"ANALYSIS. by Jorma Jyrkkanen

The Ministry of Environment says that an estimated 67 steelhead passed. the Tyee test fishery near the mouth of the Skeena River during the first week of July, the _ lowest number in 10 years and fourth lowest since the ministry began keeping records.

Commercial catch of steelhead during the July 1 opening was 31

_fish. These figures are, however, subject to various sources of error which makes their value question- able until more data has come in later in the season.

A large run of steelhead could have passed by Tyee and totally missed the test fishery, since it only samples a small portion of the river. Or the summer run could be later this year due to ocean condi- tions like temperature.

Commercial catch estimates are based on hail counts in which commercial fishermen are asked how many steelhead they caught; the true figures may or may not be accurately reported.

On the basis of poor returns of winter run steelhead to other streams in B.C. and the northwes- tern States, the Ministry of Envi- ronment says expectations are for much poorer than average returns of steelhead to the Skeena system over the upcoming season. Early returms of summer steelhead else- where have supported this predic- tion method to date.

In a obuiletin ministry staff explained why they had catch and telease regulations on upriver home spawning rivers, stating that it was to foster survival of summer run fish, which were impacted heavily by the commercial fishery in southern Alaska and in Canada.

Because later season steelhead were not subjected to commercial fisheries, these fish were not deemed to be as threatened, and for that reason a kill fishery was considered reasonable in the Skeena mainstem after closure of the commercial fishery.

The ministry claims that summer run fish cannot be distinguished

from later-running fish, so all .

steelhead in home rivers should have maximum protection such as through a catch release regulation.

Experienced anglers, however, know that summer run fish are generally darker in late fall, and have a more pronounced pink stripe down the side, as compared to the bar-of-chrome fresh fall and winter fish.

Environment provided a graph in their July 9 bulletin showing the commercial catch and fish passing Tyee for the past 10 years. If one studies the graph closely, it appears that the commercial catch of steelhead is more a reflection of the size of the run than it is a predictive factor in producing the future return.

. For example, during 1981, 1982, 1984, there was good escapement of steelhead past Tyce in the first week of July, with virtually no

commercial catch so that the return |

run of first time spawners — assuming four years in freshwater, and one in salt water —- should have been good in 1986, 1987, 1989,

It was good for 86/87 but very poor for 1989, with this last excep- tion calling the rule into question.

Also, in examining chinook and steelhead commercial catch trends and relating them to the size of spawning stock (that is, fish that actually made it to the home river) there is a big problem linking commercial fishing and the deci- mation of summer run steelhead.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans provided the following comparison of the commercial catch of chinook to steelhead:

Aug. 25, 1985 — 20,642 chinook, 29,224 steelhead

*Aug. 31, 1986 — 7,141 to 19,462 *Aug. 29, 1987 — 5,486 to 8,303

eAug. 6, 1988 — 20,898 to 11,330

Sept. 2, 1989 — 11,097 to 3,529.

The problem is twofold. First, these catches of chinook coincide with 50,000-60,000 spawners counted on the spawning beds each year. Is it not reasonable that the steelhead catches should also

Terrace Review — Wednesday, July 25, 1990 A9

The obvious is no answer

Steelhead are subjected to natural cyclical fluctuations which are influenced by a host of variable factors. These include spawning gravel quality, provision of clear rivers and pools and abundant

coincide with an equivalent propor- tional number of spawners?

Secondly, there has been no major change in commercial fish- ing pressure, gear types, fishing areas except perhaps on the side of conservation.

Yet steelhead numbers have fluctuated considerably, suggesting that the connection between com- mercial fishing and summer run steelhead isn’t as clear as has been suggested.

The fact is that like all species,

feed, fertility fluctuations, fluctu- ations in numbers within an age class, time lags, competition and predation — and ocean survival, perhaps the most mysterious factor of all.

This spring, I passed the Bulkley River during early freshet and I have never seen it so dirty. Per- haps we’ve squandered critical habitat, with critical repercussions to certain age classes essential for population survival. .

Perhaps catch and release fishing

is more traumatic than we think,

and we should study the effects of

this style of fishing on spawner SUCCESS, .

Human predation is certainly - important because it is increasing on the high seas where some steelhead may be hard hit, and because it is so heavy along our coast and in our rivers.

- For steelhead, a fish which has evolved the habit of living long, enabling it to repeat spawning up to three times, and of having few numbers, incidental bycatch may well spell the end unless the popu- lation can be bolstered somehow.

Since it has been in good measure artificially reduced, per- haps it should be artificially increased, with some portion of the — Babine facility funds, currently - devoted exclusively to sockeye salmon, being channelled into summer run steelhead enhance- ment.

Bill Bailey, Conductor Prince George, representing the B.C. North Health and Safety Committees, receives the 1989 System Safety Award from Ross Walker, Senior Vice-President, Western Canada. The award is presented annually to the district with the lowest combined ratio of accidents to train miles. Shown on the right is Jed Drew, District

Manager B.C. North.

Congratulations to B.C. North District Employees, winners of the 1989 System Safety Award.

R.A. Walker Senior Vice-President ‘Western Canada

J.E. Drew District Manager B.C. North District

"From Prairie to Sea — Accident Free