and below parent-year levels. North Vancouver Area Supplies of cohoe to Seymour and Lynn Creeks and Indian River were moderate and comparable to those of 1953. The run to Capilano River showed a marked decline. The fish-trap facilities provided by the Greater Vancouver Water Board in this stream below Cleveland Dam were in operation, and during the season 1,840 cohoe were trapped and trucked to a point several miles above the dam, where they were released to migrate to their spawning-grounds. Of interest is the fact that 50 per cent of these fish were small. The chum escapement was far below brood-year levels, with 2,000 being found in Indian River, where well in excess of 20,000 spawned in 1952. There was also a marked decline in Seymour River, where 150 were present, compared with 1,000 to 2,000 in the parent year. A maximum of fifty of this species spawned in Capilano River, where numbers in the brood-year were comparable to those in Seymour Creek. There were two flash floods in the streams in the area during the late fall, but the resulting damage fortunately was slight. RFPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 101 STATISTICAL TABLES LICENCES ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES FOR THE 1956 SEASON Kind of Licence Salmon-cannery ___ Herring-cannery ___ Pilchard-cannery __ Herring reduction _ Pilchard reduction Tierced salmon Number of Licences 13 Fish cold storage 14 Fish-processing 17 8 1 9 4 1 Shell-fish cannery Tuna-fish cannery ___ Fish-offal reduction Fish-liver reduction Whale reduction Pickled herring Herring dry-saltery 1 Processing aquatic plants Harvesting aquatic plants Fish-buyers 494 Non-tidal fishing 190 Dog-fish reduction 1 General receipts 3 Revenue $3,600.00 100.00 1,300.00 600.00 1,400.00 17.00 8.00 1.00 9.00 4.00 100.00 12,350.00 193.00 1.00 27.50 Total $19,810.50 K 102 BRITISH COLUMBIA SUMMARY SHOWING NUMBERS OF SALMON CAUGHT IN 1956 BY AREA (Rounded to nearest hundred.) Area Cohoe Sockeye Pinks Chums Red Spring White Spring Steel- head Jacks Total C 83 2,331 683 97 509 10 1,142 1,205 1,021 1,173 1,392 1,665 355 122 47 4,772 1,019 920 195 382 472 27 12 1,270 1,981 10 350 676 1,195 1,626 679 29 1,169 12 65 O) 28 C1) 6 C1) 1,638 1,252 840 306 O) 10,052 4,164 5,713 17,322 9,531 10,334 942 253 3 8,001 1,201 3 1 1 0) 0) 5 163 51 42 19 4 165 252 115 30 120 84 31 36 1 269 226 70 112 116 251 4 1 32 83 0) 2,846 752 798 297 101 13 395 12 195 1 25 7 7 9 O) 29 39 17 16 16 18 11 3 C1) 72 217 8 21 32 7 1 C1) 7 16 0) 268 41 82 15 10 7 451 8 76 0. 1 1 (*. C1) C*) 51 9 9 11 14 29 9 4 C1) 28 28 32 10 11 36 (x) 2 152 42 89 1 182 251 762 223 69 3,613 514 266 1,141 2,123 2,402 111 137 26 3,455 1,911 75 45 168 114 109 1 15 33 1,184 2,574 535 883 391 487 77 688 17 2 1 4,369 2ae. 2,245 1,754 1,066 2aw. 7bf. C1) 34 56 4 3 2 39 21 10 C1) 9 2 C1) C1) O) C1) 1 2bw _ 83 3... - 2,548 1,491 706 436 143 1,086 10,723 4,423 58 1,237 329 (a) C1) 34 4 11 8 2,504 587 15 92 277 3 3 1 2 4,055 160 1,605 17,634 7,730 4 5 7,851 6 - 20,132 7 13,341 8 15,657 9 10 . 12,203 4,988 11 12 13 135 17,843 4,933 14 1,108 15 384 16 744 17 ... 384 18 153 19 24 20 6 6 1 2 5 C1) f.1) f1) f1) C1) 33 C1) 7 3,987 21 2,750 22 1,209 23 2 15 72 231 1,611 9 2 3 1 f1) 2 88 5 14 6,146 24 2,298 25 - 3,036 26 2,564 27 ■ 2,889 28 130 15 5 6,894 29c -- - 29d - 214 1,969 Totals 28,696 32,575 73,520 24,584 7,691 1,537 230 603 169,436 1 Less than 50 pounds. The above figures were taken from British Columbia Catch Statistics, (Pacific Area). 1956, Department of Fisheries of Canada REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 103 SUMMARY SHOWING TOTAL WEIGHT OF SALMON CAUGHT IN 1956 BY AREA (In hundredweight.) Area Cohoe Sockeye Pinks Chums Red White Spring Spring Steel- head Jacks Total 2AE-. 2aw_. 2be_. 2bw.. 3 4 5 6 7 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20.-- 21 22 23 24 25 -.-- 26 27 28 29a and 29b_ 29c 29d Totals . 451 15,853 5,159 916 3,707 71 8,900 8,704 7,112 10,302 11,106 15,881 3,272 1,055 451 40,476 9,226 4,674 1,471 1,870 2,186 261 97 9,392 16,560 126 15,480 4,643 7,879 9,392 4,960 291 9,733 103 408 232,168 C1) 157 1 30 15,448 8,796 4,113 2,453 650 5,279 77,053 31,524 392 7,379 2,078 3 3 184 24 70 52 16,017 3,894 54 503 1,513 18 16 6 10 26,021 1,040 10,193 214,974 O) 6,627 4,671 3,322 1,157 (*) 37,969 17,518 22,493 71,366 34,917 40,366 4,013 1,177 11 31,971 4,378 9 1 2 2 (!) 25 29 58 258 820 6,085 79 2 28 289,362 1,901 2,411 7,357 2,030 I 627 | 42,773 I 6,434 3,226 12,468 21,976 31,832 1,527 1,591 279 38,949 21,276 830 510 64 2,744 680 771 280 86 2,999 4,360 1,419 372 1,625 1,513 500 319 9 3,293 1,900 531 757 1,831 813 1,231 1,663 1,169 42 9 9 176 457 343 896 13,000 1 25,859 28,361 5,618 9,020 8,843 12,397 3,953 4,694 4,679 1,537 894 101 8,438 5,982 197 124 33 2,867 274,270 93,186 18 496 111 91 34 5 577 899 248 178 286 383 218 43 2 1,262 2,597 92 215 328 79 16 2 104 235 C1) 3,865 602 1,155 238 143 107 10,270 110 1,596 ~26^605~ (!) f1) 303 619 34 26 16 368 183 87 2 85 18 1 1 I (i) O) 12 11 17 f1) 36 1 1 1 G) C1) 386 3 69 2,290 C1) 4 4 f1) (!) f1) 248 43 43 50 64 106 41 17 1 132 111 115 34 37 131 (a) 7 478 155 37 7 14 6 1 6 438 24 68 2,422 533 27,792 13,037 12,487 7,208 789 109,217 47,373 38,688 97,215 70,640 95,728 86,807 35,813 1,147 123,547 41,584 6,255 2,992 5,065 5,316 1,570 176 26,660 22,129 13,181 74,149 21,462 30,565 19,120 17,411 1,409 61,347 1,603 15,262 1,135,277 1 Less than 50 pounds. The above figures were taken from British Columbia Catch Statistics, (Pacific Area). 1956, Department of Fisheries of Canada PACK OF BRITISH COLUMBIA SALMON, 1956 SEASON (Showing the Origin of Salmon Caught in Each District (48-pound Cases)) District Sockeyes Springs Steelheads Cohoes Pinks Chums Total 88,1321/2 1,323 22,505 14,663 124,6341/2 36,898 13,970 17,967 2,873i/2 1 536 371 419 166 5,941V- l,364i/2 3371/2 12,2731/2 7,314i/2 8,165i/2 8,265 6,601V_ 2,249 118,938 40,299 8,0341/2 348 18,8091/2 44,4021/2 25,633 12,046V. 1,664 55,052V- 205,658 9,989 17,4431/2 35,588 6,283 2,926i/2 1,642 71,5951/2 58,6021/2 113,954 44,8911/2 217 312 55 331/2 251/2 2731/2 111,414 55,527 146,683 Smith Inlet Vancouver Island and adjacent Mainland —- - 42,6521/2 265.523 324,164V_ 8,034i/2 Totals - 320,093 11,6721/2 1,254 212,1401/2 363,614 204,070 1,112,844 Note.—10,549 cases of bluebacks are included with cohoes, Vancouver Island; also included are 360V£ cases of chums packed in oil. K 104 BRITISH COLUMBIA STATEMENT SHOWING THE TOTAL SALMON-PACK OF BRITISH COLUMBIA BY SPECIES FROM 1948 TO 1956, INCLUSIVE 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 Sockeyes. - Springs- Chums Pinks Cohoes.- Steelheads - 320,093 11,6725 204.070 363,614 212,1405 1,254 244,8213 17.859J 128,289 831,255 186,1915 1,882 680,789 14,357 582,1245 337,0625 129,624 3,8975 510,148 13,0485 394,867 795,330 110,1645 3,0305 449,4945 9,279 96,005 679,182 67,438 3,762 428,299 13,698 462,101 736,093 313,674 3,6555 408,0265 9,2335 507,611 446,4565 123.629J 3,2275 259,821 21,184 230,5565 709,987 215,944 2,373 261,2305 16,4455 511,404 321,7215 221,804 5,6635 Totals 1,112,844 1,410,2981 1,747,8545 1,826,5885 1,305,160! 1,957,5205 1,498,1845 1,439,866 1,338,271 STATEMENT SHOWING THE TOTAL SALMON-PACK OF BRITISH COLUMBIA BY DISTRICTS FROM 1948 TO 1956, INCLUSIVE 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 113,954 55.527 146,683 42,6525 111,414 265,523 377,0905 294,2388 123,507 71,164 34,5705 62,0815 581,599 239 147 3^991 563.807J 136,500 71,023 23,5485 69,3585 349,5865 529,9725 4,058 496,9365 117,406 148,8855 35,8705 66,5105 671,9811 338,432 566 151,147 221,3061 105,040 43,5621 57,775 245,437 475,066 5,8261 268,233 130,681 148,996 58,022 152,7425 585,240 612,482 1,124 139,7215 97,889 172,1075 52,750 57,961 347,9961 623,609 6,150 189,938 129,027 70,2101 19,083 58,3365 538,3705 431,4985 3,402 104,485 193,4355 72,117 Smith Inlet— 14,675 38,5385 Vancouver Island and adjacent Mainland 317,572 567,314 30,134 1,112,844 1,410,2983 1,747,8543 1,826,5885 1,305,160* 1,957,5201 1,498,1845 1,439,866 1,338,271 REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 105 TABLE SHOWING THE TOTAL SOCKEYE-PACK OF THE FRASER RIVER, ARRANGED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOUR-YEAR CYCLE, 1895-1956 British Columbia 1895— 395,984 1896— 356,984 1897— 860,459 1898— 256,101 Washington _ 65,143 72,979 312,048 252,000 Total 461,127 429,963 1,172,507 508,101 British Columbia 1899— 480,485 1900— 229,800 1901— 928,669 1902— 293,477 Washington 499,646 228,704 1,105,096 339,556 Total 980,131 458,504 2,033,765 633,033 British Columbia 1903— 204,809 1904— 72,688 1905— 837,489 1906— 183,007 Washington 167,211 123,419 837,122 182,241 Total 372,020 196,107 1,674,611 365,248 British Columbia 1907— 59,815 1908— 74,574 1909— 585,435 1910— 150,432 Washington _ ___ 96,974 170,951 1,097,904 248,014 Total 156,789 245,525 1,683,339 398,446 British Columbia 1911— 58,487 1912—123,879 1913—719,796 1914—198,183 Washington 127,761 184,680 1,673,099 335,230 Total 186,248 308,559 2,392,895 533,413 British Columbia 1915— 91,130 1916— 32,146 1917— 148,164 1918— 19,697 Washington 64,584 84,637 411,538 50,723 Total 155,714 116,783 550,702 70,420 British Columbia 1919— 38,854 1920— 48,399 1921— 39,631 1922— 51,832 Washington 64,346 62,654 102,967 48,566 Total 103,200 111,053 142,598 100,398 British Columbia 1923— 31,655 1924— 39,743 1925— 35,385 1926— 85,689 Washington 47,402 69,369 112,023 44,673 Total 79,057 109,112 147,408 130,362 British Columbia 1927— 61,393 1928— 29,299 1929— 61,569 1930—103,692 Washington 97,594 61,044 111,898 352,194 Total 158,987 90,343 173,467 455,886 British Columbia 1931— 40,947 1932— 65,769 1933— 52,465 1934— 139,238 Washington 87,211 81,188 128,518 352,579 Total 128,158 146,957 180,983 491,817 British Columbia 1935— 62,822 1936— 184,854 1937— 100,272 1938— 186,794 Washington 54,677 59,505 60,259 135,550 Total 117,499 244,359 160,531 322,344 British Columbia 1939— 54,296 1940— 99,009 1941— 171,290 1942— 446,371 Washington 43,512 63,890 110,605 263,458 Total 97,808 162,899 281,895 709,829 British Columbia 1943— 31,974 1944— 88,515 1945— 79,977 1946— 341,957 Washington 19,117 37,509 53,055 268,561 Total 51,091 126,024 133,032 610,518 British Columbia 1947— 33,952 1948— 64,8235 1949— 96,159 1950— 108,223 Washington 6,760 90,441 80,547 116,458 Total 40,712 155,264. 176,706 224,681 British Columbia 1951—145,321 1952—134,625 1953—191,123 1954—497,023 Washington 118,151 114,638 178,323 501,496 Total 263,472 249,263 369,446 998,519 British Columbia _ 1955— 103,678 1956— 88,132 Washington 85,136 84,052 Total 188,814 172,184 K 106 BRITISH COLUMBIA STATEMENT SHOWING THE SALMON-PACK OF BRITISH COLUMBIA BY DISTRICTS AND SPECIES Fraser River, 1948 to 1956, Inclusive 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 88,1325 2,8735 9,989 348 12,2735 3375 103,678} 6,8435 7,3505 160,1875 15,910 269 497,023 8,298 45,444 175 11,948 1,077 191,123 5,620 26,921 204,4215 15,480 371 134,625 2,279 8,480 60 5,5005 2025 145,231* 5,719 35,5305 66,673 14,8485 2305 108,223 1,8185 23,3435 72 6,0251 240 96,1595 9,889 6,763 66,626 10,286 2145 64,8235 2,9555 20,209 Pinks _ _ Cohoes 16,102 Totals 113,954 294,2381 563,8075 496,396* 151,147 268,233 139,7215 189,938 104,485 Skeena River, 1948 to 1956, Inclusive 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 14,663 371 6.283 25,633 8,265 312 14,649 1,430 5,4715 86,788 14,192 9765 60,817 1,2605 23,135* 39,3245 10,449 1,5135 65,003 1,1741 15,1145 29,884 5,260 970 114,775 2,082 4,638 89,314 8,358 2,1395 61,6945 2,0555 14,778 30,3565 19,9775 1,819 47,4795 1,7585 10,969 26,256 9,781 65,937 2,5075 4,896 33,069. 21,3335 2,5075 101,2675 4,0185 11,863 50,656 22,0865 3,544 Pinks Totals 55,527 123,507 136,500 117,406 221,3065 130,681 97,889 129,027 193 435* Rivers Inlet; 1948 to 1956, Inclusive 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 124,6345 419 2,9265 12,0465 6,6015 55 50,7025 813 5,588 8,658 5,3165 86 50,6395 649 12,3525 2,5815 4,669* 131 132,9255 865* 5,627 7,3045 1,979 184 84,2975 865} 3,7115 12,4695 3,4155 2801 102,5655 9375 11,8425 20,960 12,146 2745 142,710* 619J 10,0145 12,864 5,736 163 39,4945 743 11,819 11,937 5,978 239 37,6655 899* 11,4861 13,491 8,143 4315 Totals 146,683 71,164 71,023 148.855J 105,040 148,996 172,107. 70,2105 72,117 Smith Inlet , 1948 to 1956, Inclusive 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 36,898 166 2,249 1,664 1,642 331 28,864 326 1,0145 2,2755 2,070 205 18,937 1771 868 523 2,992 51 29,947 176 615 1,017 4,015 1005 34,834 367 1,466 6,496 3155 84 49,473 1741 3,259 2,482 2,530 1035 42,435 711 397 5,308 4,4995 39 13,189 159 785 2,533 2,361 56 10,4565 1865 9295 1,481* 1,5211 Steelheads 995 Totals 42,6525 34,5705 23,5485 35,8705 43,5625 58,022 52,750 19,083 14,675 Nass River 1948 to 195t i, Inclusive 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 22,505 536 35,588 44,402} 8,1655 217 13,6545 1,028 8,904 29,040 9,356 99 10,285 3981 15,9655 36,448 6,0241 237 18,1625 5275 25,756* 16,6355 5,118 3105 29,429 641 13,1125 13,016 1,223 2905 24,405} 5965 37,742 70,880 18,711 4075 27,2861 7985 14,321 12,582 2,737 236 9,268 1745 7,854 34,324 6,665 51 13,1815 416 7,2725 Pinks - _ 8,565 8,9545 Steelheads.- . ~ 149 Totals 111,414 62,0815 69,3585 66,5101 57,775 152,742} 57,961 58,3365 38,5385 REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 107 STATEMENT SHOWING THE SALMON-PACK OF BRITISH COLUMBIA BY DISTRICTS AND SPECIES—Continued Vancouver Island District and Adjacent Mainland, 1948 to 1956, Inclusive 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 Sockeyes_ Springs Chums Pinks Cohoes1 Steelheads Totals. 13,970 5,941} 71,595} 55,0525 118,938 255 13,1925 5,534 40,105 421,3555 101,349 63 12,051 1,6495 248,0985 32,913 54,783 915 46,8955 3,115} 124,840 439,1735 57,773 184 24,2525 1,687 24,039 171,812 23,583 635 22,107 3,133 105,458 303,102} 151,3255 114 13,806 3,343 125,833 132,016 72,871 127* 19,486} 6,3611 51,629 361,7831 98,9585 1515 9,981} 6,622 147,227* 43,574} 109,939* 227 265,523 581,599 349,586} 671,9815 245,437 585,240 347,996} 538,3701 317,572 1 Since 1940, bluebacks have been included with the cohoe-pack for Vancouver Island. Queen Charlotte Islands, 1948 to 1956, Inclusive 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 Sockeyes 1,323 1 17,443} 18,809} 7,3145 433 16 9,420 548 11,666 5 107} 65 83,805* 105,123 11,289 375 246 15 17,304 811 2,4371 6 635 96 1,712 178,9591 4,168 195 510 89 48 148,669 92,986 9,021 15 20 145 61,6961 3,455 22,579 24,8525 1,550 8,141} 71,287 Pinks 51,722 Cohoes 4,145 Totals 44,8915 22,088 200,369 20,806 185,590 88,2405 250,828 34,544 127,319 Central Area, 1948 to 1956, Inclusive 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 17,967 1,3645 58,602} 205,658 40,299 2735 19,648 1,864 45,950 122,371} 24,846 3185 30,858} 1,645 149,672 118,538} 26,511 5955 25,8455 1,568 175,289 92,517 21,502 9041 26,5835 1,2615 36,605 207,055 17,289 682 22,312 1,082 190,8431 237,559 61,4235 7061 25,997 776 164,884 163,301 17,061 762 16,1405 1,007 116,2925 173,456 44,169 355 23,246* Springs Chums _ Pinks - 1,1955 225,686 152,2005 36,816 Steelheads _ 8505 Totals 324,1645 214,998 327,8205 317,626 289,476 513,9265 372,781 351,420 439,995 K 108 BRITISH COLUMBIA STATEMENT SHOWING THE QUANTITY OF PILCHARD PRODUCTS PRODUCED IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, 1930 TO 1956 Season Canned Meal Oil l-30_3i Cases 55,166 17,336 4,622 2,946 35,437 27,184 35,007 40,975 69,473 7,300 59,166 72,498 42,008 94,512 78,772 79,536 4,359 2,656 Tons 13,934 14,200 8,842 1,108 7,628 8,666 8,715 8,483 8,891 906 4,853 11,437 11,003 15,209 8,435 5,812 699 67 Gal. 3,204,058 1031 32 2,551,914 1031 33 1,315,864 1933-34 _ 275,879 1034-35 1,635,123 1°35 36 1,634,592 1036-37 1,217,087 1037 38 1,707,276 1938-39 1Q3Q-40 2,195,850 178,305 1940-41 -- 890,296 1Q41-42 1,916,191 1047.43 1,560,269 1943 44 2,238,987 1,675,090 1044-45 1045-46 1,273,329 1046-47 81,831 1947-48 12,833 1048-40 1049-50 1950-51 .... _ _ 1951-57 1957-53 1953-54. .. . 1954-55 1955-56 1956-57 — STATEMENT SHOWING THE QUANTITY OF HERRING PRODUCTS PRODUCED IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, 1935 TO 1956 Season Canned Dry-salted Pickled Meal Oil 1935-36.. 1936-37.. 1937-38.. 1938-39- 1939-40- 1940-41.. 1941-42.. 1942-43.. 1943-44.. 1944^15-. 1945-46- 1946-47- 1947-48... 1948-49... 1949-50... 1950-51... 1951-52... 1952-53.. 1953-54... 1954-55... 1955-56.. 1956-57... Cases 26,143 20,914 27,365 23,353 418,021 640,252 1,527,350 1,253,978 1,198,632 1,190,762 1,307,514 1,634,286 1,283,670 92,719 77,913 56,798 103,928 5,132 66,231 25,508 11,728 Tons 14,983 16,454 10,230 7,600 7,596 5,039 302 5,807 3.0841 412 3,858 4,418 4,331 5,871 3,910 2,397 249 290 892 779 502 591 26 100 1295 1 Tons Gal. 5,313 328,639 10,340 786,742 14,643 1,333,245 18,028 1,526,117 22,870 1,677,736 10,886 923,137 8,780 594,684 4,633 323,379 7,662 512,516 9,539 717,655 5,525 521,649 7,223 484,937 18,948 1,526,826 31,340 2,614,925 30,081 3.823,464 31,913 3,385,685 32,777 3,832,301 218 7,203 31,740 3,516,106 28,782 3,714,924 47,097 4,475,536 32,772 3,602,937 1 Previously reported as 2,988 tons. The above figures are for the season October to March 31st, annually. REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 K 109 STATEMENT SHOWING THE QUANTITY OF MEAL, OIL, VITAMIN A, AND FERTILIZER PRODUCED FROM SOURCES OTHER THAN HERRING AND PILCHARD, 1947 TO 1956. Season From Whales From Fish- livers From Other Sources Whalebone and Meal Fertilizer Oil Oil Meal and Fertilizer Oil 1947-48 Tons 119 921 1,098 1,981 2,349 1,786 2,502 3,411 2,182 Tons 324 21 Gal. Units1 11,109,063 10,121,374 12,079,015 3,578,905 5,250,441 5,409,264 5,339,768 4,310,057 4,760,668 2,355,410 Tons 3,929 1,172 1,635 1,717 3,593 2,011 2,059 7.361 Gal. 519,802 141,098 175,202 166,898 250,777 192,315 243,819 965.405 1948-49 1949-50 1950-51 1951-52 1952-53 1953-54 1954-55 186,424 312,055 393,176 680,129 668,408 5,707,968 872,060 759,785 526,584 1955-56 1.993 1 201.690 1956-57— 1,925 187,787 1 Million U.S.P. units Vitamin A. K 110 BRITISH COLUMBIA o < pq 1/5 t> V. 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Provincial Department of Fisheries REPORT WITH APPENDICES for the Year Ended December 31st 1956 British Columbia. Legislative Assembly [1958]
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Title | Provincial Department of Fisheries REPORT WITH APPENDICES for the Year Ended December 31st 1956 |
Alternate Title | REPORT OF PROVINCIAL FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 1956 |
Creator |
British Columbia. Legislative Assembly |
Publisher | Victoria, BC : Government Printer |
Date Issued | [1958] |
Genre |
Legislative proceedings |
Type |
Text |
FileFormat | application/pdf |
Language | English |
Identifier | J110.L5 S7 1958_V02_05_K1_K110 |
Collection |
Sessional Papers of the Province of British Columbia |
Source | Original Format: Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Library. Sessional Papers of the Province of British Columbia |
Date Available | 2017-08-04 |
Provider | Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library |
Rights | Images provided for research and reference use only. For permission to publish, copy or otherwise distribute these images please contact the Legislative Library of British Columbia |
CatalogueRecord | http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=1198198 |
DOI | 10.14288/1.0354200 |
AggregatedSourceRepository | CONTENTdm |
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