. Fisheries and Marine Service. Maritimes Region. Resource Development Branch. DATA RECORD SERIES MAR/D 1* Environment Canada Envitonnement Canada Fisheries Service des peches and Marine Service et des sciences de la mer

Ages of Collected From Sport Fisheries in the Restigouche River System . Ar 1974 and 1975

by J. L. Peppar, J. J. 0' Neill and P. R. Pickard

Data Record Series No. MAR/ D-76-6

Freshwater and Anadromous Division Resource Branch Maritimes Region '06

AGES OF ATLANTIC SALMON COLLECTED FROM SPORT FISHERIES IN THE RESTIGOUCHE RIVER SYSTEM, 1974 AND 1975

J.L. PEPPAR, J.J. O'NEILL AND P.R. PICKARD

JULY, 1976

DATA RECORD SERIES NO. MAR/D-76-6

FRESHWATER AND ANADROMOUS DIVISION RESOURCE BRANCH FISHERIES AND MARINE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA iii

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 1

METHODS AND PRESENTATION OF DATA 2

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 15

LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1. Percentage composition of sea ages of large salmon caught during successive semi-monthly periods on the Restigouche River system, 1974 3 TABLE 2. Percentage composition of freshwater (smolt) in each sea-age group of large salmon caught in the Restigouche River system, 1974 4 TABLE 3. Age composition (age structure) of large salmon of the Restigouche River system, 1974 5

TABLE 4. Age composition (total age in years) of large salmon of the Restigouche River system, 1974. . 6

TABLE 5. Numbers of grilse samples taken over successive semi-monthly periods on the Restigouche River system, 19 74 7 TABLE 6. Percentage compOsition of freshwater (smolt) ages in grilse of the Restigouche River system, 1974 7

TABLE 7. Age composition (age structure and total age in years) of grilse of the Restigouche River system, 1974 8

TABLE 8. Percentage composition of sea ages of large salmon caught during successive semi- monthly periods on the Restigouche River system, 1975 9 TABLE 9. Percentage composition of freshwater (smolt) ages in each sea-age group of large salmon caught in the Restigouche River system, 1975 10

TABLE 10. Age composition (age structure) of large salmon of the Restigouche River system, 19 75 10 TABLE 11. Age composition (total age in years) of large salmon of the Restigouche River system, 19 75 11 iv

TABLE 12. Numbers of grilse samples taken over successive semi-monthly periods on the Restigouche River system, 19 75 12 TABLE 13. Percentage composition of freshwater (smolt) ages in grilse of the Restigouche River system, 1975 12 TABLE 14. Age composition (age structure and total age in years) of grilse of the Restigouche River system, 1975 13 INTRODUCTION This report presents data on the ages of Atlantic salmon collected in 1974 and 1975 from sport fisheries of the Upsalquitch, Northwest Upsalquitch, Southeast Upsalquitch, Patapedia, Kedgwick and Little Main Restigouche rivers of the Restigouche River system, (Fig. 1).

Patapedia Matapedia

QUEBEC Dalhousie Ca mpbellton

Restigouche

Upsalquitch

0 15 Kilometers 11;'erZtt eSke SE Upsalquitch

NW Upsalquitch

Mop esce3 .„ Restigouche Co. Northumberland Co. Little Main Restigouche

FIG. 1. Map of Restigouche River system, New Brunswick.

Samples originated from a sampling program conducted by_the New Brunswick Fish and Wildlife Branch (Department of Natural Resources) throughout the sport fisheries of the Restigouche system during the 1974 and 1975 angling seasons (June 1-August 31). This sampling program is conducted each year by the Branch as part of their general census of sport fishery statistics of the Restigouche River system. Length, weight and sex are recorded, and scale samples are obtained from angled fish. At the close of the 1974 and 1975 angling seasons, scale samples were forwarded to the Resource Development Branch for subsequent examination. All ages were determined by scale reading.

METHODS AND PRESENTATION OF DATA Each scale sample was examined under a binocular microscope and those scales with suitable (entire) centres were used for the 2 age determinations. To read the scales, a micro-projector was employed to project the scale image on a white background.

Scale samples were independently read twice; additional readings were made of those samples in which the first two readings disagreed, and final ages were assigned on the basis of majority agreement. Differences in sample sizes recorded in the tables reflect the proportion of scales for which ages could not be determined; some scales did not provide suitable centres for determination of freshwater age. The method used to record data in this report divides total age into two parts — freshwater (smolt) and sea ages; for example, a fish recorded as "3.2" has spent three years in freshwater and all or part of the succeeding two years in the sea. This is commonly referred to as a "two-sea-winter" salmon.

In presenting the age composition data, grilse (fish returning to spawn after spending only one winter at sea) and large salmon (fish returning to spawn after spending two or more winters at sea) are treated separately in the tables. Previously spawned fish are "lumped" in the large-salmon sea-age tables, regardless of at what age they spawned or how many times they had previously spawned. In the large-salmon freshwater-age (smolt) tables, the previously spawned fish have been separated according to their sea age when entering the river for the first time. Remaining tables present final age (i.e., present age) at year of sampling, irregardless of previous spawning. 3

TABLE 1. Percentage composition of sea ages of large salmon caught during successive semi-monthly periods on the Restigouche River system, 1974.

Semi- No. of Maiden fish Previous monthly fish in Sea age-2 yr Sea age-3 yr Sea age-4 yr spawners period sample No. % No. % No. No. %

Upsalctuitch River June 16-30 9 8 88.9 1 11.1 0 - 0 - July 1-15 38 37 97.4 1 2.6 0 - 0 - July 16-31 14 13 92.9 0 - 0 - 1 7.1 Aug. 1-15 4 4 100.0 0 - 0 - 0 Aug. 16-31 1 1 100.0 0 - 0 - 0 - Overall 66 63 95.5 2 3.0 0 - 1 1.5 Northwest Upealguitch River June 16-30 3 3 100.0 0 - 0 - 0 - July 1-15 6 6 100.0 0 - 0 - 0 - July 16-31 14 13 92.9 0 - 0 - 1 7.1 Aug. 1-15 3 3 100.0 0 - 0 - 0 Overall 26 25 96.2 0 - 0 - 1 3.9 June 1-15 4 2 50.0 2 50.0 0 - 0 - June 16-30 59 11 18.6 44 74.6 1 1.7 3 5.1 July 1-15 54 35 64.8 19 35.2 0 - 0 - July 16-31 37 29 78.4 8 21.6 0 - 0 - Aug. 1-15 12 6 50.0 6 50.0 0 - 0 - Aug. 16-31 5 3 60.0 1 20.0 0 - 1 20.0 Overall 171 86 50.3 80 46.8 1 0.6 4 2.3 Little Main Restigouche River July 1-15 18 16 88.9 2 11.1 0 - 0 - July 16-31 15 13 86.7 1 6.7 0 - 1 6.7 Aug. 1-15 3 3 100.0 0 0 - 0 - Overall 36 32 88.9 3 8.3 0 - 1 2.8 Patapedia River June 16-30 7 4 57.1 2 28.6 0 - 1 14.3 July 1-15 15 12 80.0 3 20.0 0 - 0 - Overall 22 16 72.7 5 22.7 0 - 1 4.6 4

TABLE 2. Percentage composition of freshwater (smolt) ages in each sea-age group of large salmon caught in the Restigouche River system, 1974.

No. of Smolt age Sea age fish in 2 yr 3 yr 4 yr (years) sample No. No. No.

Upsalquitch River 2 64 52 81.3 11 17.2 1 1.6 3 2 2 100.0 0 0 Overall 66 54 81.8 11 16.7 1 1.5

Northwest 1 1 1 100.0 0 - 0 2 25 21 84.0 4 16.0 0 Overall 26 22 84.6 4 15.4 0

Kedgwick River 2 84 29 34.5 54 64.3 1 1.2 3 83 8 9.6 74 89.2 1 1.2 4 1 1 100.0 0 - 0 Overall 168 38 22.6 128 76.2 2 1.2

Little Main Restigouche River 1 1 0 - 1 100.0 0 2 32 18 56.3 14 43.8 0 3 3 0 3 100.0 0 Overall 36 18 50.0 18 50.0 0

Patapedia River 2 17 5 29.4 12 70.6 0 3 5 0 5 100.0 0 Overall 22 5 22.7 17 77.3 0 TABLE 3. Age composition (age structure) of large salmon of the Restigouche River system, 1974.

Northwest Little Main Upsalquitch Upsaiguitch Kedgwick Restigouche Patapedia Age No. of % of No. of % of No. of % of No. of % of No. of % of structure fish sample fish sample fish sample fish sample fish sample

2.2 51 77.3 22 84.6 29 17.3 18 50.0 5 22.7 2.3 2 3.0 0 - 8 4.8 0 - 0 - 2.4 1 1.5 0 - 1 0.6 0 - 0 - 3.2 11 16.7 4 15.4 54 32.1 14 38.9 11 50.0 3.3 0 - 0 - 70 41.7 3 8.3 5 22.7 3.4 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 2.8 1 4.6 3.5 0 - 0 - 4 2.4 0 - 0 - 4.2 1 1.5 0 - 1 0.6 0 - 0 - 4.3 0 0 - 1 0.6 0 - 0 - Totals 66 100.0 26 100.0 168 100.0 36 100.0 22 100.0

01 0

TABLE 4. Age corposition (total age in years) of large salmon of the Restigouche River system, 1974.

Tbtal From Total number in sample Percent of sample age spawning Northwest Little Main Northwest Little Main (years) year Upsalquitch Upsalquitch Nedgwick Restigouche Patapedia Upsalquitch ppsalquitdh Kadgwick Restigoudhe Patapedia

4 1969 51 22 29 18 5 77.3 84.6 17.3 50.0 22.7 5 1968 13 4 62 14 11 19.7 15.4 36.9 38.9 50.0 6 1967 2 0 72 3 5 3.0 - 42.9 8.3 22.7 7 1966 0 0 1 1 1 - - 0.6 2.8 4.6 8 1965 0 0 4 0 0 - - 2.4 - - Overall 66 26 168 36 22 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 7

TABLE 5. Numbers of grilse samples taken over successive semi-monthly periods on the Restigouche River system, 1974.

Semi-rronthly Northwest Little Main period Upsalquitch Upsalquitch Kedgwick Restigouche Patapedia

June 16-30 0 0 1 0 0 July 1-15 10 4 12 9 3 July 16-31 10 9 9 14 0 Aug. 1-15 9 8 3 3 0 Aug. 16-31 3 4 3 0 0 Overall 32 25 28 26 3

TABLE 6. Percentage composition of freshwater (smolt) ages in grilse of the Restigouche River system, 1974.

No. of Smolt age fish in 2 yr 3 yr 4 yr River sample No. % No. % No. %

Upsalquitch 32 22 68.8 10 31.3 0 Northwest Upsalquitch 25 11 44.0 14 56.0 0 Kedgwick 28 5 17.9 23 82.1 0 Little Main Restigouche 25 1 44.0 12 48.0 2 8.0 Patapedia 3 0 3 100.0 0 CO

TABLE 7. Age composition (age structure and total age in years) of grilse of the Restigouche River system, 1974.

Age composition From Total nuMber in sample Percent of sample Total spawning Northwest Little Main Northwest Little Main Structure in years year Upsalguitdh Upsalguitdh Kedgwick Restigouche Patapedia Upsalguitdh Upsalguitch Kedgwick Restigouche Patapedia

2.1 3 1970 22 11 5 11 0 68.8 44.0 17.9 44.0 3.1 4 1969 10 14 23 12 3 31.3 56.0 82.1 48.0 100.0 4.1 5 1968 0 0 0 2 0 8.0

Overall 32 25 28 25 3 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 9

TABLE 8. Percentage composition of sea ages of large salmon caught during successive semi-monthly periods on the Restigouche River system, 1975.

Semi- No. of Maiden fish Previous monthly fish in Sea age-2 yr Sea age-3 yr spawners period sample No. % No. % No. %

Upsalquitch River June 16-30 18 18 100.0 0 - 0 - July 1-15 36 35 97.2 0 - 1 2.8 July 16-31 26 25 96.2 0 - 1 3.9 Aug. 1-15 18 18 100.0 0 - 0 - Aug. 16-31 5 5 100.0 0 - 0 - Overall 103 101 98.1 0 - 2 1.9

Kedgwick River June 1-15 8 2 25.0 -6 75.0 0 - June 16-30 31 10 32.3 21 67.7 0 - July 1-15 44 35 79.6 9 20.5 0 - July 16-31 36 21 58.3 14 38.9 1 2.8 Aug. 1-15 11 7 63.6 3 27.3 1 9.1 Aug. 16-31 8 8 100.0 0 - 0 Overall 138 83 60.1 53 38.4 2 1.5

Patapedia River June 16-30 7 5 71.4 2 28.6 0 July 1-15 16 15 93.8 1 6.3 0 Overall 23 20 87.0 3 13.0 0 10

TABLE 9. Percentage composition of freshwater (smolt) ages in each sea-age group of large salmon caught in the Restigouche River system, 1975.

No. of Smolt age Sea age fish in 2 yr 3 yr 4 yr (years) sample No. No. No.

Upsalquitch River 1 2 2 100.0 0 - 0 2 101 59 58.4 41 40.6 1 1.0 Overall 103 61 59.2 41 39.8 1 1.0

Kedgwick River 1 1 0 - 1 100.0 0 2 85 21 24.7 64 75.3 0 3 53 8 15.1 45 84.9 0 Overall 139 29 20.9 110 79.1 0

Patapedia River 2 19 5 26.3 14 73.7 0 3 2 1 50.0 1 50.0 0 Overall 21 6 28.6 15 71.4 0

TABLE 10. Age composition (age structure) of large salmon of the Restigouche River system, 1975.

Upsalguitch Kedgwick Patapedia Age No. of % of No. of % of No. of % of structure fish sample fish sample fish sample

2.2 59 57.3 20 14.4 5 23.8 2.3 2 1.9 9 6.5 1 4.8 3.2 41 39.8 64 46.0 14 66.7 3.3 0 - 46 33.1 1 4.8 4.2 1 1.0 0 - 0 - Totals 103 100.0 139 100.0 21 100.0 TABLE 11. Age composition (total age in years) of large salmon of the Restigouche River system, 1975.

Total From age spawning Total number in sample Percent of sample (years) year Upsalquitch Kedgwick Patapedia Upsalquitch Kedgwick Patapedia

4 1970 59 20 5 57.3 14.4 23.8 5 1969 43 73 15 41.8 52.5 71.4 6 1968 1 46 1 1.0 33.1 4.8 Overall 103 139 21 100.0 100.0 100.0 12

TABLE 12. Numbers of grilse samples taken over successive semi- monthly periods on the Restigouche River system, 1975.

Semi-monthly Northwest Southeast period Upsalquitch Upsalquitch Upsalquitch Kedgwick

June 16-30 1 0 0 2 July 1-15 28 4 1 7 July 16-31 25 8 2 11 Aug. 1-15 35 12 7 3 Aug. 16-31 1 11 2 1 Overall 90 35 12 24

TABLE 13. Percentage composition of freshwater (smolt) ages in grilse of the Restigouche River system, 1975.

No. of Smolt age fish in 2 yr 3 yr 4 yr River sample No. % No. % No. %

Upsalquitch 108 35 32.4 72 66.7 1 1.0 Northwest Upsalquitch 35 8 22.9 27 77.1 0 Southeast Upsalquitch 12 4 33.3 8 66.7 0 Kedgwick 25 8 32.0 16 64.0 1 4.0 TABLE 14. Age composition (age structure and total age in years) of grilse of the Restigouche River system, 1975.

Age composition From Total number in sduyle Percent of sduyie Total spawning Northwest Southeast Northwest Southeast Structure in years year Upsalquitch Upsalquitch Upsalquitch Kedgwick Upsalquitch Upsalquitch Upsalquitch Kedgwick

2.1 3 1971 35 8 4 8 32.4 22.9 33.3 32.0 3.1 4 1970 72 27 8 16 66.7 77.1 66.7 64.0 4.1 5 1969 1 0 0 1 1.0 - - 4.0 Overall 108 35 12 25 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 15

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors wish to express their gratitude to A. Madden, District Biologist, New Brunswick Fish and Wildlife Branch, who provided the scale samples.