REPORT
-OF  THE-
FISHERIES COMMISSIONER FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA
FOR THE YEAR 1903.
JOHN   PEASE   BABCOCK,   Commissioner.   4 Ed. 7 Fisheries Commissioner's Report. F 3
FISHERIES COMMISSIONER'S REPORT FOR 1903.
To the Honourable Charles Wilson, K. C,
Attorney-General, Victoria, B. C.
Sir,—I have the honour to report that during the past spring and summer I was engaged
in constructing the salmon hatchery at Seton Lake, for which moneys were appropriated in
June, 1902, and that during the fall I carefully inspected the greater part of the spawning
grounds of the Fraser River and its tributaries, visiting all the sections where observations
were made in 1901 and 1902, with the exception of the Quesnel Lake District. Owing to
being engaged at the Seton Lake Hatchery during the entire summer, I was unable to visit
the fisheries at Rivers Inlet, the Skeena, and other less important northern points during the
salmon run this year. Consequently, the observations contained in this report are confined
to the salmon of the Fraser River. During the last spring and summer I conducted a field
investigation of the life of the young sockeye in fresh water. The amount of information
obtained, and the deductions made therefrom, will be found in the concluding pages of this
report.
It is well known that the run of salmon in the Fraser River during the past season was
the poorest in many years. The scarcity was largely confined to the sockeye (0. nerka) variety,
though all varieties showed a marked decline. As the sockeye is the great commercial salmon
of the Fraser, its failure to run as abundantly as usual entailed a great loss upon both the
fishermen and canners. But what is of far greater importance to the Government, the fishermen and the canners than the remarkable decrease in the catch, is the fact that the number
of sockeye which reached the spawning grounds of the Fraser this year was so small as to
seriously threaten the destruction of this great industry. For I can positively state from
personal observations that the run of sockeye to the Fraser watershed above the great canyon
(which includes the Quesnel, Shuswap and Seton-Anderson Lakes sections) was a failure,
and that virtually no spawn to produce a future run was deposited there this year, though,
combined, these lake regions constitute what is believed to be 75 per cent, of the natural
spawning grounds of the sockeye of the entire Fraser River watershed. This statement,
which may reasonably alarm those interested, is made after a most careful inspection of the
spawning grounds during the past three seasons.
I believe that the decrease in the run and the absence of fish upon the spawning grounds
this year is attributable to excessive fishing. An investigation of the conditions existing on
the fishing grounds for the past five years amply demonstrates that to be the cause. And
the small catch and the empty spawning beds of the Fraser, this year and last, prove it.
In my report of last year I had occasion to review in detail the conditions existing upon
the fishing and spawning grounds of the Fraser, in which I sought to trace the movements of
the sockeye from the sea to the river, and attempted to show that too great a proportion of the
sockeye was being captured in the poor years, that an insufficient number reached the spawning
grounds, and that there was urgent need of giving greater protection to the fish. In that
review I sought to show, as others have done, that the greatest movement of the sockeye
seeking entrance to the Fraser passed through the American channels of Puget Sound, and
called attention to the fact that there were no limitations, either of time or method, placed F 4 Fisheries Commissioner's Report. 1904
upon the capture of sockeye in those waters, and that in consequence all, or most all, the
fish which attempted to pass through those channels were captured by trap, purse or drag nets.
It was also shown that in our waters, though fishing was prohibited until July 1st and that a
weekly 36-hour closed season was enforced, and that the fishing was confined to the use of gill
nets, there was an excessive number of such nets being used.
My observations during the past season confirm these predictions. Since that time there
has been no improvement in these conditions existing upon the fishing grounds. They remain
in the same deplorable state. There is no occasion for surprise that no greater restrictions
have been placed upon our fishermen in view of the fact that the whole burden of protection
already falls upon them, while the Americans continue to take every fish possible during the
entire time they are in their waters. If the decline in this fishery is due to excessive fishing,
as I have already asserted, the censure for it rests principally, if not wholly, at the door of
the State of Washington, as the unbridled fishing conducted in her waters is indefensible and
unjustifiable, and, if continued, will wipe out the salmon fishery of the Fraser. We are told
by some Washington officials that the decrease in the run of salmon is occasioned by the
failure to provide adequate hatcheries; that only by their establishment can the run
be maintained, and it is even proposed that the people interested in the fishing industry
in the State of Washington will, if permitted, construct and operate extensive hatcheries
on the Fraser. It may be that the great canning interests of Washington believe
this, and are the authors of this movement, and would willingly contribute towards
the building and maintenance of extensive hatcheries. They would certainly be justified
in doing so, but until they secure the passage of suitable protective legislation governing
their own fishing methods, there would seem to be a lack of sincerity in their suggestion
that is apparent to any one familiar with the regrettable conditions existing there and
which so seriously threaten their own interests and ours. No hatchery system, however
extensive, can be devised that will maintain the run of sockeye in the Fraser from
eggs obtained from its waters, unless the fishing is so regulated as to permit the free
passage of a sufficient number of fish to reach the spawning grounds each year. While it is
true that the output of young fish for the season could have been greatly increased had there
been an additional hatchery at the head of Lillooet Lake, it is equally true that under present
conditions 75 per cent, of the spawning grounds of the Fraser were barren of fish this year.
Two of the three hatcheries already established on the Fraser were unable to obtain over 10
per cent, of the eggs they have capacity to handle, and the eggs they did get were, with the
exception of three hundred thousand, secured at Shuswap, taken from fish which entered the
Fraser after most of the American traps had been removed from the Sound.
It is a generally recognised fact that the run of sockeye for a given year in the Fraser
depends upon the result of the spawning in the fourth year preceding, and for that reason the
canners and fishermen expected a fair run this year because there was a fair run four years
ago. Their estimate of the run was based on the pack of four years ago, which was in the
Province 480,485 cases, and in Washington, 512,540 cases. So far as can be learned no
inspection was made of the spawning grounds in that year. The conditions there were not
observed and considered in the estimates for that year. The fact that there was a good pack
four years ago indicates the conditions on the fishing grounds only, and does not tell the story
of the conditions on the spawning grounds in that year—what proportion of the run reached
the spawning beds. The pack represents the fish that were caught and not those that spawned.
The future run of fish depends upon the latter. We find from Dominion reports that there
were 3,405 fishing boats engaged in the Fraser District in 1899, and on the adjacent waters
of Puget Sound there were 159 traps, 365 gill nets, 330 set nets, 125 drag seines and 72 purse sectional  view,  interior   of  seton   lake   hatchery, showing   method  of
holding  egos  in  hatching troughs. 4 Ed. 7 Fisheries Commissioner's Report. F 5
nets in daily use throughout that season. Referring to the Puget Sound fishing industry for
1899, the Fish Commissioner of the State of Washington says : "The season of 1899 was a
record breaker in point of new capital employed and in the value of the season's output. This
remarkable increase was confined almost solely to the Puget Sound District, the amount of
capital employed showing an increase of 110 per cent., the numbers of employees increasing in
the same proportion. In the amount of earnings of employees there was an increase of 300
per cent., and the value of the output making the same extraordinary showing." With such
conditions existing on the fishing grounds four years ago, we may reasonably conclude that
the greater proportion of the fish which sought the Fraser in that year were caught in that
labyrinth of nets; and that as the same methods were in use this year and last, the fish were
from that cause prevented from reaching the spawning beds.
When the fishermen and canners estimate the run four years hence the empty spawning
beds of this year must be considered, just the same as they must consider, in estimating the
run next year, that there were no fry liberated from the hatchery in 1900, because the spawn
takers could get no eggs. It is the conditions existing on the spawning beds and not the
catch on the fishing grounds that should be the basis of their estimates.
The hatchery system of the Province to be comprehensive, must insure the annual planting
of such numbers of fry in all the salmon rivers of the Province as will maintain the run. Only
by the enactment of adequate regulations covering the entire fishing waters, and the establishment of hatcheries and egg-collecting stations at all the main spawning sections of the Fraser,
and at least one large hatchery at Rivers Inlet and on the Skeena River, can this result be
attained.
The run of sockeye in the Fraser is greatest every fourth year, because only in that year
a sufficient number of fish reach all the spawning grounds. In other words, only everv fourth
year is the entire spawning area of the Fraser planted with sockeye seed. How this condition
originated is not known. Just so sure as you lessen the production of wheat by lessening the
acreage planted, just so sure do you lessen the run of fish by lessening the spawning area and
the number of fish permitted to reach it. It does not follow that there must be no fishing;
that all the fish must be permitted to reach the spawning grounds, any more than it follows
that all the wheat must be re-planted to produce the same harvest, for the fish culturist, like
the farmer, by cultivation and protection, produces a greater harvest with a less amount of seed
than nature does.
The desirability of the establishment and operation of hatcheries is proven by the fact that
by hatchery propagation a far greater proportion of the ova of every spawn fish becomes a free
swimming fish than is produced by natural spawning; that with a given number of spawn fish
a greater number of young fish can be produced; that by the adoption of hatchery propagation
a greater number of fish may be caught for commercial use and the run still maintained than
if natural methods are depended upon. Nature is prodigal with the ova of fish. She has to
be, as her method of fertilization and protection of the ova, once it is expressed from the fish,
is uncertain and results in great loss.
A hatchery system insures results from the fish which reach the spawning grounds eighty
per cent, greater than without hatcheries. With the lessening of the spawning area and the
increasing demand for fish, hatchery propagation must be resorted to or the run of fish will
decrease. Hatchery propagation depends upon such measures of protection as will insure an
adequate number of fish reaching the spawn stations, as well as upon the number and the
capacity of the hatcheries established.
It has been shown this year that in all but one section of the spawning districts of the
Fraser watershed there were few or no sockeye, and that almost the entire sockeye ova obtained
for the hatcheries were taken at Morris Creek, on Harrison River, from fish which entered the F 6 Fisheries Commissioner's Report. 1904
Fraser after the fishing season was over. Had there been a failure at the Morris Creek
spawning station, either from high water, as was the case at Silver Creek, or the absence of
fish, as at Shuswap and Seton Lakes, the plant of fry next spring would have been confined
to the two million taken at Seton Lake hatchery and the three hundred thousand at the Shuswap
hatchery. This demonstrates the inadequacy of the present hatchery system. Success in salmon
propagation can result only from sufficient protection on the fishing grounds, and in establishing many spawning stations. There should be one or more spawning stations in every section
where the fish congregate in large numbers to spawn. The sockeye ran abundantly at Rivers
Inlet the past season, and the spawning beds of Oweekayno Lake were well covered. Had
sufficient money been available for the establishment of a large egg-collecting station and
hatchery at Oweekayno Lake and on the Birkenhead River, at the head of Lillooet Lake,
enough eggs could have been obtained and shipped to the Seton and Shuswap hatcheries to
operate them to their full capacity. Sufficient eggs could have been secured from such a station
on the Birkenhead River to have more than doubled the output of fry from the Seton and
Shuswap hatcheries next spring. The fish were there to produce the eggs. From the developments of the past season it is to be regretted that the Department, for the reason above indicated, was unable to carry out these improvements ; yet, it is only fair to state that during the
run the heavy rains caused a flood in the Birkenhead River, which makes it doubtful if operations there would have been successful.
To provide an adequate hatchery system, the Province should construct a hatchery at the
head of Lillooet Lake, at or near the mouth of Owl Creek, on the Birkenhead River, also one
on Oweekayno Lake, at Rivers Inlet. With the establishment of such stations and the operation of the ones at Seton Lake, Shuswap Lake and Bon Accord, and the enlargement of the
one on the Skeena River, the output of fry each year would be sufficiently large to reasonably
insure the maintenance of the normal run; provided always that the regulations permit a fair
proportion of the fish to reach these stations. Proper protection in both Provincial and
American waters, and an annual plant of one hundred million (100,000,000) of fry in the
Fraser would in time insure an average yearly run of salmon to that stream which would
approximate in numbers the year of the present big run.
The establishment of such a system as here advocated will necessitate the initial expenditure of, approximately, fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), and about thirty-five thousand dollars
($35,000) per annum for maintenance. Considering that the salmon industry stands second in
the Province in the value of its products, such an expenditure seems warrantable. Furthermore, the fishing industry has already contributed to the Dominion Government, in the way of
special taxes, an amount more than 100 per cent, greater than that which has been expended
for its protection and preservation. And in addition to the great sum already paid for special
fishery licences, this industry has paid the usual and ordinary taxes levied upon property in the
Province, and has been one of the largest employers of labour as well. The fish-canning
industry, in a petition to the Government, has stated that " in all reason the moneys it has paid
in special licences should be expended for the preservation of its interests," which has not
been done.
A natural deduction from the foregoing would be that the construction and operation of
additional hatcheries by the Province on the Fraser is unwarranted so long as the Americans
persist in their present method of catching all the fish which attempt to pass through their
waters. I would concur in this deduction did I not believe that the keen commercial sense of
the Americans is already awakened to the dangers which now threaten one of their great
industries, and that within two, or, at most, four years they will have secured the enactment
of such legislation by the State of Washington as will provide a closed season on the Sound at  4 Ed. 7 Fisheries Commissioner's Report. F 7
least equal to that now enforced in our waters. If they do not do so, but continue their present
operations, the discontinuance of hatchery operations on the Fraser by the Government would
compel them to do so, or would result in the loss of the millions of dollars they now have
invested in fisheries, which theyT know depends upon Fraser-bred fish for their maintenance.
Seton Lake Hatchery.
In October, 1902, bids were invited for the construction of a hatchery building and
Superintendent's cottage on Lake Creek, the outlet of Seton Lake, near the village of Lillooet.
There were six bidders. A contract was let to W. Duguid, of Lillooet, the lowest bidder, in
November. The buildings were completed and accepted in March, 1903. The hatchery
building is a substantial wooden structure 210 feet long by 40 feet wide. The roof is supported
by the walls, thus giving a clear floor space for the 160 hatching troughs, which are each 16
feet long, 16 inches wide and 7 inches deep. Two troughs are placed end to end and extend
the width of the building, and receive the water from the head flumes which run lengthwise of
the building. The equipment permits of the handling of forty million (40,000,000) eggs. The
water supply is taken from Lake Creek at a point some 1,400 feet from the hatchery, and
about the same distance from Seton Lake, by means of a wooden flume three feet wide and
two feet deep.
A comfortable cottage for the Superintendent and a boarding-house for the other employees
were constructed and furnished. The station in all its equipment is modern, and is not excelled
by any other on the coast.
In the construction and operation of this hatchery I was ably assisted by Mr. Le Roy
Ledgerwood, fish culturist, and an able body of local workmen.
Mr. J. S. Burcham, Field Collector of the Department, was stationed at the hatchery
during the greater part of the fall and winter, making a study of the embryonic life of the
sockeye.
A retaining or obstructing weir was placed at the mouth of Portage Creek, at the head of
Seton Lake, in July, with the view of retaining in this lake the early run of salmon until they
were ready to spawn. There was no August run, and in the latter part of that month a
weir was placed across the outlet of the lake to hold the fish in Lake Creek. By means of
traps placed in the weir and the use of a drag net below it, we captured during October and
November 971 salmon, which constituted the run which reached this section this yrear, and
from them we obtained 2,068,000 eggs.
I selected the Seton Lake hatchery site in 1901—the year of the big run—but did not
begin to build until after a careful inspection of the conditions existing in the spring and fall
of 1902—the year of the small run. From my two seasons' inspection I believed it to be the
best location that could be found on the Fraser River above the great canyon, and was greatly
disappointed in not getting a larger run of fish. Either the conditions this year were
exceptional, or the run at this point during the two previous years was not expressive of the
value of this site for propagating salmon. That the conditions this year were exceptional is
borne out by the fact that there was a similar failure in the run of sockeye at all points above
the great canyon.
The eggs taken at the hatchery are being successfully handled, and the fry will be liberated
next spring. Had the Province established a spawning station on Harrison Lake watershed,
or even at Rivers Inlet, the Seton Lake Hatchery might have been fully supplied with eggs,
as there were sufficient spawn fish in both districts to have insured, barring unfavourable
weather, an abundance of eggs, which could have been successfully transferred to this station
for hatching. Movement of Young Sockeye.
During the past year the Department began a systematic study of the life of the young
sockeye salmon in the fresh water of the Fraser, to disclose, if possible, at what age the young
migrate to salt water, in order to determine the most suitable time and place to liberate the
fry from the hatcheries.
The late Mr. Cloudsley Rutter, a naturalist of the United States Bureau of Fisheries, has
definitely shown that the young of the quinnat or spring salmon (0. tschaivytscha) commence
the descent of rivers as soon as they have absorbed the yolk sack and are free swimming, and
that they reach the sea, from the Sacramento River, at from four to five months of age. His
observations were confined to the quinnat or spring salmon, as that is the only one of the five
species of Pacific salmon found in great numbers in that stream. Heretofore no systematic
study of the movements of young sockeye (0. nerka) has been recorded. The following
notes summarise the work of the past season. Meagre as is the data submitted, it indicates
strongly that there were this year two distinct sizes, representing two distinct ages, descending
the Fraser at nearly the same time. The smaller size, and, as far as is shown, the lesser
number, averaged If inches in length, and were the product of the spawning of the previous
fall, and are hereafter referred to as "fry." The larger fish measure from 2| to 3 inches in
length, blue on back and silvery below, and are certainly one year older than the fry, and are
believed to have spent one year in the lakes, in consequence of which they are here termed
" yearlings." Owing to the muddy water of the Fraser and Thompson Rivers, it is impossible
to distinguish the young salmon in the main channels of either river. Only at the outlet of
one or two of the laj-ge lakes, and in the clear waters issuing from them, is it possible to follow
their movements. The observations in clear water, recorded here, were conducted at Seton
and Anderson Lakes. Those made in the Fraser were conducted at the junction of the
Thompson, at Lytton, and of fish taken either with a fyke or a hand net from both streams,
where two distinct sizes were found.
Observations at Seton Lake.
In Lake Creek, which is the outlet of Seton Lake, fry were observed as early as January,
in 1903, scattered along in the shallow waters at the edges of the stream. They were less than
1^ inches in length, and, when first observed, still showed traces of the yolk sack. As the
season advanced they lost all trace of the sack and grew slightly larger. They remained in the
creek until the end of April, their numbers growing gradually less. A few were seen in May,
but none in June. Those in the creek, so far as could be determined, moved down stream.
Specimens were found all along, and at the end of, a short irrigation ditch diverted from the
main creek half a mile below the lake. Scattered small schools of fry were seen moving in the
edges of the lower end of Seton Lake. It could not be determined that they moved out of the
lake, nor could they be found in the lake after May. No fry were observed at the outlet of
Anderson Lake, which is tributary to Seton Lake, but no regular watch was maintained there.
Yearlings.
The migration of the yearlings from Seton and Anderson Lakes in 1903 began in April
was the greatest in the first two weeks in May, and continued until June. In Lake Creek, at
a point some 800 feet distant from Seton Lake, a dam has been placed to afford a pond for
impounding the late fall run of adult fish, in order to secure their ova. The water supply of
the hatchery below is taken from the dam by means of a large flume fed from the head-gate
which is on the north bank. Up to the middle of May the water issuing from the lake passed
either through the head-gate or over the dam, but a sufficient stream did not pass over the top  ^ '■- '■ 'ft, "l"
BOARDING-HOUSE     FOR    EMPLOYEES,    SETON    LAKE    HATCHERY.
SUPERINTENDENT'S    COTTAGE,    SETON    LAKE    HATCHERY. 4 Ed. 7 Fisheries Commissioner's Report. F 9
in April and May to attract the yearlings. The water between the lake and the hatchery dam
was on an average three feet in depth, 800 feet in length and 225 feet in width, with a gentle
but pronounced current. It afforded an exceptional location for observing the movements of
the yearlings.
The seaward movement of yearlings in 1903 began with the spring flood early in April
and continued to the end of May, and was greatest the first two weeks in May. Very few
were noticeable in June. The yearlings issued from the lake at first in small and compact
schools, towards dusk, after the sun's rays had left the surface of the water, and continued until
sunrise next morning. Often in the afternoon, from a high bluff at the outlet, large schools
could be seen coming down the lake. As the season advanced the numbers greatly increased.
They moved in a compact school, running head first from the lake into the gentle currents of
the outlet. Upon reaching the first pronounced riffle they would turn en masse and head up
the stream, circling and moving more or less rapidly in the more quiet stretches before venturing
to approach the dam. During the daylight their movements could be closely followed. Upon
first seeing the schools of yearlings moving from Seton Lake I was impressed with the remarkable similarity of their movements to that of the schools of adult sockeye observed in salt water.
They were in the same compact mass, running in the same manner, finning the surface, with
now and then a fish leaping out of the water. In April and early in May the main current of
the stream passed out through the head-gate of the dam, so that it was necessary for the school
to pass through it in order to reach the waters below. Upon feeling the rapid current at the
head-gate the school would circle and head up stream. As the light failed, and the numbers
in the schools increased, the head of the school would slowly approach nearer and nearer the
head-gate, and now and then a hundred or more would permit themselves to be drawn into the
flume, tail first, and be swept into the pool below. With the passing out of the first few
thousands the movement became general and continuous; all turning just at the head-gate,
they permitted themselves to be drawn downward tail first. Once the movement became general
it was impossible to estimate the numbers that would pass out even in an hour. At times the
waters between the lake and the dam were black with them. Even to observers accustomed
to watching the movements of great numbers of fry in hatcheries and rearing ponds, the sight
was astonishing, and no estimate could be given of their numbers. For many nights there
were thousands and thousands of them passing.
That these fish were the product of the spawning of the great run of sockeye in 1901 there
can be no reasonable doubt. That they represented the greater proportion of the product
seems almost as certain, though I know that the number of fry which passed down Lake
Creek in 1902 was very large, much larger than in 1903. The sight was amazing, and impressed one with the fact that the percentage of natural fertilisation of ova and the survival
of the resulting fry was greater than has been generally believed by the authorities.
The dam no doubt retarded their movements and caused them to congregate in the creek
in greater numbers than they otherwise would have done. Once the school had passed the dam
their movements could not be so fully observed. They appeared to pass rapidly down the
stream once they were below the dam. Where the water was not broken on the surface they
swam down stream head first, turning only when there were indications of a fall.
The main body which passed the dam between dusk and dawn appeared to descend the
length of Lake and Cayoosh Creeks to the muddy Fraser (about three and a half miles) by
10 a. m., as no considerable numbers could be seen in the creeks after that time.
Of their rate of travel after they reached the Fraser no idea could be formed, nor could
we state that they still kept in compact schools. Mr. Rutter estimated that the young quinnat
go down the Sacramento River at the rate of ten miles per day, that they travel mostly at F 10 Fisheries Commissioner's Report. 1904
night, and said " Muddy water hastens the movement down stream, as also does high water,
which is usually muddy." If the yearlings move down the Fraser as rapidly as they do down
Lake and Cayoosh Creeks their rate of speed must exceed ten miles per day, as the Fraser is
a much more rapid stream than the Sacramento.
In addition to the movement of yearlings from Seton Lake, there was observed a large
movement from Anderson into Seton through Portage Creek. The schools issued from
Anderson Lake in the same manner as from Seton. All that passed from Anderson had also
to pass from Seton into Lake Creek to reach the Fraser. Dailv observations were made
only at Lake Creek, so no estimate could be made this year as to which of these lakes reared
the greater number of yearlings.
Observations at Lytton.
Observations of the movements of fry and yearlings, both in the Fraser and Thompson
Rivers, were conducted at Lytton by my field assistant, Mr. J. S. Burcham.
The Fraser River at Lytton, just above its junction with the Thompson, at low water, is
about 125 yards wide, averages eleven feet in depth, and flows at the rate of six miles per hour.
During the season it raised 50 feet, reaching high water mark on June 15, at which time it
was about 400 yards wide. In April the temperature averaged 36°; May, 46°; June, 53°;
and July, 56°. At all times the water was muddy and of a yellowish brown colour which
prevented observation of the fish in the water. Their presence could only be ascertained by
capturing them in nets. The Thompson joins the Fraser at Lytton, coming from the east
through a precipitous gorge at the rate of ten miles per hour. It is about 60 yards wide,
varies from 16 to 23 feet in depth, is fairly clear, and has an average temperature in April of
41°; May, 45°; June, 51° ; July, 54°. The clearer waters and higher temperature of the
Thompson, as compared with the Fraser, is possibly due to the waters coming from the Shuswap
and Kamloops Lakes. During the season the Thompson rose 49 feet. Owing to its steep,
rocky banks its width was not increased more than 20 yards over its width at low water. At
high water it was discoloured, but very much less so than the Fraser. Observations there
were conducted beginning the first of April and were discontinued on the 13th of July. In
making these observations a fyke-net and hand scoop-net were employed to catch the fish.
The fyke-net used consisted of a long cylindrical bag made of a light, small-meshed webbing,
which was kept open by means of hoops, and terminated in a pocket which was entered through
a funnel-shaped opening of webbing. From the face of the bag there were two leader nets
extending ten feet to either side, which led the fish into the mouth of the funnel. This net
was set on the bottom of the river near the shore, with the mouth and leader nets up stream.
It was maintained in its position by means of stakes or anchors. The hand-net used was the
ordinary scoop-net employed by the Indians, but of a smaller meshed webbing. This latter
net was mainly used at night to take fish made visible by lamp light. Daily observations
were recorded on tables showing the number and size of fish taken, which are too cumbersome
to be included in this report. The following summary will suffice to indicate the results of
observations at Lytton : There was a seaward movement of both fry and yearlings in the
Thompson and Fraser Rivers extending from the 1st of April to July 13th. The movement
of fry was greatest in the Thompson, and appeared to be most numerous in April. The
movement of yearlings in the Thompson was apparently less than in the Fraser, and, like the
run of fry, was a month earlier. The average length of fry in both rivers was If inches.
The average length of yearlings was three inches. More fry than yearlings were secured in
both streams, which was natural, from the fact that the latter were stronger swimmers, more
shy, better able from their year of experience to avoid capture, and kept more in the main
currents. They both travelled down stream tail first, drifting rather than swimming down.
In the muddy waters of the Fraser they seemed to travel as much by day as by night. In
the Thompson the movement was always greatest at night. Observations will be continued
during the coming winter to ascertain at what time the seaward migration first passes Lytton.
Young Sockeye at other Points.
Mr. C. B. Sword, Dominion Inspector of Fsheries, furnished me with two sockeye fry,
one If and the other 1| inches in length, which he secured from the Fraser River near Bon
Accord, on the 16th of April, 1902, which he said appeared to be passing down stream.
Muddy and discoloured as the river was at that time, he observed them in considerable
numbers. WEIR    AT    HEAD    OF    LAKE    CREEK,    SETON    LAKE    HATCHERY.
WEIR    AT    MOUTH    OF    PORTAGE    CREEK,    SETON    LAKE    HATCHERY. 4 Ed. 7 Fisheries Commissioner's Report. F 11
While sitting on the watchman's platform of a fish-trap off Lopez Island in July, 1902, I
observed large schools of young salmon passing in and out of the meshes of the heart of
the trap, which appeared to be sockeye, though no specimens could be secured. They
moved in the same compact schools as the yearlings observed at Seton Lake, turning and
circling with the same precision which marked their movements there, and were apparently
about the same size. The experienced trap fisherman at my side stated that schools of these
young salmon could be observed every year, but that they were more numerous that season
than any other in his experience.
Early in August, 1902, from the deck of a purse-net fishing scow, which was being operated on the salmon banks at the south-westerly end of San Juan Island, I noticed many schools
of two distinct sizes of young salmon, which, I believe, were sockeye, and was told by a fisherman who had fished there with a purse-net for the past six years that the young salmon were
more numerous than he had ever seen them before, and from their movements was of the
opinion that they were sockeye. He stated that early in July there were more of the fry size
than in August, and that there were more of the yearling size in the latter month.
The fry and yearlings have many enemies in fresh water. The crops of loons, osprevs
and numerous other water birds which were killed at Seton Lake during the migration of
1903, were full of the yearlings. Twenty-two were removed from the crop and throat of one
loon. Large lake trout, charr and burbot were caught, whose stomachs were distended with
them. In the pool above the dam at Seton Lake no less than twenty-two large fish were
counted at one time preying upon the schools of yearlings. The number destroyed by these
birds and fish is very great and cannot be prevented. Another source of destruction, more
pernicious in its effects on these young fish, was found to exist, which could and should be
prevented. On the 2nd of May last, at the head of Portage Creek, the outlet of Anderson
Lake, I found a brush and rock dam which prevented the passage of the young salmon from
that lake, which was constructed and used by the Indians for the purpose of enabling them
to take these immature fish for food. It was an ingenious and most destructive contrivance,
built in the form of a great funnel. Its wings were made of logs, green boughs, willow brush
and rock. At its lower end there was a basket-trap into which the fish were swept by the
swift waters, and from which they were removed by the Indians. While the water passed
more or less freely through the wings of the dam, the brush prevented the fish from doing so.
Many fish, either in seeking to pass through the brush, or being drawn into it by the current,
became enmeshed and were killed. The Indians make no attempt to remove the fish thus
entrapped, as they secure all they can use from the basket-trap at the lower end. After
photographing it, this brush dam was wholly removed by my assistants, many thousands of
dead young salmon being found in the brush wings. Evidently few or none of the young
salmon which attempted to pass through it did so alive. At every Indian house on Portage
Creek were found young salmon taken from this trap. The Indians eat these yearlings in a
fresh state, and smoke and dry many more. A similar but smaller trap was found at the
lower end of Portage creek, which was maintained by some of the Indians who live at that
end of the creek, but no fish were found in it, and we were told by the Indians that they had
caught none for over a week, because none could pass the dam above. They complained of
the fact that the dam above them had been placed entirely across the creek, and indignantly
protested against our destroying their traps, claiming that they had always been permitted to
catch these young fish for food. I do not know that this kind of contrivance is used at other
lakes in the Fraser watershed, but as there are Indians on all the lakes, save Quesnel, it is
probable that it is, and if so, the annual loss of young sockeye from this cause is very great.
As there is an abundance of game in all these sections, and the Indians have no trouble in
getting all the food they need, no possible excuse can be made for their destroying these young
salmon, and I strongly urge that steps be taken to prevent their doing so.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN PEASE BABCOCK,
Fisheries Commissioner.
Victoria, December 3.1st, 1908. F 12
Fisheries Commissioner's Report.
1904
THE PACK OF BRITISH COLUMBIA SALMON, SEASON 1903.
Furnished the Department by the Fraser River Canners' Association.
PACK BY CANNERIES—FRASER RIVER.
Cannery.
British Columbia Packers' Association—
Albion	
Atlas	
Anglo-American 	
Acme   	
Brunswick	
Canadian Pacific	
Currie's 	
Colonial	
Celtic	
Cleeve 	
Dinsmore Island	
Ewen's	
Imperial	
Pacific Coast	
Terra Nova	
Westminster	
Anglo-British Columbia Packing Co., Ltd.—
Britannia	
B. A. and Canoe Pass	
B. C. Packing Co	
Phcenix  	
Wadhams 	
Malcolm, Cannon & Co.—
English Bay	
Gulf of Georgia	
Scottish Canadian	
J. H. Todd & Sons-
Beaver 	
Richmond	
British Columbia Canning Co., Ltd.—
Deas Island	
Canadian Canning Co., Ltd.—
Fraser River	
Star	
Vancouver 	
Federation Brand Salmon Canning Co., Ltd.
Lighthouse 	
St. Mungo Canning Co., Ltd.—
St. Mungo	
National Packing Co., Ltd.—
Eagle Harbour	
Great Northern Cannery—
Great Northern	
C. S. Windsor-
Industrial	
Total	
Sockeyes.
6,688
3,702
3,150
3,769
6,175
4,454
8,781
3,440
3,551
4,725
3,585
7,612
15,562
5,484
7,716
5,338
.530
,305
,034
,547
,396
183
696
463
960
495
490
572
4,526
6,038
3,489
2,288
3,192
Red and White
Springs.
204,809
Humpbacks.
3
324
43
225
90
72
200
238
45
191
45
55
21
2,084
810
2,607
1,087
9,536
13
1,677
103
195
2,973
4,000
4,327
716
461
Grand Total.
3,705
3,474
3,769
15,711
4,461
8,912
3,440
3,551
4,738
5,305
7,940
15,847
5,484
7,710
5,338
7,530
9,35ii
5,234
6,547
5,396
3,197
11,846
10,163
11,340
4,495
5,031
7,881
4,617
11,175
6,867
2,309
4,740  4 Ed. 7
Fisheries Commissioner's Report.
F 13
The Pack of British Columbia Salmon, Season 1903.—Co7tlinued.
PACK BY CANNERIES—NORTHERN POINTS.
Cannery,
Skeena River—
British Columbia Packers' Association-
Balmoral     	
Cunningham's	
Standard 	
Anglo-British Columbia Packing Co., Ltd.-
B. A. & N. Pacific	
J. H. Todd & Sons-
Inverness	
British Columbia Canning Co., Ltd.—
Oceanic	
Wallace Bros., Ltd.—
Claxton   	
Carlisle Canning Co., Ltd.—
Carlisle	
P. Herman—
Herman's	
Cassiar Packing Co. —
Cassiar	
Rivers Inlet—
British Columbia Packers' Association-
Brunswick 	
Wadhams  	
A. B. C. Packing Co., Ltd.—
Good Hope	
British Columbia Canning Co., Ltd.—
R. I, & Victoria	
Naas River—
Federation Brand Salmon Canning Co., Ltd. -
Mill Bay	
Naas Harbour	
Lowe Inlet—
British Columbia Packers' Association-
Lowe Inlet 	
Dean Channel—
R. Draney—
Kimsquit ...
Namu Harbour-
R. Draney—
Namu 	
Bella Coola—
British Columbia Packers' Association-
Bella Coola	
Smith's Inlet—
Wm. Hickey Canning Co., Ltd.-
Hickey	
Alert Bay—
British Columbia Packers' Association-
Alert Bay	
West Coast Vancouver Island—
Clayoquot Fishing & Trading Co.,
Clayoquot	
Alberni Canal—
Alberni Packing Co.-
Alberni 	
Observatory Inlet—
Pacific Northern Packing Co.-
Pacific Northern	
Totals.
Sockeyes.
Red and White
Springs.
Humpbacks.
Cohoes.
Grand Total.
5,284
3,258
3,116
3,586
2,937
1,625
258
88
378
1,987
306
10,873
8,440
3,510
13,473
3,339
1,956
1,878
20,646
5,261
613
3,163
650
9,687
6,277
1,681
4,593
1,390
13,941
5,988
1,546
3,798
1,141
12,473
4,179
798
1,164
342
6,483
2,611
3,508
2,366
650
9,135
1,521
1,034
25
93
926
3,481
18,705
18,397
20,569
283
316
20,978
12,268
62
185
12,515
16,885
273
34
17,192
3,916
4,522
1,049
426
1,008
1,179
3,200
5,973
6,127
10,196
6,919
77
5,378
417
1,010
6,805
2,819
835
1,508
5,162
9,733
6,140
4,090
1,224
5,400
740
1,5C5
1,818
219
3,542
3,950
513
487
4,950
3,868
3,390
125
353
2,932
122
2,940
5,994
163,903
23,573
22,878
26,190
236,549 F 14
Fisheries Commissioner's Report.
1904
The Pack of British Columbia Salmon, Season 1903.—Continued.
THE TOTAL PACK.
Sockeyes.
Spring.
Humpbacks.
Cohoes.
Grand Total.
204,809
163,908
368,717
2,084
23,573
4,504
22,878
25,728
26,190
237,125
236,549
25,657
27,382
51,918
473,674
DESCRIPTION OF PACK.
Pack by Shapes and Districts.
1-tb.
Tails.
i-tb.
Tails.
l.fi>.
Flats.
i-tt>.
Flats.
1-lb.
Ovals.
i-ib.
Ovals.
Squats.
Total.
Grand
Total.
Districts.
Fraser. River—
51,705
633
3,340
72
37,151
547
3,459
6,961
3,866
682
88,383
380
4,380
440
17,588
84
5,602
204,809
2,084
4,504
25,728
Humpbacks 	
1,045
18,690
21,538
16,514
20,045
9,257
54,656
800
180
219
4,008
669
64
20,354
5,210
812
13
Skeena River—
237,125
50,968
18,008
20,045
9,648
Red and White Springs  	
391
7,031
Rivers Inlet—
3,092
98,669
68,119
872
180
219
Naas River—
3,448
982
806
69,390
8,438
1,475
Red and White Springs	
2,152
6,919
77
35
2,187
Lowe Inlet—
12,100
6,919
77
3,200
5,378
417
3,200
Dean Channel—
10,196
5,378
417
1,010
2,819
1,010
Namu Harbour—
6,805
2,819
835
1,508
4,090
1,224
835
1,508
4,090
1,224
Bella Coola—
Sockeyes	
5,162
4,419
5,400
740
4,419
Smith's Inlet—
9,733
5,400
740
Red and White Springs  	
Alert Bay—
1,505
1,505
6,140
1,818
219
2,932
122
1,818
219
Observatory Inlet—
3,542
2,932
122
2,940
7,340
638
2,940
West Coast Vancouver Island—
7,340
638
840
840
112,273
17,672
5,615
Total
25S,501
3,412
63,571
12,630
473,674 INDIAN    TRAP    FOR    CAPTURE    OF    YOUNG    SOCKEYE    AT    THE    OUTLET
OF    ANDERSON    LAKE-
INDIAN    TRAP    FOR    CAPTURE    OF    YOUNG    SOCKEYE    IN    PORTAGE    CREEK. 4 Ed. 7
Fisheries Commissioner's Report.
F 15
The Pack of British Columbia Salmon, Season 190S.—Continued.
PACK BY DISTRICTS, PREVIOUS YEARS.
1902
1901
1900
1899
510,383
108,026
19,443
10,142
71,079
1898
1897
1896
356,984
100,140
14,649
10,395
1895
327,095
154,875
23,218
7,638
3,608
70,298
4,867
4,966
10,806
5,604
7,907
5,200
625,982
990,252
126,092
14,790
6,461
5,600
66,840
4,158
11,460
4,629
5,984
316,522
128,529
18,238
10,834
4,138
75,413
4,849
10,106
9,182
7,602
256,101
81,234
18,953
10,312
S60.459
65,905
20,847
10,666
400,368
67,797
19,550
8,681
104,711
40,207
107,468
58,579
Namu and Kimsquifc	
7,200
3,470
2,694
4,367
8,602
4,434
3,987
2,840
5,107
3,000
5,100
8,500
4,350
West Coast V. I	
3,320
585,413
732,437
1,236,156
484,161
1,015,477
601,570
566,395
SHIPMENTS IN DETAIL—1903.
a
o   .
3 o
EH
5 S
•e a
o tt
H
o
o
at _
> at
a .j
Q
H
-. =   -
o 2 P
o£ o
if, 5 a
9   rr   C
o •" -f
H
'Si
rt    ^,
'r\     O
K^
tt, _/
4j o-SS
O.a o
o ^ ^
H
SI a
v, a
a s
H
a
3"^ a
o SN
h a
|l
O
o
a
tn
a
o
o
tj
a
a
K
H
O
O
3q
"a
o
H
§
72,280
1,159
12,973
5,371
14,046
17,139
12,543
5,296
33,358
18,750
76,252
15,143
15,191
12,046
385
1,710
697
6
1,442
96
390
600
20
31
7,873
4,430
1,525
4,233
3,392
4
122
650
506
641
2,703
240
3,485
3,756
479
50
34,089
192,056
07,218
Anglo-British Columbia Packing Co., Ltd ...
12,527
2,709
3,208
J. H. Todd & Sons	
16,000
19,351
25,522
British Columbia Canning Co., Ltd	
1,309
39,635
17,529
16,626
Federation B. S. C. Co., Ltd	
280
1,584
1,646
1,619
11,175
6,867
3,475
Great Northern Cannery	
C. S. Windsor      	
461
986
3,039
1,300
1,087
2,309
4,740
4,950
3,868
4,300
8,362
5,988
1,346
3,798
700
3,780
500
200
172
6,483
6,140
11,967
9,135
3,481
5,994
3,500
500
1,900
5,491
5,007
3,002
1,476
2,291
200
4,468
162,649
Total	
24,590
461
33,358
18,750
152,498
35,463
1,472
10,344
478,674
SHIPMENTS IN DETAIL, PREVIOUS YEARS.
1902
1901
206,344
19,236
576,065
46,831
1900
51,095
10,143
257,848
60,090
1899
1898
1897
1896
1895
England—
95,711
1,700
290,913
150,670
5,733
365,151
26,12S
79,508
5,687
242,437
8,050
325,966
4,957
407.738
38,373
182,253
9,076
322,364
11,405
96,459
256,301
65,647
29,590
79,288
8,832
6,000
135,806
10,355
627
5,156
79,714
3,350
131,875
38,022
13,538
19,956
180,939
3,892
79,171
25,903
56,237
20,309
20,815
114,736
41,518
4,246
11,945
12,079
231
19,862
87,881
9,644
439
1,183
29,380
Australia	
130,815
28,579
226
4,823
74,000
51,041
11,609
2,128
3,844
7,850
4,326
25,952
484,161
601,570
Total	
625,982
1,236,156
585,413
732,437
1,015,477
566,395 F 16
Fisheries Commissioner's Report.
1904
The Pack of British Columbia Salmon, Season 1903.—Concluded.
BRITISH COLUMBIA SALMON FLEET, SEASON 1903.
Names op Vessels.
-r    9
5 o
a So
IBS
o
tr   O
W                      4l            4ri
-
By Steamer
with Option
London or
Liverpool.
fl
■ rH   ;>   O
°a as
n
Total.
SS. Nino-Chow	
10.545
11,226
21,670
5,340
7,720
15,885
10,000
28,945
21,570
12,872
2,872
10,000
11,808
1,150
11,808
1,150
36,475
36,475
64,772
45,470
64,772
45,470
Total	
43,340
15,932
33,358
146,717
239,347
VICTORIA, B.C :
Prinled bv Richard Wolfkndrn, I.S.O., V.D., Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty
1904.