AYK REGION YUKON STOCK SEP REPORT6

YUKON RIVER SALMON TAGGING STUDIES

1968

(From AYK Area Anadromous Fis~ Investigations) 1968 Annual Technical Report

Michael F Geiger

Alaska Departnent of Fish and Gcime Division of Commercial Fisheries

Anchorage Alaska

middotmiddotYUKON RfER TAG AND RECOVERY PROJECT 1968

bull ~~ ~ lINTRODUCTION

middotmiddot bull J

i middoti Since 1961 salmon tag and recovery studies huve been conducted on J i

~ utilization by the comm-ercial middotfishery 1 timing and destination oE run segments migration rctmiddots and 2bundance Lndic2s During the yecrs 1961-1967 a total

Iof 2 270 king an~ 7 1 GOO churn salmon was tagged and released

the Yukon Rier i1 ord~r to obtain estimates of population size perc2ntage

In 19 61 and 19 G2 t2g and recovery studies utilizing Fs-deral funds were conducted in the vicinity oE Mountain Village (Mile 87) to Pilot Station (Mile 122) for the primcJry purpose of obtaining c population estimate of t~e chum salmorl ri_m_ Fishwhels were 1lsed t~ ciritnro Gh1bullm ltgtJmrgtri for 1middotF10ltJin0 iii thP

middotmiddotmiddot19Gl and 1962 study Begi~ing in 19G3 set gill nets were opera-ed ennuaUy until 1967 at Flat Island located in t~e South Mouth for the purpose of capttr shying king salrion for tagging and for test fishing In addition to gill rets a single fishwheel was operated ct Flat Island in 1965 In 1966 and 1967 kings

bull vere also tagged at the Middle 1routh Although the tag(_ing projects at the TlOuths cf the Yukon U-ver dealt na inly with king salmon substantial numbers f ~h11m salmon were ca ptcred incidentallymiddot ~nci tagged

1

~

In 1968 the Yukon River tag and recorery project was moved upriver ~ i

~ middotabove the main commercial fishery tgt Ohogamiut (Mile 185) Dogfish Villago

I bull gt(Mile 227 and Paimiut (lviile 251) a-eas (sec Map Figure 2) becusc oE diffi shy

~

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culties encOLntered ith the capt11re tagging and recovery of salmon at t~a 1 i mouth of the river For example in 1967 tcgging sites were loc3ted at only

the South and Middle Mouths and king sal~on entering t-te river via the North f I

1Mouth and severnl channels (eg Kwig1k Alakanuk Bugomowik etc w8re not available for tagging fuoth2r shortcoming of thG downriver tcggilg sites i

i

was the substantially disproportionate number of tag recoveries akan by the commercial fishery nats located at relatively close proximity to the tagging 1 middoti

lsites This resulted in failure of the tagged fish to distribute themselvis unishy

bull middotlbull

fonnly throughout the untagged population ~middot

Chief a~vaitages of the Ohogamiut tagging site were (1) tie location above the intensive dovmriver king salnon commercial ish2ry of sub-districts 334-10 and 334-20 (se Map Figure 2) (2) tcggil1g would be above conpoundlueices middot of all the mouths and charnels if t1e cleltc and (3) fishing effo i vould l10t be affected by s~orms or tidal action

-middot

middotmiddotYUKON RfER TAG AND RECOVERY PROJECT 1968

bull ~~ ~ lINTRODUCTION

middotmiddot bull J

i middoti Since 1961 salmon tag and recovery studies huve been conducted on J i

~ utilization by the comm-ercial middotfishery 1 timing and destination oE run segments migration rctmiddots and 2bundance Lndic2s During the yecrs 1961-1967 a total

Iof 2 270 king an~ 7 1 GOO churn salmon was tagged and released

the Yukon Rier i1 ord~r to obtain estimates of population size perc2ntage

In 19 61 and 19 G2 t2g and recovery studies utilizing Fs-deral funds were conducted in the vicinity oE Mountain Village (Mile 87) to Pilot Station (Mile 122) for the primcJry purpose of obtaining c population estimate of t~e chum salmorl ri_m_ Fishwhels were 1lsed t~ ciritnro Gh1bullm ltgtJmrgtri for 1middotF10ltJin0 iii thP

middotmiddotmiddot19Gl and 1962 study Begi~ing in 19G3 set gill nets were opera-ed ennuaUy until 1967 at Flat Island located in t~e South Mouth for the purpose of capttr shying king salrion for tagging and for test fishing In addition to gill rets a single fishwheel was operated ct Flat Island in 1965 In 1966 and 1967 kings

bull vere also tagged at the Middle 1routh Although the tag(_ing projects at the TlOuths cf the Yukon U-ver dealt na inly with king salmon substantial numbers f ~h11m salmon were ca ptcred incidentallymiddot ~nci tagged

1

~

In 1968 the Yukon River tag and recorery project was moved upriver ~ i

~ middotabove the main commercial fishery tgt Ohogamiut (Mile 185) Dogfish Villago

I bull gt(Mile 227 and Paimiut (lviile 251) a-eas (sec Map Figure 2) becusc oE diffi shy

~

rmiddot4 ~

culties encOLntered ith the capt11re tagging and recovery of salmon at t~a 1 i mouth of the river For example in 1967 tcgging sites were loc3ted at only

the South and Middle Mouths and king sal~on entering t-te river via the North f I

1Mouth and severnl channels (eg Kwig1k Alakanuk Bugomowik etc w8re not available for tagging fuoth2r shortcoming of thG downriver tcggilg sites i

i

was the substantially disproportionate number of tag recoveries akan by the commercial fishery nats located at relatively close proximity to the tagging 1 middoti

lsites This resulted in failure of the tagged fish to distribute themselvis unishy

bull middotlbull

fonnly throughout the untagged population ~middot

Chief a~vaitages of the Ohogamiut tagging site were (1) tie location above the intensive dovmriver king salnon commercial ish2ry of sub-districts 334-10 and 334-20 (se Map Figure 2) (2) tcggil1g would be above conpoundlueices middot of all the mouths and charnels if t1e cleltc and (3) fishing effo i vould l10t be affected by s~orms or tidal action

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OBJECTIVES

1 Tte main objective in 1968 was relocating the tag and recovery projects 185--251 miles upriver which required transporting a vast amount of sup plies and ~quipment by boa t and chart~rnd aircrtCt middotIn addition sbullince the project was located in a ncbull are considerable tirre and_ effort was expended tomiddotward locating adequate fishing sitei 21d exp8rimenting with various types of gear to capture salmon for tagging As a res ult the secondary objectives middotlisted belO-V vJcre not completely atiaL11ed in 19 68

2 Determire population estircto cf king salmon passing through the study are~ (tagging-recovery sites)

3 ~ Distinguish and determine ra ccs of king and summer chum sa lrnon and their destinitions

4 Determine gen=ral run timing of king and s umiler chum salmon in study area iJnd effects of the dmvnrivcr commercial fishciry on run timings and escapement into sub-district 334-30

5 Detennine migration rates of king and suwmcr chum salmon passing through the lower Yu~on Crea specifically bctbullveen the mouth and the ta0ging site anci various upriver recovery sites

ME TEC DS A~J D v~TERIALS

Tagging Various types 0pound nets middot1ere employed to cnptme sclmon for tagging rviainly set gill nets of 5-12 7 8-12 and 9-12 inch mesh (stretched meesure) usually of 25 fathom lengths Tere fished at severe different locations on both sides of middotthe river Some gill nets wern hung using crab riser lloats which lovered the corkline of the net belov1 the surface of the water to test their effecti-Jeness when there is c large amount 0pound dri~twood In addition to set gill iets some drift gill lets anc an experimental be2ch seine trap Nern also o~erated A beach scire trap is a large seine a portion of which is cllchored opoundpoundshore and the rena ining length trails downstream to iorm an inverted L shcpe trap thct can be huuled to shore -Nith ie use of

- gas pow8red vinches The succes sfol opretion and location 0pound a beach seine trap can be capable of catchiig large nu-1bers 0pound u1injured salmon for tugging and sarppling purposes

middot

Yellovmiddot1 sparetti tags flexible plastic tubing of 116 inch diareter of 13 inch lengths v1~e used to tag captured salmon Each tag middotas inscribed with a numbsr ard the legend Revrard Df ampG Anchorage The tag vras

-apoundpoundixed to CJ steblsss stesl needle appic~tor and inszrtct throu0h the lesh in the vicinity of the dorsal fin Aftzr ins2rtion of the tag the needle a s

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OBJECTIVES

1 Tte main objective in 1968 was relocating the tag and recovery projects 185--251 miles upriver which required transporting a vast amount of sup plies and ~quipment by boa t and chart~rnd aircrtCt middotIn addition sbullince the project was located in a ncbull are considerable tirre and_ effort was expended tomiddotward locating adequate fishing sitei 21d exp8rimenting with various types of gear to capture salmon for tagging As a res ult the secondary objectives middotlisted belO-V vJcre not completely atiaL11ed in 19 68

2 Determire population estircto cf king salmon passing through the study are~ (tagging-recovery sites)

3 ~ Distinguish and determine ra ccs of king and summer chum sa lrnon and their destinitions

4 Determine gen=ral run timing of king and s umiler chum salmon in study area iJnd effects of the dmvnrivcr commercial fishciry on run timings and escapement into sub-district 334-30

5 Detennine migration rates of king and suwmcr chum salmon passing through the lower Yu~on Crea specifically bctbullveen the mouth and the ta0ging site anci various upriver recovery sites

ME TEC DS A~J D v~TERIALS

Tagging Various types 0pound nets middot1ere employed to cnptme sclmon for tagging rviainly set gill nets of 5-12 7 8-12 and 9-12 inch mesh (stretched meesure) usually of 25 fathom lengths Tere fished at severe different locations on both sides of middotthe river Some gill nets wern hung using crab riser lloats which lovered the corkline of the net belov1 the surface of the water to test their effecti-Jeness when there is c large amount 0pound dri~twood In addition to set gill iets some drift gill lets anc an experimental be2ch seine trap Nern also o~erated A beach scire trap is a large seine a portion of which is cllchored opoundpoundshore and the rena ining length trails downstream to iorm an inverted L shcpe trap thct can be huuled to shore -Nith ie use of

- gas pow8red vinches The succes sfol opretion and location 0pound a beach seine trap can be capable of catchiig large nu-1bers 0pound u1injured salmon for tugging and sarppling purposes

middot

Yellovmiddot1 sparetti tags flexible plastic tubing of 116 inch diareter of 13 inch lengths v1~e used to tag captured salmon Each tag middotas inscribed with a numbsr ard the legend Revrard Df ampG Anchorage The tag vras

-apoundpoundixed to CJ steblsss stesl needle appic~tor and inszrtct throu0h the lesh in the vicinity of the dorsal fin Aftzr ins2rtion of the tag the needle a s

-

3

~

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removed and th0 two free ends of the tag vrcre tied tightly into an overhand knot~

- For each tagged fish thG following information as recorded species

sex fork (ength and condition upon relcuse The condition of tagged fish via s classified into the folo 0ving- general categories Category l consister~ of fish considered to be in good condition Category 2 consisted of fish considered to be in fair condition and CutEgory 3 c~nsisted cf fish considered in quGstionable or poor con~ition Untagged fish dead poundis h er poundis h in ver poor condition (eg fish bleeding from th gills were not tagged were sampled for age-sex-size information and thEn were sold to local processors or given to subsistence fishermen

-RecovelL Set and drift gill nets of 5-12 7 and 8-12 inch mesh ere

operated by the Department recovery crew upmiddotiver in attempts to capture tagged salmon Also the recoverr crew periodicilly contacted fishermen in the Russian Mission-Holy Cross area for tag recoveries and to monitor their daily catches in order to obtain udditionol tagg-ed-untagged ratios Above the Holy Cross arcu Department biologists and the subsistence survey crew collected add itiona1 tag recoveries In the Yukon Territory Canadian Depurtment of Fis heies and Royol Canadian Mounted Police Personnel collected tag recovershyies A reward of $1 00 was off~rcd for each tag returned along Nith the a pprcshypria te recovery infonnation middot date and location of tag rccovenr

c~ a 00-ot -middot 9ri2 s ur10yc nf the Andreafsky River system located downstream from the tagging sites were msde to determine estimated numbers of sclmon spawning below the tagging site

RESULTS

Several problems cssociated with operating the tag-recovery project in the new location were encountered that resulted in comparatively srnu11 numbers of salmon being captured ~t both the tagging and rncovery sites Prolonged periods 0pound high water large amounts of cripoundtv10od and dipoundpoundiculty in locating suitable fishing sites and demiddot1elcping adequate iishbc methods severely hal7lpered operctic~s The driftvmiddotiod associated with high water was a particlllcrly difficult problem and severely restricted the epoundfsctive opershyation 0pound the gill nets At times dripoundtwood w~s so heabullry that nets had to be pulled entirely out of the bullNater Even gill nets lith crab riser floats were not eff~ctive in reducing the amount of drifrvocd in gill nets

Cons iderable time and effort Vas expended in exploring the tagging and recovery sites forsuituble set gill net sites vhers substantial numbers of ~ulmon could be captured Only a few good sites were loa tcd usually these Jcre comraercial fishing sites tfat we-e used during closed periods and

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after the commercial fishing sea son closed Various methods of experimcntim with set gill nets such as modifying the type length depth etc vrere attempted in order to incmiddotase the catch and reduce the salmon mortality but i

iwithout success Also drifting with gill nets and using an experimental beach Iseine trap v2re unsuccesSiul The operation 0pound the bevch s0ine tratJ bullws hinshy I I ~dered by the unavailability of a good site with a gravel bottom Nearly all middot

potenticl beach sein9 t~p fishing sites that were found contained a silty bottom t~

which Vas unsatisfactory for opeation cf this type of gear (the leed line would middot rmiddot

become buried in the river bod and therefore it would be very difficult to pull to imiddot

Ishore) 1 L

middotAs a result 0pound the above difficulties relatively small numbers of salmon in condition suitaJle for taggizg were captured and consequently J some of the objectives of the tag and recove11 program vere not completely Iobtained It beccme apparent during the course 0pound the tagging phase of t-i2

fprojert thM insuffiCiPnt numbPrs of king salmonwere being tagged to obtain a valid population estinate the prime objective of the project T1e Departshy -middot t ment recovel) c~emiddot1 stationed at Dogfish Village located 42 miles upstream did not recapture any salmon tagged at Ohogamiut and therefore were unable

~to obtain a tagged-untagged ratio Th~ Departme1t crew at the Dogfish Villc1ge area -Vere unable to locate suitable fishing sites and develop adeqLlate fishing i

t

methods The Dogfish Village operation vra s transferred upriver 24 miles o r Paimiut on June 30 where better fishing sites INere located Since it scon middot----- --~----+

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i thltgt ~-1n10n aSS~nQ

JICVu1LtV -~1-11_Jft _ ---J--a -- middot-IC l throug h middotthe Ohogamiut area this yeamiddot was apparently not feasible the 8ogfis h

iVillage and the Pa imiut projects also began to tag salmon in order to ob ta ii additioiul infornation on other objectives of the project viz migration rntes

timing and distribution of nm segments or races of king and summer chun salshymon

- shy

King Salmon bullJ

f A total of 1 007 king salmon were captured at the tagging s it~s and t

t 3 7 6 (3 7 3 ) were tagged and reieased (nearly all kings vere _captured with bulll set gill nets v1hil0 a few fish v1ere ta ken v1ith drift gill nets) In Appendix bull

Table A the dcily numbers of king salmon captured tilgged and the number of ibull- shy

recoveries by tagging date are shown Recoveries by tagging site nets n~de i within 24 hours 0pound the elate of tagging are ~ot included Numbers of ccptured I tagged and r-e-covered king salmon anc thG percentage tagg2d and r~coveredmiddot by tagging site is summarized below in Tchle l -

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Table 1 middot 19 58 Tagging Summary - King Salmon

Number Number Percent Number Percent

middot C~ll~~~ 1cr~cf ea Tacgcd Reco-er22 Re~o~middote~ns --~ T---shy

Ohogumiut 607 263 423 76 289 Dogfish Village 104 36 346 12 333 Paimiut 29 6 77 26 0 10 130

TOTAL 1 007 376 37 3 98 261

For all sites cornpined the overall recovery rntc v1as 26 1 percent Nearly all re~overies middotvltre taken with set gill nets usually of 8-12 inch mesh while a few recoveries vere taken in fish~1heels by upriver fishermen

Distribution of R~coveries bv irea of Recoverv middot

In Table 2 the number and percentage distribution of king salnon tag recovcri0s by tagging site and recovery area is shovm For all tagging sites the greatest proportion of recovzries ere made in the Alaskan portion of the ma in Y~kon River particularly in the Russian Missior-Holy Cross ure2 bullhere g =-~1 nF fi~hing effort is located

0

in relatively close proximity tothe tagg~ng sites 0pound particulur inte-est vas the relatively large nwuut1 cf rc~middotshyeries (10) compared to previous yeers made in the Yukon Territory This was the res ul of tagging above the downriver L11tensive commercial fishery vvhich previously had ta~8n 2 large proportion of tagged fish The furthest upstream recovery was mcide at Lake Lebarge iear Vlhitehorse a distance of 1 715 miles UJstream rom the mouth

Distribution 0pound Upriver Reccweries by Tagging Date

Major Yukon River king samoi stccks are found in the Andreafsky ~iver 1

which drains into the Yukon River at i1ile 104 to the headvaters in the Yukon Territory over 2 000 miles upstream t would be expected throuchout the extensive Yukon River drain=g2 that different major spawning stocks or rnces would exhibit different migration times If sufficiently large numbers of kings could be tagg8d in the lower portion of the Yuken River throughout the duration of the run and if adequate recoveri~s were nade it seens likely tiat it would be possible to demonstrate whether er not dipoundpoundercilces in migration times e~dst for each major stock or ra-2 If these differences in nigration times could be determined 1 then the comm1~rcia fishery in th~ lcver section of the Yukon River could be selectively regulated in order to insure against overharvesting of any particular steel~

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TABLE 2

l Nill-IBER AiD PG~CE~TAGI PIST1151JTIO~ OF Y11KON RIVIP~ Kn SAE-ON TAG RFCOVr~RIFS 31 AREA 1968 bull

~ricr21 ~eccmiddot01 ~rea_ ~~ i 1 ez_- es f --0~~1 ~o_i_t_11_~_____ 1 i_u_t Do g f is b-_O_h_o~~an_ ____

hogardut (185) ussiHn Mission(213) airaiut-Uoly Cross(251-279) raylin3(336) ula to ( 481) ishops Ht (512) uby ( i-C~l)

okrbes (GOS) anana ( S9 5) arnpltn t (7 63) tevens Village(847) gteaver (932) ~ort Yukon(l002) ~~(1 1 ~(1213)

1bto tal

~middot J~_ S ( 0 8 -1 middot) u

1-kuk River) Subtotal

out-t Goodpltstcr R (1 015) (TinaL1 River) bull Sub to cal

Old Cro(l 259) Dawsoi(l319) Hayo(l495) Carnaeks (1 550) Pelly Crossin~(lSSO)

La~e Lebarge(l715) Subtotal

I (Yukon Telri toiy)

Totlt11

1(14)2 12(169)

TagJ~in~_-~~~-Villagc Cl aiu _t___T_J_t__al__

1 (11) 12(132)

22(310) 7(636) 3(333) 32(352) 1(14) 1 (11) 2(28) 1(100) 1(11l) l1(44) 1(14) 1(11) 4(56) 2(222) 6(66) 1(14) 1(111) 2(2 2) 5(70) 2(222) 7 (7 7) 3(42) 3(273) 6(65) 2(28) 2(22) 1(14) 1(11) 1(14) 1 (11) 2(28) 2(22)

58(815) 11(1000) 9(1000) 78(85S)

2(2S)

2(28) 2(22)

1(14) 1 (11)

1(14) 1(11)

1(14) 1 (11) 1(14) 1(11) 1(14) 1(11) 5(70) 5(55) 1(14) l(i l) 1(14) 1(11)

10(14 0) 10(110)

71(1000) 11(10001~) 9(1000) 91(1000)

~ ~middot i ~ f

1 middot Recoveries below tacging sites not listed

~ P~rccnta2e recovery in parenthesis

- 7 _

In Table 3 the tagging dates for king salmon recoveries made above 1ile 484 are shown in relation to the number of tagsmiddot King salmon migrating 3st Mile 484 (Nlllato) are mainly destined for the following mujor spawning

areas Koyukuk River ranani River cind the uppsr Yukon drainage in Ccinada The data indicated that the percentage of these upriver recoveries 1vas related

bullto the number tagged arci not necessarily to the dcite of tagging Previous shnilar analysis yielded the same conclusions (see 1967 Annucl Technical Report) It is essentiai that corrpcra tivcly lar-ge nLtmbers of tags be applied throughout tha dllra tion of the run If this could be uccornplis bed it could be possible to d2monstrate conclusively whether dipoundpounderences in migration times occur for major spavning stocks

General Run Timing

The daily cutches of king salmon for the Ohog~miut Dogfish Village and Paimiut tagging sites ars shomiddotwr in Appendix Tuble A The first king salmon was captured on June 5 at the Ohogamiut site The Ohogamiut and Dogfish Village tagging si~es and the Paimiut subsistenc8 daily catches are graphed in Figure 3 for comparison to the daily catches made atmiddot the Flat Islancf test fishing site In general the ma il peak of the king salmon ru1 il the upriver arGa (0 hogamiut-Po imiut) occurred during thB period June 24-2 6 and is probably traceable to a peak 0pound the Flat Island duily catch occurring during June 19-22 The migration rate of these untagged poundis h through the Flet Island-Pa imiut areel Ua6J ul ~~~ c_~c~S middot~t V~rous areas I was approxj_matel( 42 miles per duy bull Other pea ks in the daily run timing upriver cannot be dctermined due t0 limi~c1-tions of the Ohoga miut and Dogfish Village catch data which probably does not realistically reflect minor fl uctlla tions in thG magnitude of the run The daily catches at thes~ locations were influenced by driftwood and high water wrich

middot resulted in amiddot decrease in gear epoundpoundiciency In addition fishing sLtes ut both locations Nere continually changed in an attempt to increase catchesmiddot

Miqration Rates

In Table 4 the migration rates (rate of travel or spced of migration) of tagged king salmon recovered at various points upstrean are presented The migration rate in terms of niles per day trcveled Vas obtained by dividing the days out into the distance traveled The migration rates presented L1 Table 4 should not be considered as the actllat rate cf travel due to limitations inherent in the tag and recovery du ta (1) tagied fish a-e us urilly iLl an initially weakened or disoriented condition due to handling 2nd tagting operation (2) comparatively few rumbers 0pound fish -11cre tagged and recovered and (3) sone probable inaccu1middotshyacies in the reporting of ti~ reccvery date by fishermen Migration rates of tagged fish 2re Lsuully considered as th minimum rate of travel In geneal

M

the t2gging and recover data shomiddotws that the migration rate increased as the distance tra middotmiddoteed upstream incrca scd For example the migrn tion 3 tes of tciggei fish rcc8vercd dOmst-poundClm from Holy C-uss ve1 lss thcn 20 mile~ pishy

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bull TABLE 3

TAGGI-G DTpoundS OF YUI~ON RIVER KE~G st~middotcm lUCOVERIES fADE APOV ~-ILE 434 DURllG 1968

- ___

Jz~ cs of Tas Recovc~i(gts Recovmiddot ries T3[1~

June 4-10 2 O 00 06 0 s II 1

-middot l

~G6~i~g Total No No ofll I i

raquo fI

June 11-15 3 1 24 0 8

June 16-20 24 3 73middot 64

- z (Jmicrone 21-25 160 21 512 425

middotmiddotne 26-30 87 9 220 23l

~ ltLy i-5 UJ 173

uly G-10 26 2 49 69

July 11-16 9 0 oo 24

7 Totals 376 c _ 41 (418)1 100 Oi 100 01~

J f-= f 2 3

Recoveries above ~ile 484

Total tags applied at all tag~in~ sites

Percent of total recoveries

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------===_-Lmiddot middot ~- ~ middot middot -~ middot Poimiut - 1 ~--_ 251

~ 1------middotmiddot--------------Dogflsh VillageA-_---+ ~_- - IJ ~ 227-------------- --- ---------- -------------------------------shymiddot--~

Ohoglt1mut

--- -----------===-=-=-=-------~-+------------~--- ~ 185

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Flnt Islandmiddot(_~~ 0 J middot--------1 middot------ -~--------

l 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 June D ~ te _ July

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-- __ bull middot-bull-wmiddotbull----- - __ --~bullbull __ ~_ __ __ltOijiiiUlt-~~o-cFlliipi~middotI~middot____________

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MIGRATION RATES OF YUKON RIVJR TAG ro KING SALfON BY AREA DURING 1968

Mileages from No of Tagging Oates Recovery Oates Mean Days Mean ~ Arca of Recovery Tagging Site Recovcries (Range) (Hange) Qut Per

OHOGJIUT TAGG ING SITE (Milemiddot 185)

Cclomiddotv Ohcgamiut 5 617-30 625-710 58 Opogltmiut middot 0 1 624 627 30 Russian Mission 25- 29 12 67-7I I 610-710 43 s i Piimiu t 66 9 616- 77 619-712 49 13 Above Paimiu t 74-84 11 613-628 614-72 48 16 lloly Cross 97 2 616-26 623-79 10 0 9 Grayling 151 1 624 623 40 37 Nulato 299 2 61620 624-7 so 37 Dihops tlountain 327 1 624 720 260 12 Ruby 396 4 623-25 77-13 173 2_ -

~ lokrin0s 419 1 73 718 150 36 Tilnana 510 1 620 79 190 ~6

Above Tanana 540 1 622-28 78-12 -7167 gt- ltgtJtrnfi-rt 578 3 624-26 714-16 200 lt-u bull

StcvCHs Vil lagc 6lt2 2 624-26 middot75-15 150 ~4

lk lQH llughcs 675-784 2 628-30 74 160 42 shy1rlt1vcr 747 l ()24 715 210 31middot)

Fort Yukon 817 1 614 7I18 3middot1 0 24 ~louth Gooltlpas ter River (Tanana ltiver) 830 1 624 8 7 Jbove Elttglc 1070 2 622-28 89 450 23 Ohl Crmmiddot1 (Porcupine R) 1808 1 623 Jate July Dn1middot1son 1130 1 627 729 320 35 ~middotuyo 1310 1 619 31 430 30 Crmacks 1366 5 623-74 718-820 or)) 3 33 Pc lly Crossing (Pclly R) 1gt395 1 630 87 330 36 Lake Lebarge 1530 1 71 821 510 30

__ middot---~--- middot~- middot--middot-~middot-middot-~---- --middot--bullbull-1middot---i--middotmiddot~ ~ middot-middot bullbullmiddotbullmiddotmiddot- _~middotmiddotbull-~--~--~~-

middotshy

bull TABLE 3

TAGGI-G DTpoundS OF YUI~ON RIVER KE~G st~middotcm lUCOVERIES fADE APOV ~-ILE 434 DURllG 1968

- ___

Jz~ cs of Tas Recovc~i(gts Recovmiddot ries T3[1~

June 4-10 2 O 00 06 0 s II 1

-middot l

~G6~i~g Total No No ofll I i

raquo fI

June 11-15 3 1 24 0 8

June 16-20 24 3 73middot 64

- z (Jmicrone 21-25 160 21 512 425

middotmiddotne 26-30 87 9 220 23l

~ ltLy i-5 UJ 173

uly G-10 26 2 49 69

July 11-16 9 0 oo 24

7 Totals 376 c _ 41 (418)1 100 Oi 100 01~

J f-= f 2 3

Recoveries above ~ile 484

Total tags applied at all tag~in~ sites

Percent of total recoveries

~ middot middotshy

i j I

I i 1middot

1 l

l ~ i

l t

I

9- shy

II 0 ~ u w

gt u

--middot

middot

bull

-- ~

------===_-Lmiddot middot ~- ~ middot middot -~ middot Poimiut - 1 ~--_ 251

~ 1------middotmiddot--------------Dogflsh VillageA-_---+ ~_- - IJ ~ 227-------------- --- ---------- -------------------------------shymiddot--~

Ohoglt1mut

--- -----------===-=-=-=-------~-+------------~--- ~ 185

I

I bull

I

I I I

11middot

bull middot

Flnt Islandmiddot(_~~ 0 J middot--------1 middot------ -~--------

l 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 June D ~ te _ July

bull

middot~

-- __ bull middot-bull-wmiddotbull----- - __ --~bullbull __ ~_ __ __ltOijiiiUlt-~~o-cFlliipi~middotI~middot____________

_

I

~--

MIGRATION RATES OF YUKON RIVJR TAG ro KING SALfON BY AREA DURING 1968

Mileages from No of Tagging Oates Recovery Oates Mean Days Mean ~ Arca of Recovery Tagging Site Recovcries (Range) (Hange) Qut Per

OHOGJIUT TAGG ING SITE (Milemiddot 185)

Cclomiddotv Ohcgamiut 5 617-30 625-710 58 Opogltmiut middot 0 1 624 627 30 Russian Mission 25- 29 12 67-7I I 610-710 43 s i Piimiu t 66 9 616- 77 619-712 49 13 Above Paimiu t 74-84 11 613-628 614-72 48 16 lloly Cross 97 2 616-26 623-79 10 0 9 Grayling 151 1 624 623 40 37 Nulato 299 2 61620 624-7 so 37 Dihops tlountain 327 1 624 720 260 12 Ruby 396 4 623-25 77-13 173 2_ -

~ lokrin0s 419 1 73 718 150 36 Tilnana 510 1 620 79 190 ~6

Above Tanana 540 1 622-28 78-12 -7167 gt- ltgtJtrnfi-rt 578 3 624-26 714-16 200 lt-u bull

StcvCHs Vil lagc 6lt2 2 624-26 middot75-15 150 ~4

lk lQH llughcs 675-784 2 628-30 74 160 42 shy1rlt1vcr 747 l ()24 715 210 31middot)

Fort Yukon 817 1 614 7I18 3middot1 0 24 ~louth Gooltlpas ter River (Tanana ltiver) 830 1 624 8 7 Jbove Elttglc 1070 2 622-28 89 450 23 Ohl Crmmiddot1 (Porcupine R) 1808 1 623 Jate July Dn1middot1son 1130 1 627 729 320 35 ~middotuyo 1310 1 619 31 430 30 Crmacks 1366 5 623-74 718-820 or)) 3 33 Pc lly Crossing (Pclly R) 1gt395 1 630 87 330 36 Lake Lebarge 1530 1 71 821 510 30

__ middot---~--- middot~- middot--middot-~middot-middot-~---- --middot--bullbull-1middot---i--middotmiddot~ ~ middot-middot bullbullmiddotbullmiddotmiddot- _~middotmiddotbull-~--~--~~-

II 0 ~ u w

gt u

--middot

middot

bull

-- ~

------===_-Lmiddot middot ~- ~ middot middot -~ middot Poimiut - 1 ~--_ 251

~ 1------middotmiddot--------------Dogflsh VillageA-_---+ ~_- - IJ ~ 227-------------- --- ---------- -------------------------------shymiddot--~

Ohoglt1mut

--- -----------===-=-=-=-------~-+------------~--- ~ 185

I

I bull

I

I I I

11middot

bull middot

Flnt Islandmiddot(_~~ 0 J middot--------1 middot------ -~--------

l 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 June D ~ te _ July

bull

middot~

-- __ bull middot-bull-wmiddotbull----- - __ --~bullbull __ ~_ __ __ltOijiiiUlt-~~o-cFlliipi~middotI~middot____________

_

I

~--

MIGRATION RATES OF YUKON RIVJR TAG ro KING SALfON BY AREA DURING 1968

Mileages from No of Tagging Oates Recovery Oates Mean Days Mean ~ Arca of Recovery Tagging Site Recovcries (Range) (Hange) Qut Per

OHOGJIUT TAGG ING SITE (Milemiddot 185)

Cclomiddotv Ohcgamiut 5 617-30 625-710 58 Opogltmiut middot 0 1 624 627 30 Russian Mission 25- 29 12 67-7I I 610-710 43 s i Piimiu t 66 9 616- 77 619-712 49 13 Above Paimiu t 74-84 11 613-628 614-72 48 16 lloly Cross 97 2 616-26 623-79 10 0 9 Grayling 151 1 624 623 40 37 Nulato 299 2 61620 624-7 so 37 Dihops tlountain 327 1 624 720 260 12 Ruby 396 4 623-25 77-13 173 2_ -

~ lokrin0s 419 1 73 718 150 36 Tilnana 510 1 620 79 190 ~6

Above Tanana 540 1 622-28 78-12 -7167 gt- ltgtJtrnfi-rt 578 3 624-26 714-16 200 lt-u bull

StcvCHs Vil lagc 6lt2 2 624-26 middot75-15 150 ~4

lk lQH llughcs 675-784 2 628-30 74 160 42 shy1rlt1vcr 747 l ()24 715 210 31middot)

Fort Yukon 817 1 614 7I18 3middot1 0 24 ~louth Gooltlpas ter River (Tanana ltiver) 830 1 624 8 7 Jbove Elttglc 1070 2 622-28 89 450 23 Ohl Crmmiddot1 (Porcupine R) 1808 1 623 Jate July Dn1middot1son 1130 1 627 729 320 35 ~middotuyo 1310 1 619 31 430 30 Crmacks 1366 5 623-74 718-820 or)) 3 33 Pc lly Crossing (Pclly R) 1gt395 1 630 87 330 36 Lake Lebarge 1530 1 71 821 510 30

__ middot---~--- middot~- middot--middot-~middot-middot-~---- --middot--bullbull-1middot---i--middotmiddot~ ~ middot-middot bullbullmiddotbullmiddotmiddot- _~middotmiddotbull-~--~--~~-

_

I

~--

MIGRATION RATES OF YUKON RIVJR TAG ro KING SALfON BY AREA DURING 1968

Mileages from No of Tagging Oates Recovery Oates Mean Days Mean ~ Arca of Recovery Tagging Site Recovcries (Range) (Hange) Qut Per

OHOGJIUT TAGG ING SITE (Milemiddot 185)

Cclomiddotv Ohcgamiut 5 617-30 625-710 58 Opogltmiut middot 0 1 624 627 30 Russian Mission 25- 29 12 67-7I I 610-710 43 s i Piimiu t 66 9 616- 77 619-712 49 13 Above Paimiu t 74-84 11 613-628 614-72 48 16 lloly Cross 97 2 616-26 623-79 10 0 9 Grayling 151 1 624 623 40 37 Nulato 299 2 61620 624-7 so 37 Dihops tlountain 327 1 624 720 260 12 Ruby 396 4 623-25 77-13 173 2_ -

~ lokrin0s 419 1 73 718 150 36 Tilnana 510 1 620 79 190 ~6

Above Tanana 540 1 622-28 78-12 -7167 gt- ltgtJtrnfi-rt 578 3 624-26 714-16 200 lt-u bull

StcvCHs Vil lagc 6lt2 2 624-26 middot75-15 150 ~4

lk lQH llughcs 675-784 2 628-30 74 160 42 shy1rlt1vcr 747 l ()24 715 210 31middot)

Fort Yukon 817 1 614 7I18 3middot1 0 24 ~louth Gooltlpas ter River (Tanana ltiver) 830 1 624 8 7 Jbove Elttglc 1070 2 622-28 89 450 23 Ohl Crmmiddot1 (Porcupine R) 1808 1 623 Jate July Dn1middot1son 1130 1 627 729 320 35 ~middotuyo 1310 1 619 31 430 30 Crmacks 1366 5 623-74 718-820 or)) 3 33 Pc lly Crossing (Pclly R) 1gt395 1 630 87 330 36 Lake Lebarge 1530 1 71 821 510 30

__ middot---~--- middot~- middot--middot-~middot-middot-~---- --middot--bullbull-1middot---i--middotmiddot~ ~ middot-middot bullbullmiddotbullmiddotmiddot- _~middotmiddotbull-~--~--~~-

I

TABLE - l n t)

MIGRATION RATES OF YUKON RIVtR TAGCED KING SAUlON BY AHEA DURING 1968

Mileages No of Tagging Dates llccovcry Dates Mean Days Mean M Area of Recovery Tagging Site Recoveries (Range) (Range) Out Per D

UOGFISH VILLAGE TAGGING SITE (Mile 227)

Paimiut 24 Above Paimiut 33 Above lloly Cross 56 l3dmmiddot1 Nulato 248 Hampart 536

PAIMIUT TAGGING SITE (Mile 251)

I- Belo1-1 Pa imiut N Pa imiut

Above Paimiut 10 llo ly Cross 32 Nulato 233

middotRuuy 330 lZokrines 353 Tanina 1tl4 Above Tanana 711

1 5 1 1 3

1 1 1 I 1 2 I 1 1

616 6 16-22 618 625 617-25

71 630 78 71 71 72-6 630 78 71

620 619-26 629 73 7I s-15

77 74 79 76 714 714-17 7Hl 723 717

40 26

110 -8 O 197

60 40

middot l 0 50

130 115 190 150 160

60 125

5 1 310 272

10 ( 6 1

16 4 28 ( 18 ( 29 ( 29 [

77

bull

~ - ~middoth- -middotmiddot ~ middot~

- _ ____ ~_~hmiddot1-tbull~~~~~~middotr---rmiddotmiddotmiddot--ft-iJOnri middot~--- ~ tdeg -~p-~ - ~middot~ --11ribullmiddot--________________

day while the migration rate of recoverics mode in Canada Ner8 in excess of 30 miles p-2r day Tbe maximum migraion ~ate of amiddot tagged king salnon recorded was 44 1 miles per day

Reco_ery of King Sidman cfas sificd as to Condition bull

In Table 5 the p-2rcentcige of upstrean recoveries of tagged kings in relation to condition at the time of relea se is shovmiddotm Unlike previous years there was no apprecicble difference in recovey rates bet~veen the three conshyditions This vas bel icved due to the probable difficulty in di~tinguishing the condition of tagged fish L1 the upriver tagging 2rcGs At the mouth of the river it is relatively easy to determine the condiliOgtl of king salmon that have immediately entered freshwater At the tagging sites located 185 to 25 l miles upriver the kings cre apparently better adjusted to fresbwvter and conseshyquently it is dilficult to observe dipoundpounde1ences in condition upon release

Pooulation Estimate C ousiderations

As discussed previously tha tag and recov~ry program experienced several dipoundpoundiculties that n~sulted in relatively fov numbers of king salnon being tagged A population estimate based on upriver s ubsistcnce and comshymercial fisher~ recoveries of the king salmon passing through the tagging ar8as is calculated below utilizing a simple P~terson formula The number of king ~ilninn iistimated to have passed through t_he tcggbg arens 83 600 fish and the calculated escapement of 62033 are probably iow ciue Lu t~0i5 middots3~~-

from limitations of the data

shy

I l lmiddot 1

middot_ 1 bull t j

middot~

i

bull

Imiddoti l r

13

day while the migration rate of recoverics mode in Canada Ner8 in excess of 30 miles p-2r day Tbe maximum migraion ~ate of amiddot tagged king salnon recorded was 44 1 miles per day

Reco_ery of King Sidman cfas sificd as to Condition bull

In Table 5 the p-2rcentcige of upstrean recoveries of tagged kings in relation to condition at the time of relea se is shovmiddotm Unlike previous years there was no apprecicble difference in recovey rates bet~veen the three conshyditions This vas bel icved due to the probable difficulty in di~tinguishing the condition of tagged fish L1 the upriver tagging 2rcGs At the mouth of the river it is relatively easy to determine the condiliOgtl of king salmon that have immediately entered freshwater At the tagging sites located 185 to 25 l miles upriver the kings cre apparently better adjusted to fresbwvter and conseshyquently it is dilficult to observe dipoundpounde1ences in condition upon release

Pooulation Estimate C ousiderations

As discussed previously tha tag and recov~ry program experienced several dipoundpoundiculties that n~sulted in relatively fov numbers of king salnon being tagged A population estimate based on upriver s ubsistcnce and comshymercial fisher~ recoveries of the king salmon passing through the tagging ar8as is calculated below utilizing a simple P~terson formula The number of king ~ilninn iistimated to have passed through t_he tcggbg arens 83 600 fish and the calculated escapement of 62033 are probably iow ciue Lu t~0i5 middots3~~-

from limitations of the data

shy

I l lmiddot 1

middot_ 1 bull t j

middot~

i

bull

Imiddoti l r

13

bull

PERCENTAGE UPSTRbM RECl)VERY roH YUKON RIVEll TAGGED KING SALMON CLASSIFIED S TO CONDITIOJ DUIUtG 1968

1

2

3 middot~

Unclassified

--middot---shy

Totals

I-

tgt

108

132

19

3

262

32

3

1

0

36

63

9

3

0

75

205

14 ~

23

3

373

296 28l

250 667

316 0

0 0

-middot-middot-----shy27l 306

127

0

0

0

222 ] I

24l

243

261

0

2-l l

bull

POPULATJO ESTHATim COmiddotIIUTATIOs YUI~O~middot RIVER KING SAU10~~ 1968

Coramrcial Catch Subsistence Catch Total

Subdistrict 334-10 79543 2 277 81820 Subdistrict 334-20 21319 1553 22872 Subdistrict 33L-30 4543 4086 8629 middot Subd is tr ic t 33f-40 1119 6839 bull7 9 53 Yukon Tenitory 2152 2 82_8 4980

TOTAL 108676 17583 126259

Flat Island Test Fishing C2tchcs -middot 831

- Andrcafsl~y Rjver1 Aerial Survey Escapeme11 t Estimate (~~ count) 769

middot Estimated Numbers of Kings Pas~ing Tagging Areas

Number Tagged = 376 Subdistrict 33~-30 ancmiddot 33~-40- and Yukon Territory

Subsistence and Com7ercial Catches = 21567

Number of Recovcriesl = 97 fl middot

~(Population estimate) = (376)(21567) ~ 83600 bull 9 7 f I ~ 11 I

Estimated Escapement Passed Tagging Areas 1middot

Population estimltgtte middot 83 600 Uprivcr ca_t_c_h_c_s_middot____-_2_1---5_6_7_ Estiraateltl Escapc~ent = 62033

TOTAL ESTI~fATE OF YUKO~i RIVR ~middot~INcmiddot SAUlOli RL11-I

Subdistrict 334-10 and 334-20 Subsistence amp Co~mercial C2tch 104692 Flat Island test Fish Catch 831

Aldreafsky_ Rive Escapcumt Estimate 769 Population Estimate asscd Taampgin~ Areas 33600

TOTAL ESTEfATE OF 189892 Kings t9~ CJ

Chulink River -rhich is loc3ted dmmstream froii Oho~amiut egtnd receives a king run 1 was not surveyed

21 Includ~~ only t3g recoveries ~a~e upriver f~oc the ta~zing sites

- iS ~

POPULATJO ESTHATim COmiddotIIUTATIOs YUI~O~middot RIVER KING SAU10~~ 1968

Coramrcial Catch Subsistence Catch Total

Subdistrict 334-10 79543 2 277 81820 Subdistrict 334-20 21319 1553 22872 Subdistrict 33L-30 4543 4086 8629 middot Subd is tr ic t 33f-40 1119 6839 bull7 9 53 Yukon Tenitory 2152 2 82_8 4980

TOTAL 108676 17583 126259

Flat Island Test Fishing C2tchcs -middot 831

- Andrcafsl~y Rjver1 Aerial Survey Escapeme11 t Estimate (~~ count) 769

middot Estimated Numbers of Kings Pas~ing Tagging Areas

Number Tagged = 376 Subdistrict 33~-30 ancmiddot 33~-40- and Yukon Territory

Subsistence and Com7ercial Catches = 21567

Number of Recovcriesl = 97 fl middot

~(Population estimate) = (376)(21567) ~ 83600 bull 9 7 f I ~ 11 I

Estimated Escapement Passed Tagging Areas 1middot

Population estimltgtte middot 83 600 Uprivcr ca_t_c_h_c_s_middot____-_2_1---5_6_7_ Estiraateltl Escapc~ent = 62033

TOTAL ESTI~fATE OF YUKO~i RIVR ~middot~INcmiddot SAUlOli RL11-I

Subdistrict 334-10 and 334-20 Subsistence amp Co~mercial C2tch 104692 Flat Island test Fish Catch 831

Aldreafsky_ Rive Escapcumt Estimate 769 Population Estimate asscd Taampgin~ Areas 33600

TOTAL ESTEfATE OF 189892 Kings t9~ CJ

Chulink River -rhich is loc3ted dmmstream froii Oho~amiut egtnd receives a king run 1 was not surveyed

21 Includ~~ only t3g recoveries ~a~e upriver f~oc the ta~zing sites

- iS ~

IChum Sulmon

A total of 2 495 chum sallon vere capturnd 1middotith mainly 8-12 inch mesh set gill nets at the tcgginc sites and 591 (23 7 ) Nerc tagged ani released In Appendix Table B the daily numbers of chum salmoa captured

lltagged and thmiddote numLar 0pound recoveries by tagging date ere shovm The numb8rs

of captured tago-ed und recovered chum sltllmon and th~ percentage t2gged and recovered by tagging site is sanmarized belmv in Table 6

Table 6 1968 Tagging Summary middotchum Salnon

Numbe- Number PercG1t Number Percent CaptueJ Tccc2 Taggec1 R8c8 middot~rGC

Ohogamit~ l 094 215 197 19 BB Dogfish Village 78 20 256 1 so Paiiniut 1323 356 269 25 7U

TOTAL 2495 591 237 45 76

The overall recover rate was 7 5 percent for c11 sites cmbined SimUar lmv recovery ates of Yukon River chum salmon captured for tcgging with gill nets haveccurred in other years sec p 16 o 1967 Technical Report

middot middotmiddotmiddotAs a result of the smc11 numbers of recoveries 45) a detuiled anulysis

of the chum salmon data will not be u1dertaken exoept for some brief comments on distribution of recoveries by area general run timing and migration rates

Distrilrntion of Recovcrics bv tireci

Similar to the pattern of king salmon -eturns most of the chum salmon recoveries Wer8 ~ade in creas relatively close to the tagging sites Table 7) The furthest upstream recovery -as made at Tanana a distcnce of 595 miles fro m the mouth

General Run Timiig

The first chum salmon capture occurred on June 14 at Ohoamiut The middotmiddotpeak of the chum run passed Ohogamiut during Ju1e 2 8 to July 2At Pa imiut the peak 9pound the run occurred during JLly S to 11

As n~ted for king salr10 the riigra tion ramiddot~ s poundor tagged chum salmon increased as the cis211cc trnvdcc upstn 11 incrccsJd The rnedmun migr~tiO~

16 _

TABLE 7

MHRATION RATES OF YUKON IUVER TAGGED CllUM SALMON llY ARl~A DURING 1968

Mileages from Nigt of Tagging Dates Recovery Dates Mean Days Mean Mi l ca of Recovery Tagg in~ Site Recoveries (Ranpc) (Range) Out Per Da)

OGAiIIUT TAGGING SITE (Mile 185)

Ohognmiut 0 1 79 712 30 Russian Mission 28 middot 3 7l-4 7 5-8 4 3 65 Paimlut anltl vicinity 66-76 8 628-75 71-9 46 69

middot1101y Cross anltl vicinity 90-98 3 626-77 72-12 s o 93 Anvik 132 2 629-7l 76 60 220 Jbove Grayl in 181 l 71 7 ( Nul~to anltl vicinity 301 1 78 8

GFISH VILLAGE TAGGING SITE (Mile 227)

~ Anvik 90 1 618 627 90 10 0

HIIUT TAGGtG SITI (Mile 251)

BcloN Palmiut - 3 middot1I1-8 78-15 50 Paimiut anltl vicinity 0-10 CJ 71-8 7~-10 14 S2

lloly Cross anltl vicinity 30-32 5 7l-S 73-31 74 43 A11v i k 66 3 75-10 79-14 37 17S Grayling anltl vicinity 85- ll5 2 76-8 715-16 85 235 fa1l tag 201 l 72 79 70 287 Delow Nulato 221 1 73 720 170 13 0 Talina 444 1 75 720 15 0 296

bull

bull _____________yen____~middot_-~_______w_______11_bull-=-bullbullamp____1amp_____

TABLE 7

MHRATION RATES OF YUKON IUVER TAGGED CllUM SALMON llY ARl~A DURING 1968

Mileages from Nigt of Tagging Dates Recovery Dates Mean Days Mean Mi l ca of Recovery Tagg in~ Site Recoveries (Ranpc) (Range) Out Per Da)

OGAiIIUT TAGGING SITE (Mile 185)

Ohognmiut 0 1 79 712 30 Russian Mission 28 middot 3 7l-4 7 5-8 4 3 65 Paimlut anltl vicinity 66-76 8 628-75 71-9 46 69

middot1101y Cross anltl vicinity 90-98 3 626-77 72-12 s o 93 Anvik 132 2 629-7l 76 60 220 Jbove Grayl in 181 l 71 7 ( Nul~to anltl vicinity 301 1 78 8

GFISH VILLAGE TAGGING SITE (Mile 227)

~ Anvik 90 1 618 627 90 10 0

HIIUT TAGGtG SITI (Mile 251)

BcloN Palmiut - 3 middot1I1-8 78-15 50 Paimiut anltl vicinity 0-10 CJ 71-8 7~-10 14 S2

lloly Cross anltl vicinity 30-32 5 7l-S 73-31 74 43 A11v i k 66 3 75-10 79-14 37 17S Grayling anltl vicinity 85- ll5 2 76-8 715-16 85 235 fa1l tag 201 l 72 79 70 287 Delow Nulato 221 1 73 720 170 13 0 Talina 444 1 75 720 15 0 296

bull

bull _____________yen____~middot_-~_______w_______11_bull-=-bullbullamp____1amp_____

__

ii jj

rate rncordd of a tagg(~d churn ~va s 29 6 miles per duy I i

~ ~ bull

IjThe 19 68 teg and recovery project i1as harnpcred by several prolJlernsmiddot

some resulting from unfamili~rity VIith the Ohogamiut-PJimiut crcas that middot1 drastically affoced the nu~~1bers of salr~10n capturnd and subsequently tagged -- 1

bullbull 11

Even if these difficulties were overcor)e it is felt that the present method of j capturing salmon for tagging set gill nets is unsotisfactory 0pound primary I

concern is th-2 high mo1tality 0pound gill net cc uaht salmon v1hich res uits in comshy middotI paratively fev being tagged For example only 3 7 3 percent of the kings and 23 7 percent 0pound the chums captured with gill nes vre-e tagged Still to be evaluated is the extent of mortality of the tccged is h after release due to

the capture handling and tagging operation It becomes apparent that 2notber ___ _ _ _r ---1 - --r-1 --J 1- -- ~i lUtlllVU v1 lC-J~l11u~ ~CJULLllCJJ 1U~j _~_

tagging is needed

middot During the 19 69 field season the Dmiddot2partment plans to investigate the use of large fis h1vheels tht vere successpoundul years ago in the Columbia River king salmon comme~cial fisherf Ipound this type of fishwhccl proves feasible and ipound good fishing s itcs can be located then it is believed that large numbers of king Selmon in suitable condition for tagging can be obta ined

middot 1

SUvIVIARY

King Salmon

bull

1 In 1958 the Yukon River tag and recovery was transferred upriver to the Ohogamiut-Pa irniut areas (Mile 185-251) Severcil problems were encountered that resulted in relatively small nuribcrs of salrron being captured and tagged e ~ g high water large amounts 0pound driftv-rnod dipoundpoundiculty in locating suitable tagging sites and develOJment of adecuate fishing methcds

2 A total of 1 007 kings were captured at the tagging _sites with set gill nets and 3 7 6 (3 7 3 ) were tagged ald released 1ost of the king salmon (70 ) were tagged and releas~d at the Ohogamiut site

3 A total of 9 8 recoveries (26 1 ) were recovered by commercial and subsistence fishcrme1

4middot middot middotTai recoveries were distributed along the entire Yukon River crainshyage Most of themiddot tcg recoveries vr2re made in the Russian Mission-Holy Cross ar13ci v1here a large anount of fishicig effort is locvt8d reJitively clos~ to the tagging sites A total of ten recoveries were rrad8 in tha Yurnn Territory

middot I - 18 shy I

The furthest upstream recovery w2 s m2de at Lcke 1barge noJr lhi tehorsc a distance of 1 715 miles forn the mout~

5 middotSimilar to previous years_ there v1as no apparent relatio~ship betvicen the distribution of upriver -ecoveries (above t-MLe 464) and the date

- of taging The distribution of tag recoveries upriver was dependent on the number of poundis h tagged

6 middot The first king salmon was captured on June 5 at the Ohogemiut site The me in peak of thG king run occurred on June 24-2 5 in the OhogamiutshyPairniut areu and is probitbly traceable to a peak in timing of the run Island n~r the mouth occurring on June 19-22

at Fla~

middot 7 In general the migration rn te of tagged king saimon increased as the distunce traveled upstrecim L1cr2a scd The mcximum migration rcte of a

II 8 Unlike previcus years there were no appreciable differences in

percen tcgc recovery rutGs of tagged king salmon in relation to condition upon release

9 Although relatively small numbers of king salmon were tagged a population estimata was calculated based on a simple Peterson formula A --t= of gt33 nn Hncro vv~rp Pstimated to have oassed through the tagging areas The middottotal estimate of the Yukon River king salmon population was 189 892 fish

I i

I

I I

I

l

Churn Salmon

1 A total 0pound 2 495 chum salmon Nere captured with mainly 8-12 inch mesh set gill nets at the tapoundging sites A total of 591(237 ) were tagged and rele~sed

2 Only 45 recoveries (7 6) vrere made Most of the recoveries were takei in creQs relatively close to the tagging sitemiddots The furthest upshystream rec every v1ra s made ci t T3nana a dis tunee 0pound 63 5 miles from the mouth

3 The first chum salmon was ccptured on June 14 at Ohogcmiut The pe~k of the chum run in ~he Ohocamillt-P~imiut areas occurredmiddot_ during the

periodJure 28 to July 11

4 In general the migration rate of tcgged chum sa mon incr2as2d as the distance trave~td upstream increased The ma)irnur1 rate of travGl for a tagged chum recorded was 29 6 miles per day

- 19 shy

middot

NLRmiddotlBERS OF YUKm RIVER KI~ltG siuo1 TAGGED CAPTU[D AD RECOVBED DimnG 1963

O rcG~ LUT SliE DOGFISH VI LUGE ------------~-t-J_(_r_s_~b ers NunLicrs ~~iJ-ib ers Totd

TggcJ Unt~gta rretl Cath Taoed_e gt

01~

65 666

I I

6S GOI bull

610 611 I

612 middot613 6H 615 6 16 617 6lS 619 620 621 622 623 624 F IS

6

n- -~ 0

64 65 66 67 68 69 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 645 626

u 0 Q 0 1 1 0 I 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 o 1 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 5 6 0 0 0 4 5 9 ) ) 6 0 3 3 3 1 4 4 4 s 2 5 6 4 5 9

30 16 46 94 74 168 11 17 28

3 7 10

C)iD i 10 S l~S

Numb er s i~iriibers

~3~locltl u~~a~-ed

c 0 0 l 0 l 1 l 0 0 0 0 1 l 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 5 1 s 9 12 4 3 3 8

I 3 3

1 5 5

7 6

10 16I 30 16

94 75 21 38 s 14

~~RECOmiddot lES )middot

Total Dogpoundish Cl~h Vi la~e

0 0 1 0

1 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 6 1 0 6 0 0

21 3 2 7 2 1

11 0 1 6 2 0

12 middot1 11 1 2 26 2 2 46 10 0

69 27 0 ~agt- 2 3 22 3 0

SITc PAHJ UT s ~middotc

~otal ~Cttch T1gg eel Cnt middotg_ ~ Catch

bull

0 0 1 0 0 0 6

12 1 8

0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 1 3 0 1 3 6 0 0

10 s

0 0 l 0 0 0 )

7 0 5 2 3 1

11 1 1

21 7

2 4 4

17 0 1

31 12

middotI T-~~S rvu 1shy

P~~~iu~ 72

0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 o 5 3 1 2 4 3 4

10 27

5 3

~ l ~ i i

J bull

bull

middot -

I I

I

1

I

j I

)

- 99 shy

I

APPEND[lt 12BLi A

NUi3ElZS or YU~Qfmiddot RIVEi~ KDG SiuaN TAGGED CAPTUZED i) RECOTREl DURUG 19GS (con t)

PAIMlUT SITi~

629 630 71 -eJ

73 74

7S 76 77 73 79 710 711 712 713 714 715

116 ta ls

14 41 12 19 10 12

6 10 2 8 7 11 7 18 2 7 2 3 0 2

2 3 1 1 0 2 gt 6 0 4 2 0 2 1 1 1

263 344

55 31 22 16 10 18 25

9 5 2 5 ~

2 9 4 2 3 2

607 36 68 04

0 0 0 24 85 109 18 22 40 5middot 10 15 3 9 12

middotl 5 6 6 12 18

3 9 12 8 17 25 3 9 12 3 10 13 2 11 13 1 12 13 0 8 8

77 219 296

I 1middotI cc-~n I 1u STES RECOVTr 2 DF T 2 p middot~- j Nwi o~middots ~~bClS Total Dcgf is1 I

_r- - j i ll ~middoteDate i Ta~ ~ =-~ lJtagg eJ Catc~ I Oho~~uni11t middot F-ai--lcr _ 1 r shy shy0 ~I 9 ~gt 24 2 0 2I628 20 34 54 4 4I629 14 41 55 1 0 1 630 36 104 140 I 5 2 7

~771 23 34 0-i 2 4 6

72 11 20 31 I 0 0 0 73 5 17 22 I 1 1 2 74 8 16 24 I 1 0 1 75 13 30 43 I 1 0 1I76 5 16 21 I 0 1 1

I 77 10 20 30 I 1 0 1 78 3 11 14 0 2 2 79 5 13 18 0 0 0 710 3 12 15 0 - 0 0 711 1 14 15 0 0 0 712 ) 14 17 0 0 0 713 0 4 4 0 0 714 2 0 2 0 0 715 2 1 3 0 0 716 1 1 2 0 0 Totals 376 631 11007 ~L c-)) bull )-) 1o(Llo) q-cgt i middot iJ

j 76(2S9) - ~u

L

l Figures in pcrenthes is rep~Esen~ rc(ov~rr p8lCcntagcs of tag s out

-100 shy

-- _shy

APPENDIX TABLE B

NUimiddotiBES OF YUKOmiddot RI VER CHLJr SLmiddot~ON

TAGGED CAPTUr~ED Amiddotm RiCOVEnED DUHG 1963

bull )U c1 c~middots i~~ers Totltel Date IL~ed U11ted Catch61 l

65 t I iJ8 f lt)

p10 (gt11 f 12

I shy

I -middotmiddot i f II

~---00------0

c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

l 4 5 s 8 3 4

ol~ 4 6 10 C) 5 s

( - 0 6 6 6 i ) l - bull middot1

5 7 12 I - shy

6~ 2 11 13 (f-iZ 1 11 12

24 ~ 16 24 ~~

I - 31 39 ___L_

cci0I 2) SITES

DOGFISl 1LL_Gl Silt Total Tot~l

CatchCa tcl1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - i middot

0 1 1 I I0 0 0 J4 3 7 bullj

2 3 s I 1 0 1 4 8 12 I

1 8 9 l 0 3 3 1 7 8 I

~ ()~ I

4 11 15

I - RECOVERIES 0 r T-CS OUT i

Nur-bers uwbes TotJl Dogfish Dite Tc~g middotmiddot~ j-_~ ~arr1

-~ t_~ ~ _ Ca~ch Ohog3miut Vil lage Paimi~t T~ta -64 6 s 6G

I i i

0 0 0

0 0 0

oshy0 0

0 0 0

0 0 0

67 6J l 0

0 0 o

0 0

0 0

0 0

69 610 611 612

I I I I I

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 I)

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

613 614 61 5

I l

0 ~

1

0 0 4

0 2 s

0 c 0

0 0 0

0 0 0

616 6_i 17 -- 18

I - I

i I

3 1 8

6 3 9

gmiddot

4 17

b 0 0

0 0 1

- 0 0 1

-middot

619 620 o21

I i

I I

~

1 s

8-6 15

10 7

24

0 0 0

0 0 0

0 0 0

h2 ) 19 22 0 0 0 6 ~- 1 14 15 0 0 0 6i ~ 9 ~3

~

J shy 0 0 0 625 3 36 middot_ 44 0 0 0 626 l2 42 s+ 1 0 1

-- _shy

APPENDIX TABLE B

NUimiddotiBES OF YUKOmiddot RI VER CHLJr SLmiddot~ON

TAGGED CAPTUr~ED Amiddotm RiCOVEnED DUHG 1963

bull )U c1 c~middots i~~ers Totltel Date IL~ed U11ted Catch61 l

65 t I iJ8 f lt)

p10 (gt11 f 12

I shy

I -middotmiddot i f II

~---00------0

c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

l 4 5 s 8 3 4

ol~ 4 6 10 C) 5 s

( - 0 6 6 6 i ) l - bull middot1

5 7 12 I - shy

6~ 2 11 13 (f-iZ 1 11 12

24 ~ 16 24 ~~

I - 31 39 ___L_

cci0I 2) SITES

DOGFISl 1LL_Gl Silt Total Tot~l

CatchCa tcl1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - i middot

0 1 1 I I0 0 0 J4 3 7 bullj

2 3 s I 1 0 1 4 8 12 I

1 8 9 l 0 3 3 1 7 8 I

~ ()~ I

4 11 15

I - RECOVERIES 0 r T-CS OUT i

Nur-bers uwbes TotJl Dogfish Dite Tc~g middotmiddot~ j-_~ ~arr1

-~ t_~ ~ _ Ca~ch Ohog3miut Vil lage Paimi~t T~ta -64 6 s 6G

I i i

0 0 0

0 0 0

oshy0 0

0 0 0

0 0 0

67 6J l 0

0 0 o

0 0

0 0

0 0

69 610 611 612

I I I I I

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 I)

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

613 614 61 5

I l

0 ~

1

0 0 4

0 2 s

0 c 0

0 0 0

0 0 0

616 6_i 17 -- 18

I - I

i I

3 1 8

6 3 9

gmiddot

4 17

b 0 0

0 0 1

- 0 0 1

-middot

619 620 o21

I i

I I

~

1 s

8-6 15

10 7

24

0 0 0

0 0 0

0 0 0

h2 ) 19 22 0 0 0 6 ~- 1 14 15 0 0 0 6i ~ 9 ~3

~

J shy 0 0 0 625 3 36 middot_ 44 0 0 0 626 l2 42 s+ 1 0 1

APPENDJX TABLE D

TAGN~middot1rlERS OF YU i~O~J

GED CMTUl~ED A-rn rl l VER CHUi-1 SAum~

RECOVERED DUUgt 19 6Emiddot (con t)

OHOGAJiTUTINuilbers lutbemiddots SIT~

Total DOGFISI V l LLbullGE -------I ~~umbers rw1bcrs

SITE Total ---~~-

PAHlIUT

Numbers Nlm------sni bers TotJl-~-~

~ t n T~ - cltl 1 shy

shy1_)1 - ji66S 629 I 13 630 I 24 71 I 30 I 11I - I 73 s 74 I 12 75 13 76 I 6 77 I 8

I7S I 4 79 4 710 I 2 711 I 3

I712 1i713 3 714 1

17jl57 16 0 Tr 215ls I

Un~3~~cd___c_~_th ___Ilz~ed tS 5smiddot o 68 84 0 66 84 99 123 7S 105 60 71 44 - 52 4S 57 38 51 47 ~ ) )

53 41

19 23 26 30 14 16 19 22 7 s

12 15 s 9 5 6 8 8

879 1094

Tobull~rgtcl CtgtUit2~ged Citc1 ___- bull ~ Ut tC ~ ~d

4 4 7 7

9 59 63 19 70 89 16 38 54 14 37 51 34 91 12S 42 65 107 23 84 107 so 136 136 78 109 187 26 94 120 _ 38 110 18 46 64 s 50 SS

967 1323

~ ~~ J i r R~CORIES o Tcs (U T l ~~~---~---- ----~--j cU110ClS S~~Ocrs T Jtltl l Dogfish

Date iTltg6ed ~r~taggcltl Catch 8hogG1lu t il as ~ P~mi~rt __)_____ Total --o- J n ----=----- ~-- -lJ - J _ 62 0 I)

628 l 16 75 91 2 0 2 629 I 1s 66 84 2 2 630 33 158 191 1 0 1 71 l 49 14S 194 4 3 7 72 27 98 125 2 2 4 73 22 81 103 0 3 3I74 46 136 182 3 1 4 7S SS 103 158 1 6 7

I o76 lI g 131 160 2 2

77 58 169 2l7 l 1 1 2~I

78 82 128 210 5 6

79 I 30 120 lSO i ~ 0 1 710

I 24 102 126 1 l

bull

711 21 65 86 j ~ 1 1 i

I 712 57 63 0 0 bull i middotmiddot1 6 713 3 12 15 I ~ 0 714 1 8 9 0 ~

j

715 II 1 ~ 6 I ~ 0 ~ I

716 l 0 8 8 I o 0 I Totals i S9l 1 904 2495 I 19(8S) 1(50) 25(70)middot 4S(i6)

~ H Ii Figures in parenthesis npr~sent recov2ry percenta00 of tcgs out bull

~

l

102 shy