71/15

fun­

71/71)

FISHERIES

were

area

Doc. RESTRICTED

smolts through

Lawrence. vigor

of

program cm.

applied

Miramichi

report St.

Res.Doc.

12

ATLANTIC

Salmon

fisheries their particular determining

migration

this thrust The and native modified of

abrasions, a drainage River

This tagging needles.

of

ICNAF

a of one

Canada

the under was

not

wild Gulf

twine the

of

selected.rivers 196B. seaward Native not contribution has

(also

ICES/ICNAF jig

NORTHWEST Part

of areas,

the were was

Miramichi

in for tagging in those commercial because

and the 1971

1968

THE

Branch nylon the

the a

releases. their

Forestry

and into size

from

scaled 196B. used

Scotis on

JUNE

smolts River

on

from and smolts - river

C2

Turner

in

Brunswick, tagging After of

recaptures tagging,

Nova

all sport

evaluate

Development G.E. for hatchery smolts damage Project New empties

for to to on Although

whole

(lack

MEETING jig.

native 1970 estuary

by

monofilament in

Fisheries

Recapture

started

and Miramichi

Halifax,

the with

of on

used the and

Tagging FOR

wild native

Resource

ANNUAL

against the smolts smolts

was of

in fins). black

program selected

tagging

of

miles

in located 1969 Tags The of A

Smolt Report

returns appearance

A

is

on with MATERIALS were

Department region

salmon

of

needle

1) square

Salmon COMMISSION

tagging

captured

AND

tied

precaution

Fish

released or'decayed

a selection

2541

the reared results

physical

5,500 representativ~

were

as type double Atlantic and

in

nONAl

(Figure

No.

a

INTRODUCTION METHODS

comparison growth good are

the

over

(B.g.14)

INTERNA Serial

for factor in included 2.0 tagged River culled gal Carlin with l.t presents project and hatchery and tributary. of

,passed ,passed

',f. ',f.

, ,

~OWhriver ~OWhriver

waters waters

then then were were

Ta

other other

a a

hours hours

on on ethyl:-

the the

atures atures

the the

commercial commercial

then then estuarial estuarial

holding, holding, styrofoam styrofoam leads leads

This This tation tation

dollars dollars sex. sex.

anaethetized anaethetized

shaped shaped

operated operated in in men men

2 2

depended depended

;,. ;,.

sample sample

:', :',

1/2-inch 1/2-inch

place, place,

the the

'" '"

musculature musculature

jig jig

and and

measured, measured,

tied tied

trap trap

towed towed

were were

throughout throughout

to to ester ester

Scale Scale

between between

to to

and and in in

pound pound

live live

pulled pulled

operations operations

anglers anglers

($3) ($3)

of of

determine determine

anaesthetizing, anaesthetizing,

in in upon upon

water water

encourage encourage

of of

date, date,

the the

pontoons. pontoons. in in

is is

threaded threaded

handling handling

trap trap to to

stretched stretched

tagged tagged

cages cages

samples samples

the the

(M.S. (M.S.

with with

a a

was was

the the

or or

similar similar

anaesthetizing anaesthetizing

the the

the the

back back

two two

square square

tagged tagged

method method

or or

just just thsoughout thsoughout

trap trap

Miramichi Miramichi

for for

smolt smolt

tagging. tagging.

paid paid

with with

the'methanesulphonate the'methanesulphonate

floating floating 222). 222).

initiative initiative

, ,

or or

mortality mortality

and and

extended extended

set set

out out Native Native

After After Posters Posters

were were

into into and and

fishermen fishermen

tag tag

below below

mesh mesh

in in This This

section. section.

more more

knot knot

and and

for for

untagged untagged

of of

net'at net'at

screened screened trap trap

of of

design design

also also

returns. returns.

the the

River River

tagging, tagging, also also

put put

the the

arrangement arrangement capture, capture,

in in

turning turning

area area

the the

interneural interneural After After

the the

smolts smolts

and and

the the

tagging tagging

and and

and and

from from

end end

due due

water water

the the

facilitated facilitated

of of

back back

Millbank Millbank

to to

smolts smolts

requested. requested.

'dorsal 'dorsal

water water

the the

fish. fish. Trapped Trapped

to to

entire entire

to to

- 2 -

smolts smolts

circulars circulars

sides sides released. released.

the the

of of

C3 C3

May May

to to

anaethetizing anaethetizing

return return

leader leader

were were

the the

and and

Tag Tag contact contact

in in

excess excess

into into

are are

shed shed

total total

tagging. tagging.

the the

individual individual

revived revived

temperatures, temperatures, 27 27

a a

fin fin

The,monofilament The,monofilament

minimized minimized

commercial commercial

tagging tagging

and and

reviving. reviving.

returns returns

was was

spines, spines,

on on

kept kept

trapped trapped

smolts smolts

tag. tag.

hypodermic hypodermic

mounted mounted a a

tags tags to to

of of

and and

the the

length, length,

were were

so so

A A

the the

twine twine

live live

both both solid solid

held held

June June

meta-aminobenzoic meta-aminobenzoic

Before Before

within within

I-inch I-inch

reward reward

that that

they they

use use and and

Special Special

Miramichi Miramichi

were were

process; process;

from from

the the

used used

at at

cage cage

the the

commercial commercial

fisherman fisherman

13. 13. cut cut

for for

on on

smolt smolt

fronts fronts

weight weight

trap, trap,

All All of of

to to

the the

were were

a.modified a.modified

release, release,

and and

monofilament monofilament

needles needles

fish, fish,

put put

two two s.tretched s.tretched

of of 3° 3°

distant distant

up up

off. off.

to to

in in

the the include include

crews crews

smolt smolt

needles needles

water water

C. C.

transpor­

three three

to to

home home

but but towed towed

leads leads which which

revive. revive.

18-foot 18-foot

in in including including

estuary. estuary.

same same

and and

of of they they

in in

48 48

scow­

fisher­

and and

however, however,

were were

utilizes utilizes

fisheries fisheries

data data

each each

temper-

report-

were were

mesh mesh

were were acid acid - 3 - ing tags to co-ordinating agencies in their own area or sending them to the address printed on the tag for the reward. For purposes of this report, Miramichi Bay was considered to be that area to the east of an imaginary line drawn from Napan Bay to Bartibog River and extending out into the Gulf of St. Lawrence as far as Miramichi drift netters fish (10 -

15 miles). The are~ including NapaQ Bay and Bartibog River, which extends upriver to the confluence of the Northwest and Southwest Miramichi Rivers was considered the main Miramichi River or Miramichi estuary.

3.0 RESULTS

~.l Tagging Operations The number of smolts tagged, tag series used, dates of tagging and release, and brief history of the native stock are detailed in Table I. A total of 3,491 native smolts were tagged for release to the Miramichi River system. Mortalities resulting from tagging, etc., are summarized in Table II.

3.2 Native Smolt Recap~ures Recaptures during 1969 and 1970 of native salmon tagged as smolts in 1968 were 3.20 percent (110) from all Sources (Table III). Home water (Miramichi System) to distant fisheries returns were 1.7:1 and the recapture ratio for commercial fishermen to anglers (Table IV) was 5.1:1.

In Table V, a more detailed breakdown of recaptures is shown according to major offshore and home water fishing areas. In Greenland, recaptures which were reported, accounted for 10.9 percent (12) of the total returns, while Newfoundland

recaptures accounted for 15.3 percent (15). Home \~aterrecaptures were highest, accounting for 62.9 percent (69) of the total returns. Straying was minimal among the native tagged stock.

Areas of recapture are plotted in Figure 2 according to year and place of recapture. Most recaptures in Greenland waters were taken in the fall and winter of 1969 on

C4 '1\ - 4 - the west coast between latitudes 69° and 63° N. The heaviest concentratio~of Newfoundland recaptures in both 1969 and 1970 were from the east coast of the Island from the northern tip of the Great Northern Peninsula to the tip of Cape Race in the south. South coast recaptures in Newfoundland were scattered along the whole coast in 1969, but were concentrated in the Port-aux-Basques region in 1970. Figure 2 indicates the possible migration route followed by native salmon destined for the Miramichi System. From

Greenland's west coast the fish migrated sou~halong the east coast of Labrador, the east and south coast of Newfoundland, through Cabot Strait, west through the Gulf of St. Lawrence, finally arriving off the mouth of the Niramichi System between June and September each year. Table VI shows recaptures to the Miramichi System by gear and by method of capture. Commercial fishermen harvested the largest portion of native tagged fish that returned to the system of origin. Of the total recapture reported to date, 49" (74%) were taken by commercial fishermen and 17 (26%) by the angler. Grilse recaptures, including those angled as "black" salmon were fairly evenly divided between the commercial and angling catch: whereas, the recapture of two sea year fish was predominantly by the commercial fishery. Nonthly recaptures from 1969 and 1970 are listed in Table VII. Greenland recaptures were from the late summer, 'fall and winter period of 1969 with September and October the heaviest tag return months. Tagged salmon caught in the Green­ land fishery were completing or had completed their second summer at sea and were obviously not destined to return to their river of origin or planting during the 1969 season (grilse year). Newfoundland recaptures were taken during June and July each year.

C5 TABLE I - BACKGROUND DATA ON NATIVE SMOLTS TAGGED IN 1968 ON THE MIRAMICHI RIVER ESTUARY AT MILLBANK

Number Tag Age at Dates Dates Stock Tagged Series Tagging Tagged Released Comments'

wild Native 3,49]" Green May 29 - May 30 - Captured at 1-liramichi A.53,lOO - June 3 June 3 estuarial 56,599 trap at Millbank

o V> Q\

TABLE II - K;WWN NATIVE TAGGED SMOLT r·!ORTALITIES FRO,·! 1968 SMOLT STUDY

:,umber and Perce!1.t Mortalities Number From Fro::\ Stock Tagged Tagging % AnglLlg % l-1isc. %

Wild ;\lativC! 3,491 68 1.9 1 0.03 1 0.03 f.liramichi - 6 -

TABLE III - TOTAL RECAPTURES OF ATLANTIC SALMON TAGGED AS SMOLTS ON THE MlRAMICHI SYSTEM IN 1968 LISTED ACCORDING TO HOME WATERS OR OTHER ARE~S COHBINED. PERCENTS LISTED BASED ON TOTALS TAGGED AND RELEASED. B1 - BLACK SALMON

Major Recapture Year Mir. Native (MN) Site of Recapture No. %

Miramichi System 1969 27 0.78 1970 Bl G 0.17 1970 35 1. 02 Other 1969 23 0.67 1970 Bl 0 0 1970 19 0.56 Combined Totals 110 3.20

TABLE IV - ATLANTIC S~LMON RECAPTURES PROM 1968 SMOLT TAGGING BY COMMERCI~L OR ANGLING ~1E'rHODSON TilE MlRAMICHI SYSTEM (1969 AND 1970 RETURNS COMBINED)

Method of Miramichi Native Recapture (MN)

Commercial 49 Angling 17 Ratio of Commercial to Angling Recaptures 2.9:1

C7 TABLE V - PERCENT RECAPTURES FROM 1968 SMOLT TAGGING IN THE MIRAMICHI SYSTEM ACCORDING TO MAJOR RECAPTURE AREAS, PERCENT RECAPTURES ARE BASED ON TOTAL RETURNS. ( ) - ACTUAL NO. RETURNED.

Recapture Area

Greenland Newfoundland Northumberland St. Mirarnichi System Nisce11aneous

1969 1970 1969 1970 1969 1970 1969 1970B1 1970 1969 1970 " o co

10.9(12) o 8.2 (9) 7.2(8) o 7.2(8) 24.5 5.5 32.9 2.7(3) 0.9 (1) (27) (6) (36 ) - 8 -

TABLE VI - ATLANTIC SALMON RECAPTURES IN THE MIRAMICHI RIVER SYSTEM FROM NATIVE SMOLTS TAGGED AND RELEASED IN 1968. B1 - BLACK SALMON.

Recapture Year Method of Capture Site of Recap'Commercia1 Angling Experimental Hatchery

Miramichi 1969 5 Bay 1970 33 Main Mir. 1969 5 1 River 1970 1 0

Northwest 1969 1 2 1 Mir. River 1970 B1 0 0 0 1970 0 1 0 Southwest Mir. River 1969 3 3 1 1970 B1 0 4 0 1970 1 0 0

Little S.W. 1969 4 Mir. River 1970 B1 1 1970 0

Sevog1e 1969 0 River 1970 B1 0 1970 0 Renous 1969 1 River 1970 B1 0 1970 0 ." Cains 1969 0 River 1970 B1 1 1970 0

Totals 49 17 2 1

C9 Dec

AS

1

COMBINED. Nov

RETURNS

3

EXCLUDED

ACCORDING ARE

Gct

TAGGED

SALMON

6

1968 1970 Combined

Sept

IN RETURNS SALMON

1970 BLACK

4 1 1 4

caughtlmonth

Aug APRIL,

1970 NO

and

10

SYSTEM

C

4

4 2 2

AND

11

ATLANTIC AND

July

1969 Number

- 9 -

OF AREA.

2 1 1 7

1969

MARCH

23 10

June

IN

MIRAMICHI

AND

May THE

RECAPTURE

RECAPTURES

ON

RETURNS

INCLUDED 3

~lN Stock MN MN MN MN MAJOR MN MN

)

* -

SMOLTS

TO ARE MONTHLY

Bay

R. - all all

Est. recaps. recaps.)

VII

of

(includes

(includes

Recapture Site Greenland Newfoundland Miramichi Southwest River trib. trib. Miramichi TABLE Miramichi Bay Northwest Chaleur Miramichi MIRAMICHI RIVER SYSTEM

-"1 I ' NO ..--" /"'" N 5 V_ •• .o....-- ____ ~

o I-'o I

LEGEND EhH.tro~~n'"9 Stat;Ot'Is • p"y~i(O,-cnemic.Qf Stat1on!> 0

Figun> I. ~iramiehi River System A no 00 ,..' 7 89 "\ Tagged

1970 1969

19GB.

Salmen

in

Native

Native

of

12

LABRADOR

Smelt

-

C

=Miramichi

o

.2Miramichi

11

-

Ruca~turc3

Nativ~

OF

,GULF

LAWRENCE

o

1970

ST.

and

i1iramichi

GREENLAND

~~

1~69

as

2 -

~

BRUNSWICK

Figure