Natives urge closing of sport fishery to save chinook salmon

[Charlie]

First Nation is nothing more, nothing less than a “POLITICAL” organization! They “LOBBY”! It is NOT a governing body! Then remember, not all tribes (bands) belong to First Nations. Point being, is First Nations can NOT actually tell any band what they can, or can’t do. They can only “ASK.” The different Bands govern themselves, as them! Btw… guess what! Right now it should be pretty clear to all,unless there is a signed treaty in place - DFO can also only do the same - “ASK”! Sheesh guys, some might want to remember those bands haven’t fought any war. Most haven't legaly sold any property. Most haven't signed any treaties. It is very clear, most don't consider British Columbia having any authority over any non-treaty Indian! And, some really don’t even consider themselves British Columbians or even Canadians. Why do you think they call themselves “Nations”?

It has been well documented; the majority ofthe Fraser Chinook are taken at the mouth, or in the Fraser! Since the Nicola 4-2 keeps being brought up as the issue,I ran the CWT recoveries! The CWT for 2010 is VERY MUCH available! It is open to the public and is very easy to obtain, to the point would anyone really like to see where, who, and when the Nicola 4-2 CWT “spring run” are really recovered? How about this for starters? The following is by CWT code (“Tag Number”)released for brood stocks between 2005 and 2010. I pulled all the CWT recoveries from BC through 2010; however, I only copied Nicola spring run, since that seems to be the continuing “political” issue. This list is by the actual “Tag Code” / ”Brood Year” / ”Release Year” / ”Run” (Spring) / ”Hatchery” / ”Release Site,” and last but not least “Recovery Data,” including recovering agency and year. Yes, DFO has this information as if you note anything that says “CDFO” actually comes directly from THEM! Have fun with this information! J

Tag code number 180183
2007/2009/Spring/H-Spius Creek H/R-Nicola R/RecoverySummary for Tag Code is "0”

Tag code number 180184
2007/2009/Spring/H-Spius Creek H/R-Nicola R/RecoverySummary for Tag Code is "0"

Tag code number 180189
2007/2009/Spring/H-Spius Creek H/R-Nicola R/RecoverySummary for Tag Code is "0"

Tag code number 180965
2008/2010/Spring/H-Spius Creek H/R-Nicola R/RecoverySummary for Tag Code is "0"

Tag code number 180966
2008/2010/Spring/H-Spius Creek H/R-Nicola R/RecoverySummary for Tag Code is "0"

Tag code number 180990
2008/2010/Spring/H-Spius Creek H/R-Nicola R/RecoverySummary for Tag Code is "0"

Tag code number 185234
2005/2007/Spring/H-Spius Creek H/R-Nicola R/Recovered CDFO 2009 Freshwater Sport 1;WDFW 2009 Treaty Troll 1; Total recoveries for Tag Code 185234 2

Tag code number 185235
2005/2007/Spring/H-Spius Creek H/R-Nicola R/Recovered CDFO 2009 Freshwater Sport 4; Total recoveries for Tag Code 185235 4

Tag code number 185236
2005/2007/Spring/H-Spius Creek H/R-Nicola R/Recovered CDFO 2009 Freshwater Sport 1;Totalrecoveries for Tag Code 185236 1

Tag code number 185237
2005/2007/Spring/H-Spius Creek H/R-Nicola R/Recovered CDFO 2009 Freshwater Sport 3;CDFO 2009 Ocean Troll (non-treaty) 1; WDFW2009 Ocean Troll (non-treaty) 1; Totalrecoveries for Tag Code 185237 5

Tag code number 185728
2005/2007/Spring/H-Spius Creek H/R-Nicola R/Recovered CDFO 2009 Freshwater Sport 2;WDFW 2009 Treaty Troll 1; Total recoveries for Tag Code 185728 3

Tag code number 185926
2006/2008/Spring/H-Spius Creek H/R-Nicola R/Recovered ADFG 2010 Ocean Troll (non-treaty) 2; CDFO 2010 Mixed Net and Seine 6; CDFO 2010 Ocean Sport 2; CDFO 2010Ocean Troll (non-treaty) 5; WDFW 2010 Ocean Troll (non-treaty) 2; Totalrecoveries for Tag Code 185926 17

Tag code number 185935
2006/2008/Spring/H-Spius Creek H/R-Nicola R/Recovered CDFO 2010 Mixed Net and Seine 4; CDFO 2010 Ocean Sport 5; CDFO 2010 OceanTroll (non-treaty) 2; WDFW 2010 Ocean Troll (non-treaty) 3; WDFW 2010 Treaty Troll 2; Total recoveries forTag Code Tag code number 185935 16

Tag code number 185936]
2006/2008/Spring/H-Spius Creek H/R-Nicola R/Recovered CDFO 2010 Mixed Net and Seine5; CDFO 2010 Ocean Sport 3; CDFO 2010Ocean Troll (non-treaty) 2; WDFW 2009 Estuary Sport 1; WDFW 2010 Treaty Troll 1; Total recoveriesfor Tag Code 185936 12

So did you notice the only recovered CWTwhere for brood stocks 2005 and 2006? Did you also notice the largest number of recoveries where from broodstock 2006, released in 2008? Take a closer look at those numbers recovered in 2009 and 2010. Want to recap ALL the CWT recoveries? It looks like this:

Total Nicola CWT recoveries for broodstocks between 2005 and 2010 = 48.
Ocean Sport CWT recovered = 10.
FreshWater Sport recovered = 11
Total Commercial (all commercials) = 37
Total Commercial (Canada) = 25

In case you didn’t note… 52% of the Nicola 4-2 recovered CWT, are by CANADIAN COMMERCIAL FISHERIES!

 

[reelfast]

butt, butt, butt - charlie - its so much easier to point the finger at the sport angling community, you know, the ones without a lobby!

 

[fish4all]

Charlie;

Pretty easy to point at the the commercials when there is no accounting for the other sectors. The post earlier that mentioned we all need to do our part is bang on. I wonder what the numbers would look like if EVERY head was submitted from ALL fisheries.

 

[Charlie]

Charlie;

Pretty easy to point at the the commercials when there is no accounting for the other sectors. The post earlier that mentioned we all need to do our part is bang on. I wonder what the numbers would look like if EVERY head was submitted from ALL fisheries.

Oh,I certainly do agree – TURN THOSE HEADS IN!

Now how about those “Creel Reports” for the “sport sector”? Well, I think I will agree with another on this point of view! When it comes to “SALMON,”DFO knows EXACTLY where those “SALMON” are being caught! J

Fraser River Mainstem Recreational Fishery Catch & Effort Estimates for 2010. ESTIMATED HARVEST (incl. est. AFC harvest) Chinook Adult 6,065. Nicola CWT recovered = 11
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fraserriver/recreational/creelsurveyPDFs/FraserSummer2010.pdf

Since the Chilliwack was mentioned, and keep in mind the Chilliwack River is part of the Fraser ecosystem, but does have its own Creel Report, which is apparently after the fish leave the Fraser and enter that river system! The Recreational Fishery Catch & EffortEstimates for 2010 an ESTIMATED HARVEST (incl. est. AFC harvest) of Chinook Adult 6,808. I can’t imagine any Nicola going into theChilliwack, unless they get lost.
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fraserriver/recreational/creelsurveyPDFs/Chilliwack2010.pdf


First Nations: Now with that (and individual bands also report) First Nations reported Chinook kept catches (including ceremonial & economic opportunity) in the Lower Fraser River (that would be to below Sawmill Creek), 2010 was 16,184. Nicola “un-monitored”!
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fraserriver/firstnations/LFReports/2010LFACN.pdf

The Mid and Upper Fraser: ”Subject Object: Mid and Upper Fraser River First Nations Salmon Harvest for Week Ending October 17, 2010.” BTW… If you think they aren’t using “Gillnets,” throughout the year, you might want to look a little closer? DO NOT take “limited” information and assume the information applies/applied throughout the year? Read the report and DO NOT read anything in to it! You can start by read those dates and opening dates of that particular “memorandum.” Also, please note there was only one Band that agreed to delay their opening for the conservation of the 4-2 and that would be the Secwepemic! Nicola “un-monitored,” except by theSecwepemic!

“Thompson River upstream of the Bonaparte River (including the Middle Shuswap River)
The Secwepemc Fisheries Commission monitors their fisheries using an interview census survey. Monitoring began mid-July. Please note that though the area was licensed as open since July 7th, the Secwepemc First Nations voluntarily closed their own fishery to conserve Spring 42 Chinook until July31st. Chinook harvest listed during this period of time is from the Bonaparte Fishway where escapement and harvest was closely monitored.Monitoring ended early-October.“ Nicola “un-monitored”!

Open Fishing Times and Areas: Clearly states the Fraser R - Naver Cr to Salmon River/ Nechako River upstream to Isle Pierre; Nechako River - Nechako River fromIsle Pierre to the confluence with the Stuart River; the Stuart River; east end of Stuart Lake; and Takla Lake; East end of Fraser Lake; and Nautley River; Westend of Fraser Lake; Stellako River; Stuart Lake adjacent to the Villages at Tache and Binchi; (b) Tachie River near Grand Rapids, and (c) Trembleur Lake atthe outlet of Middle River; Mid Shuswap R. between Mabel Lake and Shuswap Falls; was ALL open to Gill nets. However, check those dates again! Nicola “un-monitored”!

Table1. 2010 Mid and Upper Fraser River - mainstem - Weekly and cumulative Chinook catch estimates (preliminary and subject to change). l This would be Sawmill Crto Texas Cr, Texas Cr to Kelly Cr, Kelly Cr to Deadman Cr, Deadman Cr to Naver River, Naver Cr to Salmon River and Nechako R to Isle Pierre, Total Cumulative = 639 Nicola “un-monitored”!

Table2. 2010 Mid and Upper Fraser River - tributaries - Weekly and cumulative Chinook catch estimates (preliminary and subject to change). This would be for the Thompson R to BonaparteR, Thompson R u/s of Bonaparte R, Chilcotin R System, Nechako R u/s of IslePierre. Stuart R System Total Cumulative= 1,268. Where did you say the Nicola River empties into the Thompson? That would be at Spences Bridge. Nicola“un-monitored”!
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fraserriver/firstnations/UpperFraser/FNHarvestReport.pdf

So, I guess the totals look like this? First Nations = 18,091 Chinook, with most of the Nicola“un-monitored”! How many of those were - Nicola? Creel Survey (Fresh Water) Sport Fraser = 6,065 (Nicola CWT recovered 11). Canadian commercial fishery 150,393 Chinook, with Nicola CWT recoveries = 37. Then we have “Total Sport Ocean,” Chinook catch of 198,385 (2009 numbers), with Nicola CWTrecoveries” was what, again = 10. That’s for the entire BC area – NOT just Area 19, with how many Nicola CWT’s, again? Yep, please do the math! By far the largest “Chinook” sector has the lowest Nicola CWT returns, thoughout BC! Please exploit those numbers and feel free to use the term “POLITICAL” with those exploited numbers!

Yea,I can see a conservation issue and a need to restrict or even shutdown some sectors to allow the Nicola to rebuild; however, it is NOT Ocean Sport fishing,in any area, including Area 19! L

http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/stats/comm/summ-somm/annsumm-sommann/2010/ANNUAL10_USER_three_party_groups_revised.htm

http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/stats/rec/index-eng.htm

 

[reelfast]

hatcheries are a stop gap measure. the tax payers in the US have been hit up for tens of billions of dollars to fund the federal hatcheries on the columbia r. 200,000,000 smot released/yr in recent times and there is zero salmon recovery. these dollars are being spent to prop up the commercial harvest sector and have little or nothing to do with salmon recovery. i am totall in favor of diverting, lets say half, of these billions and putting into hatibat restoration. with a slow sliding scale of hatchery cut backs and habitat restortion, who knows, maybe the wild fish which have survived for eons will make there way back into our waters. these are really tough choices and i seriously doubt that in my life time they will be made. i am also pretty certain that in my life time, wild anadramous fish will go the way of the carrier pigeon and plains buffalo, goodbye forever.

 

[spring time]

the reason for the commercial numbers are so high is that every fish that is landed at a cannery or fish unloading place a person or three from pacific salmon commision and G.O. thomas there inspecting the springs for tags. I don't see that on native fisheries

 

[Ding Dong!]

If they were smart they would band together with us as one voice, and start pushing DFO for more money to revitalize the stocks.

Smiley66

Why does any sector need to come to the sport sector in order for them to band together? Simply; why does the sport sector simply sit back and wait for everyone to come to them. Imagine how many new friends you could create if you stop the us against them BS! It's easy; Just do it.

Ding Dong!

 

[profisher]

If anyone is while on the Fraser fishing sturgeon and sees native nets in the river at this time of year...video it and post it. We need that kind of documentation in the public eye. Of coarse they will try to make us believe that they are being selective because only 10% of the fish in the Fraser river actually come from the Fraser River and those 10% are tattooed for easy identification.

 

[Ding Dong!]

Whatever buddy. So off point.

Smiley66

Not at all off point Smiley66, you are only seeing what you want to believe in what you are reading. Where my point may not have been conveyed to you, is in fact, in agreement with you, but whereby offering an expansion of my opinion added. Believe me when I offer you my thoughts, that they are with the view that we all must work together for our future, and for generations after us.

Last week I gave you the true showing of what a "TROLL" is. This was given on purpose to share that certain individuals are misusing the term.

There is no reason for the sport sector to wait for any other sector to come to them; if you want change, then create it. Go to each sector and find the key people from each who will help develop the direction that is necessary to force DFO to change.

You and I are on the same page, we want the same things, I am not your "TROLL".

Ding Dong!

 

[ThistledewII]

Excerpt from salmonguy.org

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene meetings of the Ecosystem-Based Management Subcommittee (Subcommittee) of the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and the Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel (EAS) that are open to the public. Please note, this is not a public hearing; it is a work session for the primary purpose of considering recommendations to the Council on the development of an Ecosystem Fishery Management Plan (EFMP).

If someone says " i'm from the goverment and i'm here to help" just duck and run

 

[Fishing Guide]

Cheers All,

I was stopped 2 years ago off Ucluelet by a fisheries officer who must have had a dull day as he did a full routine stop. After his 'inspection' we began discussing the coho situation and the sports fisheries ability to only retain clipped coho. When I mentioned I supported this endeavour to ensure the survival of the wild strains he laughed and said the only reason there was a 'clipped fishery' was that the natives had threatened legal action unless DFO allowed more fish into the river for the natives to catch. The 'clipped fin fishery' was an outcome of that threat. It made me look at the entire clipped fishery in a much different light.

 

[Aces]

Cheers All,

I was stopped 2 years ago off Ucluelet by a fisheries officer who must have had a dull day as he did a full routine stop. After his 'inspection' we began discussing the coho situation and the sports fisheries ability to only retain clipped coho. When I mentioned I supported this endeavour to ensure the survival of the wild strains he laughed and said the only reason there was a 'clipped fishery' was that the natives had threatened legal action unless DFO allowed more fish into the river for the natives to catch. The 'clipped fin fishery' was an outcome of that threat. It made me look at the entire clipped fishery in a much different light.

Yup, gotta save those non existant S. Thompson Cohos. It's why we have closures and barbless hooks - to try appease the Interior FN's. Those poor Fishery Officers in the field have one hand tied behind their backs at all times

 

[just4fun]

Just stop catching spawning fish.Its pretty bad when your sitting on top of the fish when there waiting to go up the river. To put blame on anyone .Is to put blame on yourself.How many do you eat a year.

 

[reelfast]

At least they are doing something. I would rather pump as much fish in the systems/ repairing the streams/rivers than standing around talking about it. If we can't do this we shouldn't be fishing for them, and should leave them alone.

Smiley66

frankly, i am tired of being taxed to support these federal hatcheries to simply pump up commercial harvest by the tribes and other harvesters. you want to pay for these hatcheries so WCVI has fish??? great, send the billions down this way and thanks.

 

[Aces]

frankly, i am tired of being taxed to support these federal hatcheries to simply pump up commercial harvest by the tribes and other harvesters. you want to pay for these hatcheries so WCVI has fish??? great, send the billions down this way and thanks.

I don't blame you, Reelfast. I would feel the same. It sucks that DFO chooses to ignore the problems and leaves it to our friends to the South to produce the majority of Chinooks that migrate down our coast. I have a feeling that Obama is going to cut some of that funding because of the dire financial situation in the US and THEN we will all be screwed.

 

[reelfast]

yah'know, fishtofino, i voted for obama only to discover that hillary has bigger balls than he does. the guy is useless, as you can tell from the 'almost' federal government shutdown, so i am not so certain that an issue as contensious as cutting federal hatchery funding will ever see the light of day. OTOH, federal judge redden is set to rule regarding salmon recovery on the columbia r. sometime this spring. he has total authority to impose rules and regulations designed to aid recovery including breaching of the lower snake r. dams. the real question is wether or not he has the balls to pull this off. if and when this ruling happens, i'll make sure to post a link for your reading enjoyment, it could be very interesting.

i would also suppose that DFO is simply taking advantage of the columbia r. hatcheries and not doing anything productive up your way simply because of the enormous smolt releases.

 

[Aces]

That's right, Holmes. It isn't just your area. What about the big net openings in the Alberni inlet for years right before the big Derby? I quit going to that great event years ago because of that. The Sport Fisherman (and some guides) are the 1st to give it up in the name of conservation and the 1st to help with hatcheries and other enhancement projects with little recognition or consideration from the Dino.

If i know of someone around here buys those fish i try to embarrass them in public with some success - it's no different than buying stolen property from a drug addict

 

[Aces]

yah'know, fishtofino, i voted for obama only to discover that hillary has bigger balls than he does. the guy is useless, as you can tell from the 'almost' federal government shutdown, so i am not so certain that an issue as contensious as cutting federal hatchery funding will ever see the light of day. OTOH, federal judge redden is set to rule regarding salmon recovery on the columbia r. sometime this spring. he has total authority to impose rules and regulations designed to aid recovery including breaching of the lower snake r. dams. the real question is wether or not he has the balls to pull this off. if and when this ruling happens, i'll make sure to post a link for your reading enjoyment, it could be very interesting.

i would also suppose that DFO is simply taking advantage of the columbia r. hatcheries and not doing anything productive up your way simply because of the enormous smolt releases.

Yes..... pls keep us informed on this issue. I knew that there was a ruling due but didn't know all the details. Yeah, it's disappointing that your country didn't get the strong President that they needed after Bush.

 

[declining stocks]

One might look at the real reason these stocks are where they are.
How do you solve that 95% of them were taken by the F/N in river? And please check with DFO on this as these are their numbers.

The info below is from DFO 2011 Information Document to Assist Development of the Fraser Chinook Management Plan 6 (pg 6-7)


“Fraser River 42 spring Chinook continue to be a stock of concern in 2011. The parental brood escapements in 2007 were very depressed. The aggregated total escapement (2,453 including Bonaparte) was the lowest on record since 1975. Escapements to individual populations were the lowest in over ten years for all streams except Spius Creek, where it was the second lowest. Those spawners were the survivors from 2005 ocean entry. The combination of very low parental escapements combined with continuing unfavourable marine conditions may result in very low pre-fishery abundances in 2011.

Outlooks for all stream-type Chinook in 2011 suggest that returns are likely to continue to be poor. Abundances of Fraser Chinook stream-type Chinook returning in the spring and summer are fluctuating around 20 year lows. Of particular concern is the decline in parent brood abundances. Many of the stream-type Chinook population escapements are at a small fraction of the estimated habitat capacity (e.g. <10%) that would maximize the harvestable surplus (see Appendix B: 1993-2010 Chinook escapement estimates to tributaries in the BC Interior and Lower Fraser).”


This graph is also from that same document – which indicates in 2009 of the fish that were caught (exploitation rate 53%) sporties caught 58% and Natives caught only 19.9% ----- this is a bit different than what the sportie says on the blog –see below


“One might look at the real reason these stocks are where they are.
How do you solve that 95% of them were taken by the F/N in river? And please check with DFO on this as these are their numbers

 

[Charlie]

1999:
The early or spring run migrates through the lower Fraser River before July 15; the summer run migrates through the lower Fraser between July 15 and Sept. 1; and the fall chinook, mostly originating in the Harrison and Chilliwack, enter the lower Fraser after Sept. 1. The geographical and timing complexes overlap. For assessment purposes, geographic stock aggregatesare grouped according to their timing and life history.

Since the early 1980s, the principal hatcheries enhancing Fraser chinook have been the Chehalis and Chilliwack (lower Fraser), Eagle,Shuswap Falls, Clearwater, Deadman Creek, and Spius Creek (all Thompson) and the Quesnel (mid-Fraser) and Stuart/Narcoslie (upper Fraser). In recent years,the Clearwater, Eagle, Quesnel, and Stuart facilities have closed. Some enhancement also occurs at small facilities throughout the watershed. Enhancement is thought to have a relatively small effect on the total numbers of chinook returning to the Fraser, although the effects on certain watersheds, such as the Nicola watershed, which is enhanced by theSpius Creek Hatchery, and the Chilliwack River, which is enhanced by theChilliwack Hatchery, can be significant.

Prior to the closure of many of the outside commercial fisheries, recoveries of lower Thompson springs occurred in all strata with the exception of Alaska, but were most common in the WCVI/Entry area (Fig. 3). From1997 on, the number of recoveries in all fisheries declined, with the exceptionof the terminal and lower river recreational fisheries. While these sportfisheries recovered almost 70 % of all lower Thompson CWTs during 1997-98, they represented only 87 tagged fish, of which 65 were caught in the terminal recreational fisheries at the mouth of the Nicola River.

Early returning spring chinook from the Birkenhead River (upper Harrison system) had a very different marine catch distribution than anyother Fraser River spring chinook population (Fig. 4). Most Birkenhead chinook,one of the earliest returning populations to the Fraser, were recovered in Alaskan fisheries. Recoveries inside the Strait of Georgia occurred during early spring recreational fisheries.

Clearwater and the North Thompson River itself. Recoveries were most common in the WCVI/Entry and in north-central area fisheries.

South Thompson summer chinook appeared to have a more northerly marine catch distribution than other Fraser summer-run populations (Fig. 7). A large proportion of South Thompson-origin summer chinook were recovered in the northern waters of B.C. and in the Alaskan fisheries. Most freshwatersport recoveries occurred in the terminal sport fisheries on the lower andmid-Shuswap River.

Harrison-origin (Chehalis) chinook salmon were predominantly coastal in their marine distribution.

Most recoveries occurred in southern fisheries in the WCVI/Entry area, the Strait of Georgia, and Washington waters (Fig. 8).

The Harrison River is used for log transport and storage and the lower Fraser River and estuary is affected in numerous ways by the city of Vancouver. The wild population is clearly vulnerable to degradation of these important habitats.

For spring populations (Fig. 10), recent spawning escapements have been generally higher than during the 1970s but the recenttrend in the aggregate escapement index has been downwards. Researchers are concerned about the status of this group, especially the earliest components of the run, including the Spius Creek, Coldwater River, Birkenhead River, and the Upper Chilcotin River populations. Escapementsof the summer stock aggregate (Fig. 11) have generally been up the last 3 years although there has been significant variability amongst streams. Escapements of mid and upper Fraser summer stock aggregates have often been down in recent years, while returns of late timed South Thompson populations are strong.
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas/Csas/status/1999/D6-11e.pdf

2000:
Not shown on this map are receiver lines off the westcoast of Washington State, Oregon, or southeast Alaska, since B.C. smolts were rarely detected at these stations and analyses did not include them.
https://circle.ubc.ca/bitstream/handle/2429/16642/ubc_2010_spring_melnychuk_michael.pdf?sequence=4

2000:
http://www.npafc.org/new/publications/Documents/PDF%202000/476(USA).pdf

2001:
HIGH SEAS SALMONID
CODED-WIRE TAG RECOVERY DATA, 2001
Myers, K.W., A.G. Celewycz, and E.V. Farley, Jr. 2001.High seas salmonid coded wire tag recovery data, 2001. (NPAFC Doc. 557.)SAFS-UW-0111. School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington,Seattle, WA. 42 p.

You will find some Lower Fraser (Nicola) migrate as far north as the Akutan Island; however most CWT tags recovery is off southwestWCVI!
https://digital.lib.washington.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/1773/4520/0111.pdf?sequence=1

2002:
Lower Fraser commercial net fishery
Estimation of stock composition in the lower river commercial net fishery is of key local fishery management interest, particularly prior to June. For the fishery samples from 1997 to 1999 collected in April of each year, chinook salmon from the Chilcotin River and Nicola River drainagewere important contributors to the fishery, as they, combined, comprised approximately 50% of the samples from the net fishery prior to 19 April (Appendix Table 1). By late April, the Chilcotin River population constitutedon average approximately 20% of the fishery samples, and the Nicola drainage populations about 10%. The Birkenhead River population was also identified ascontributing 5% to 10% of the catch in the early lower river fishery but was virtually absent from the fishery after 3 May. The Stuart and Nechako riverdrainage populations were identifed as contributing significantly to the early catches, with estimates as high as 20% in some weeks in some years. Upper Fraser River populations contributed more to the fishery in May, and the significant populations were from the Holmes River, the Fraser River mainstem at Tete Jaune, the Salmon River, and the McGregor River (Appendix Table 1).

On a regional basis, mid Fraser River populations were the dominant group of chinook salmon in the catch in April, and comprised at least 30% of the catch until late May (Fig. 2). Upper Fraser River populations did not occur in any significant proportions in the fishery until the last week of April. By late May, they were the dominant contributors to the lower river fishery and by June could comprise approximately 70% of the weekly catch. South Thompson River and North Thompson River populations comprised only trace proportions of the fishery samples from April through to the end of June. In fact, the con-drainage populations, and these populations were prestributionsof populations in the entire Thompson River ent from the beginning of sampling in early April to the drainage were dominated by the tributary Nicola River end of sampling in late June. Lower Fraser River populations virtually did no tcontribute to the fishery from April through June.

Lower Fraser test fishery
As was observed in the commercial gillnet fishery in the lower Fraser River, chinook salmon from mid-Fraser populations dominated th ecatch in April and May, comprising over 50% of the fish sampled (Appendix Table3). The Chilcotin River and Stuart/Nechako rivers populations were the main populations from the mid-Fraser region. However, unlike the commercial gillnet fishery, salmon from the lower Thompson River comprised 5% or less of the catchin April and May. North and South Thompson River populations comprised <5%of the catch as well, as was observed in the commercial gillnet fishery. UpperFraser River populations had largely passed through the test fishery by the endof July. Chinook salmon from the North and South Thompson rivers dominated the samples in August, and the mainstream-spawning South Thompson population wasthe dominant population in the fishery. By September chinook salmon from thelower Fraser River were the main group of fish sampled in the test fishery, and they comprised 45% of the catch. By October, they dominated the test fishery,comprising more than 80% of the chinook salmon sampled.