1970 Annual Report

1970

ANNUAL REPORT

• .. . - .• . ' • • ••

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT BRANCH FISHERIES SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND FORESTRY OF CANADA MARITIMES REGION HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA

(RESTRICTED TO OFFICIAL USE) J

Pulp and paper

• Mining

• Food Processing

• Agricultural areas (Pesticides/

Harvestingo rne poofshli,,o ,ell n)fish restricted (Dome stic

• Other Industries

1 Oil Refineries

4 Oil

Forest . Insecticide Spraying

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION PROBLEMS IN THE MARITIME PROVINCES OF CANADA 1 9 7 0

ANNUAL REPORT

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT BRANCH

FISHERIES SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND FORESTRY OF CANADA

MARITIMES REGION HALIFAX, N. S.

APRIL, 1971

(Restricted to Official Use) CONTENTS

Page

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1

2.0 MANAGEMENT AND INVESTIGATION SECTION 6 2.1 Salmon Management 6 2.11 Commercial Statistics and Sampling 6 2.12 Miramichi River 8

2.13 Saint John River 10

2.14 Big Salmon River 13 2.2 Oyster Management 14

3.0 DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION SECTION 17 3.1 Salmon Development 17 3.11 East River Salmon Rehabilitation 17 1. Adult Salmon Transplant and Smolt Output 17 2. Louver Testing 18 3. Engineering Construction at East River 21 3.12 Liscomb River 22 3.13 Tetagouche River 22 3.14 Digdeguash River Obstruction 22 3.15 South Shore Nova Scotia Salmon Holding Pond 22 3.16 Petite Riviere Survey 23

(i ) Page

3.2 Oyster Development 23 3.21 Seed Production 23 1. Summerside Harbour, Prince Edward Island 23 2. Gillis Cove and Eskasoni, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia 24 3.22 Off-Bottom Rearing 25 3.23 Review of Programs and Leasing Policy 27 3.3 Hatchery Evaluation 27 3.31 Salmon Smolt Marking Program 27 3.32 Highlights of Smolt Tagging Results (1967-69) 28 3.4 Hatchery Engineering 29 3.5 Saint John River Salmon Hatchery Program 30 3.51 Smolt Tagging and Release 31 3.52 Adult Collections and Spawning Program 31 3.53 Mactaquac Rearing Program 32 3.54 Engineering at Mactaquac Hatchery 33 1. Water Supply 33 2. Improved Working Areas 34 3. General 34 3.55 Quality of Mactaquac Hatchery Water Supply 35 3.56 Public Relations 36 • Page

3.6 Fish Disease Investigations 36

4.0 HATCHERY PRODUCTION AND MAINTENANCE SECTION 38

5.0 POLLUTION ABATEMENT SECTION 45 5.1 Marine Oil Pollution 46 5.2 Forest Spraying 47 5.3 Saint John River, New Brunswick 47 5.4 Miramichi River, New Brunswick 49 5.5 Northeastern New Brunswick 50 5.6 Base Metal Mining 51 5.7 Nova Scotia Pollution Problems 52 5.8 Miscellaneous 54

6.0 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SECTION 55 6.1 Evaluation Studies 55 6.11 Petitcodiac River Fishway 56 6.12 Pictou Harbour and Middle River Fishways 57 6.13 White Rock Fishway 57 6.14 Great Village Aboiteau 58 6.15 Musquodoboit River 59 6.16 Steepass Fishway 59 6.17 Logging Operations 59 6.2 Research and Development 60 6.3 Mactaquac Sorting Facility 61 Page

6.4 Stream Alteration Investigations 62

6.5 Fish Passage Facilities 62

6.51 New Brunswick 62

6.52 Nova Scotia 63 6.53 Prince Edward Island 64

6.6 Obstruction Removal 65

BRANCH REPORTS - 1970 68

(iv) 1 . 0 INTRODUCTION 1.0 INTRODUCTION by C. P. Ruggles, Branch Chief

Ever since the region was first settled, fish have provided Maritimers with an abundant and particularly healthful source of animal protein. Fish have also provided Maritimers with a readily available and widely utilized form of high quality, outdoor recreation. Perhaps more important in the long run, however, is the fact that fish have provided Maritimers with a readily observed and easily understood alarm system.

Fish are part of a sensitive, ecological alarm system that continually monitors the rate of environmental change. Time and again fish have warned not only Maritimers, but all of Canada, about the dangers of environmental contamination. Here in the Maritimes, where fish play such an important economic and social role, water quality has not deteriorated to the same degree as in less fortunate areas of the world. By protecting fish, Maritimers have ensured a quality of life that may become the region's most valuable asset. In 1962, Rachel Carson directed public attention to the ominous threat of environmental pollution in the form of indiscriminate waste disposal and the widespread use of chemicals to control agricultural and forest pests. She concluded that it was the public that must decide whether it wished, "to continue on the present road". In the intervening eight years, environmental pollution has become a global emergency and a potent social, political and economic force in a rapidly shrinking world.

This year's annual summary reflects how the Resource Development Branch in the Maritimes Region has responded to the water pollution threat in keeping with our general responsibilities to protect, develop and manage Maritime fish stocks so that they continue to provide food and fun for Canadians. For many years, the Department has had a strong statutory responsibility through the Fisheries Act for controlling water pollution in waters frequented by fish. This Act was amended in 1970 and several members of our technical staff participated in formu- lating important pollution control regulations under -2- the amended Act. These regulations will become law in 1971. It is anticipated that the amended Fisheries Act will become an important piece of legislation within the new Department of the Environment. The Branch's pollution control activities have been strengthened by the addition of four new professional staff and the construction of a pollution laboratory at the Bedford Institute in Dartmouth. These facilities serve as a base for biological, chemical and engineering studies into industrial waste treatment and control. Two new mobile laboratories allowed our professional and technical staff to handle on-site pollution problems more effectively. Current industrial activity continued to be the most serious contributor to environmental deter- ioration in the region. Negotiations to achieve pollution abatement agreements with new industries absorbed much of our energies throughout the year. Progress has been slow, but the growing support of public opinion is making the task easier. Much of this local public support stems from the activities of several members of the Resource Development Branch staff in informing the public about Maritime pollution issues. The long standing problem of water pollution emanating from base metal mines in Northeastern New Brunswick was attacked with a concerted effort in 1970. The Province of New Brunswick and the Department of Fisheries and Forestry collaborated in comprehensive studies involving all agencies and companies concerned. A consulting engineering company was retained as the co-ordinator of a multi-disciplinary approach to this persistent and difficult water pollution problem. One immediate result of this program was the delay in the development of the Chester Mine property on the Sevogle River; another was the encouraging progress made in the development of effective pollution control works at the Heath Steele Mine. Last February a massive emergency effort to offset ecological damage to the marine resources of Nova Scotia's Chedabucto Bay was organized. Resource Development Branch scientific and technical staff, along with personnel from several other government agencies, participated in a cleanup and evaluation exercise in response to the grounding of the oil tanker Arrow and its subsequent breakup. The assessment of damage from the oil spill showed no serious effects on fish stocks in the area. -3-

Physical alterations of the aquatic environment occupied the attention of a bio-engineering team in the Environmental Protection Section of the Branch. One task of this unit was to evaluate the ecological damage caused by the construction of flood control dams and causeways. In one case, a significant run of Atlantic salmon was jeopardized by the lack of sufficient attraction water necessary to move anadromous species from the estuary to their upriver spawning grounds. The situation was improved by providing a more suitable schedule of flow releases. This bio-engineering team was also responsible for establishing several standard design criteria for fishways. The abundant alewife was used rather than Atlantic salmon, because their large numbers provided greater flexibility in experimental design and hence a more effective testing period. At the 1970 meeting of the salmon and trout section of the Federal-Provincial Atlantic Fisheries Committee, a Miramichi salmon management crisis was identified. Differential exploitation of large salmon was believed to be endangering the effectiveness of natural reproduction. Resource Development Branch staff was shifted from the district biologist program in the Miramichi-Restigouche District, to full-time salmon management studies of the Miramichi system. These studies will lead to more effective fishery regulations based on all available scientific information. Restrictions imposed during 1970 on the Saint John River salmon catch were successful in providing an improved escapement of early run fish to that system. Salmon tagging experiments in the Bay of Fundy helped determine timing through the fishery and gave estimates of exploitation in the diverse sport and commercial fishery. Efforts continued in a study to assess the effect of hydroelectric dams on downstream migrating salmon smolts from the valuable nursery areas above the dams on the Saint John River. The Branch worked closely with the Eskasoni Indians of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in helping to develop a viable oyster farming enterprise. In the Miramichi Bay area, oyster surveys revealed that the abundance of market sized oysters was too low to support a fishery. Consequently, commercial fishing was closed for the 1970 season in that area. The eight year salmon hatchery evaluation program completed its third year in 1970, and the results are being used to develop a more effective and economic hatchery propagation program. The returns -4- of tagged fish show that hatchery stocks (from Resti- gouche early run, Miramichi late run and River Philip late run) have contributed more to the distant fisheries of Newfoundland and Greenland than wild stocks (from Big Salmon River, West River, Sheet Harbour and the Miramichi River). In 1970, a major release of smolts reared entirely at the Mactaquac Hatchery was made. Various bio-chemical and physiological examinations of smolts were made at the hatchery in order to assess the effect of stress on the viability of Atlantic salmon smolts. A fish disease biologist used the Mactaquac laboratory facilities as a base for various hatchery disease investigations. Total hatchery production of salmon and trout increased in 1970, while the cost per man year declined. Automatic feeders and the use of large earth ponds has provided increased fish culture efficiency. An experimental attempt was made in 1970 to raise speckled trout in brackish water. Results look promising, with both survival and growth above expectations. An important first step was taken during 1970 in comprehensive planning for a major watershed in the Maritimes. A federal-provincial agreement was signed in June between New Brunswick and Canada which provided for the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive management scheme for the Saint John River. The objective is to provide for optimum management of water resources of the river basin, taking into account the desirability of maintaining a proper ecological balance. Pollution control has been given highest priority and the three-year study will provide a thorough analysis of problems and opportunities in water management for the area. Resource Development Branch personnel are providing important information and guidance to this co-operative exercise in large scale, natural resource planning. Commensurate with the increased demands to provide protection for the quality of the aquatic environment and more effective management of fish stocks, the professional and technical staff of the Branch has grown steadily over recent years (Fig. 1). In 1970, we obtained five new biologists and a chemist to our professional staff. We are also happy to report that one of our former technicians, Mr. G. H. Penney, was promoted to a biologist after receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from Acadia University. -5-

CLOSUP3 Di 3 11330103ES

• 90

• 80

• 70

O 60 ul

• 50 ,jt -

-90 g

131° GI RING

L ISM LIM 177 20

10 GLERMAL

1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 YEAR

Fig. 1. Number of permanent employees, Resource Development Branch, Maritimes Region, 1947-1970.

It is important to point out that there are many activities of staff members not covered in the Annual Report. Various members of the staff have attended scientific meetings, given talks and lectures, presented scientific papers, refereed manuscripts, served on working parties and task forces, attended special training courses and participated in various community projects of their choice. All of these activities play an important role in the overall success of the Branch. It is always a pleasure to acknowledge the help and co-operation of our colleagues in the Conservation and Protection Branch and the Fisheries Research Board. We continue also to work closely and to value a great deal, the help and guidance of various agencies in the three Maritime provincial governments. Our close collab- oration with them has been an enjoyable part of 1970. All of us share common objectives and it is essential that we continue to work closely together to provide effective protection and development of the fishery resource. 2.0 MANAGEMENT AND INVESTIGATION SECTION -7-

2.0 MANAGEMENT AND INVESTIGATION SECTION Section Leader: N. E. MacEachern

Fundamental to a fishery management program is an understanding of the population dynamics of fish stocks. The population size varies from year to year, so it is essential to understand the reason for these fluctuations and to be able to forecast future run sizes or trends. A large background of biological data is needed to interpret run sizes, reproductive capacity, survival rates and stock recruitment relationships. Fishing itself changes the abundance of mature fish in the stock; and this in turn, affects the number of future recruits, so accurate information must be developed on the percentage utilization of stock. In the salmon program, we are concentrating our efforts on gathering this essential biological information. Additional professional staff have been assigned to the salmon management problems of the Miramichi system and increased effort has been concentrated on studying the stock recruitment relationship on the Big Salmon River. Remedial action in the form of restrictions has been continued on the Saint John River to improve salmon spawning escapement and these procedures are now under assessment. The collection, analysis and report of commercial salmon catches are being improved and refined. In the oyster program, initial steps in biological management have been undertaken only in problem areas as most of the program staff are committed to leasing and oyster culture operations.

2.1 Salmon Management C. E. Wykes G. E. Turner K. E. H. Smith J. R. Semple J. L. Peppar B. M. Jessop 2.11 Commercial Statistics and Sampling Since commercial Atlantic salmon catch statistics are essential for the management and research of this species, the Management and Investigation Section has started a series of annual publications called, Atlantic Salmon Commercial Catch Statistics, Maritimes Region. During 1970, three of these reports were published: one for each of the years 1967, 1968 and 1969. The reports present weights, average weights, -8- and estimated numbers of salmon captured in various geographic areas, by different gear types and time intervals, for the commercial salmon fishery of the Maritimes Region. In 1970, effort data was collected from all types of commercial salmon gear and this data will be incorporated into the report for that year.

!Tr", '* :.-11-3SOCISterA-#1;e2M

Fig. 2. Miramichi salmon drift net boats at Escuminac.

Biological sampling of some of the major areas of commercial salmon fishing in the region has been conducted for three years. These studies produced information on: (1) the percentage of grilse and salmon captured by five types of New Brunswick commercial gear; and (2) the percentage of salmon from three areas of New Brunswick (Chaleur, Miramichi and Saint John) with spawning marks on their scales, and of these fish, the percentage which first spawned as grilse or salmon. Data on the fresh and salt water structure of salmon captured by trap nets from three areas in New Brunswick is tabulated below: Area No. Years Fresh-water Salt-water Sampled Age (%) Age (%) 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 Chaleur 2 7.4 88.6 4.0 1.0 63.9 31.1 4.0 Miramichi 3 13.8 78.7 7.5 60.5 35.1 4.0 .4 Saint John 3 21.3 71.5 7.2 12.1 78.9 7.2 1.8 -9-

2.12 Miramichi River During 1970, staff was shifted from the district biologist program in the Miramichi-Restigouche District to full time salmon management studies of the Miramichi system. Investigations were centered on obtaining background biological information needed for management of the salmon fishery in this system. Monitoring of salmon runs was continued in the estuarial area at Millbank; portions of both the upstream adult run and downstream smolt run were tagged to study distribution and exploitation; physical-chemical stations were established on tributaries for developing a "class stream" system; the sampling of juvenile salmon populations was expanded; studies were continued on the Bartholomew River to assess the new fishway installation and smolt production; and the creel census program on the salmon angling effort was expanded to include a larger area. The Millbank adult sampling trap is used to provide an index of runs to the river. Number of fish per fishing day per year are presented in Fig. 3. The

100

I 193 55 50 5I Se 39 d0 m . YEARS

Fig. 3. Numbers of large salmon and grilse caught at Millbank per fishing day per year, 1954-1970.

trap captured 2,455 grilse in 1970, the lowest catch since 1959. Grilse composed 90.9% of the total salmon catch, for a grilse to large salmon ratio of 10:1. Only -10-

245 large salmon were caught. This was the lowest catch recorded in 16 years of operation, and was a result of the almost complete failure of the late portion of the run. The continued decline of the late run, particularly in 1969 and 1970, coincides closely with the expanded Greenland fishery. A major portion of the native smolts captured in the Millbank trap (6,800 smolts) and in the Bartholo- mew River trap (764 smolts) were tagged in order to obtain information on the exploitation and distribution of Miramichi stocks.

Fig. 4. Millbank Smolt Trap, Miramichi Estuary

Based on 1968 smolt tagging, native smolt returns to date are 3.2%; the three different hatchery stock returns range from 1.0% to 2.2%. Over 26% of the total recaptures of salmon tagged as native smolts in 1968 have been from Newfoundland and Greenland. Recap- tures of hatchery-reared fish ranged from 45 to 55% in these distant fisheries. (Note: additional details on smolt tagging and recaptures may be found in Section 3.3).

Electro-seining operations to sample juvenile salmon populations were expanded over the previous years; from 2 streams (16 sites) in 1968; 7 streams (26 sites) in 1969; to 14 streams (51 sites) in 1970. The low fry density found in most streams in 1970 reflects the decline of runs at the Millbank adult salmon sampling trap in recent years.

Major streams and tributaries in the Mira- michi River system have been separated into "class streams" primarily on the basis of gradient, length and geological regions. From this arrangement ten representative streams were selected in 1970 for regular physical-chemical monitoring and fish sampling. Through the class stream approach, data collected can be extrapolated to the system as a whole. The expanded creel census program in the Miramichi provides more data on the salmon angling effort. Previous effort information was limited to rod days, but the new collection system will provide details for each area on average number of hours fished by anglers, numbers of grilse or salmon caught per hour and average weight of large salmon. 2.13 Saint John River Management efforts on the Saint John River were concentrated on the following projects: (1) assessing the effectiveness of the present restrictions to provide an adequate spawning escapement; (2) allocating the current anadromous run reaching the Mactaquac fish collection facilities; (3) developing background data on juvenile salmon density for future management needs; and (4) assessing the effects of hydro and industrial development on downstream smolt migration. It was predicted that salmon runs to the Saint John River would improve slightly in 1970, so that less severe restrictions would be needed to ensure an adequate escapement for the Mactaquac Hatchery and for the river above the power dams. The closure implemented consisted of a staggered two week period which restricted all commercial fishing in the Bay of Fundy and Saint John Harbour area from June 7 to 20, in the inland commercial districts above the Reversing Falls from June 14 to 27 and all angling on the main stem and tributaries above Mactaquac from June 21 to July 3.

An adult salmon tagging program was implemented in the Bay of Fundy area off the Saint John River to obtain information on exploitation, distribution and timing in the system. A total of 454 salmon were tagged during the nine week period from June 1 to July 31. Most of these fish (72%) were taken during the second and third week of June when the closure was -12- in effect. Recaptures by the fishery and at sampling points are tabulated below.

Recaptures No. Commercial Fishery 179 Angling Fishery 12 Westfield Traps 5 Mactaquac Dam 43 Salmon River Fence 4

Salmon fishing operations continued at West- field estuarial traps during the period of April 29 to November 24. A total of 346 salmon and 621 grilse were captured and tagged at this site. Two separate peaks were observed, one in late June and early July composed predominantly of grilse and the second one in late August and early September consisting of equal numbers of salmon and grilse. Recaptures of these tagged fish by the commercial fishery was low (3.7%) because of the trap's upriver location and the timing of the run which peaked in September after the season has closed. Angling recoveries were 7.3% compared to recaptures of 21.6% at Mactaquac Dam. The third and most important monitoring point for fish runs on the Saint John River is the collection facilities at Mactaquac Dam where all fish are counted and then transported to various dumping sites upriver or held for hatchery brood stock. The number of salmon and grilse reaching this point in 1970 was 5,417 and it is the highest number since trapping was initiated in 1967. This is an increase of 1,200 fish over the 1969 run and, because the greatest portion of this increase occurred during the June and July period, it indicates the success of the June restriction in providing an increased early- run escapement. Most of the salmon and grilse reaching the Mactaquac facilities in June, July and August were released to the Tobique River because of low dissolved oxygen levels on the main stem of the Saint John River between Mactaquac and Grand Falls. These transported fish provide angling in the upper reaches and tributaries of the river basin and approximately 15% of the salmon and 10% of the grilse were taken by sportsmen. -13-

The distribution of salmon and grilse taken at Mactaquac collection facilities was as follows:

Allocation Salmon Grilse Mactaquac Brood Stock 899 108 Tobique River 1,184 2,061 Saint John River above Mactaquac 346 759 For Experimental Purposes 36 24

Other species of fish captured in large numbers at the Mactaquac collection facilities included 36,000 shad, 85,000 alewives and 2,500 common suckers. All these species were trucked a short distance above the dam and released into the headpond at designated dumping sites. A counting fence was again installed on Salmon River at Chipman to monitor movement of adult fish into this river. The fence was operated from August 29 to November 9 and the total count for this period was 105 salmon and 21 grilse. The high salmon to grilse ratio is interesting because in past years the grilse portion has always predominated. Studies on salmon smolt migrations were conducted on the Tobique River. Experimental fishing was implemented on the lower main river and on two tributary streams (Odell and Wapskehegan). The spring fishing was unsuccessful, but a pre-smolt movement was recorded on the two tributary streams during the fall period. Approximately 75% of the pre-smolt captured were males, and age 2+ fish predominated in the sample. Tagged hatchery smolts were released in the Tobique system with a control group released below Mactaquac Dam to supplement information on survival and return of smolts which pass hydroelectric developments on their seaward migrations. Electro-seining surveys continued in 1970 on the Saint John River system to develop information on population density and strength of various year classes. In 1970 marked reductions from 1968 and 1969 levels were noted for salmon fry (0.0/100 square yards) and parr (0.6/100 square yards) in the areas between Mactaquac Dam and Beechwood. In the Tobique River fry -14-

densities increased in 1970 (2.0/100 square yards) indi- cating improved spawning escapement in 1969, but parr densities are still very low (0.4/100 square yards). 2.14 Big Salmon River The 1970 smolt run began on May 15 and continued until July 13. Most of the smolts moved downstream between May 25 and June 14, with the peak run occurring on June 4. Carlin-type tags were applied to 9,684 of the 22,254 native smolt recorded at the counting fence. A series of three upstream releases of tagged smolts were made in order to obtain an estimate of the effectiveness of the counting fence in capturing smolts. Each release involved 100 fish, of which an average of 61.2% were recovered. The estimated total smolt run was about 33,000 fish. High smolt mortality in the trap in 1969 prompted engineers and biologists to combine their talents on a new design in 1970. The smolt trap now incorporates a hinged, inclined-plane (Fig. 5) which has reduced physical damage to the fish.

Fig. 5. New hinged inclined-plane portion of Big Salmon River smolt trap

Densities of fry and small and large parr were -15- obtained by electro-seining in the fall. Although numbers varied greatly throughout the river system, average densities of fish per 100 square yards for 12 sites were: fry, 13,3; small parr, 4.7; large parr, 6.1. A spawning survey was conducted and the main areas of spawning activity were noted. Most of the spawning occurred in the upper portion of the main river. Of the 32 redds examined, 60% contained eggs. A total of 902 salmon (12 of which were previously tagged) and 443 grilse (6 of which were previously tagged) were counted through the fence. There was no sizeable commercial fishery off the mouth of Big Salmon River this year. Angling activity resulted in 491 salmon and grilse being caught. Of these, 297 were taken below the fence, giving a total return to the river of 1,642 fish. July and August were the best angling months; 68% of the angled fish were captured at this time. Anglers took 31.4% of the total run of salmon to the river.

2.2 Oyster Management L. A. England The oyster management program includes three fields of operation: (1) surveying and administration of oyster leases; (2) inventory and stock density surveys for management needs; and (3) various investigations associated with oyster culture techniques. Included in the latter program was the operation of four sub- stations throughout the Maritime region to provide advice and demonstrate techniques to the industry. In 1970 three of the four sub-stations were closed. The demand for oyster leases remained high and 359 applications were received during the year, but a backlog of applications still remains to be examined. In the current year 244 new leases were surveyed and 67 resurveys were made to re-establish boundaries of presently held leases. Two hundred and sixty-three were cancelled for non-payment of rent. The total number of paid leases up to November 30, 1970, was 2,211 involving 6,400 acres, an increase of 86 leases and 267 acres over the 1969 figure. The breakdown by provinces is as follows:

Province No. Leases Acres Prince Edward Island 1,169 3,810 New Brunswick 808 1,905 Nova Scotia 234 685 -16-

A bottom inventory survey to estimate oyster rearing potential was carried out in the Bras d'Or Lakes in conjunction with the Eskasoni Indian oyster development project. The East Bay area of the Lakes was examined from Grand Narrows around to the Cape Breton-Richmond County line. Limited oyster rearing area was found along this 50 mile shoreline. A bottom inventory survey was also completed on the Enmore-Percival area in Prince Edward Island. Population surveys to establish oyster abundance were carried out in Miramichi Bay and Caraquet Bay in New Brunswick. Very small numbers of market size oysters were found in the Miramichi Bay and recommendations were made to close public fishing for the 1970 season. The Caraquet survey showed that although large oyster density was low, small oysters were abundant and the incident of clustering was high. Since the clustering problem could be overcome by harvesting, a four week public fishing season was recommended. The Conway Narrows seed farm was operated to provide adult oyster stock for transplanting to heads of estuaries which have poor spawning stocks. Trans- plants were made to Smelt Creek and Paugh Creek in Prince Edward Island. Spatfall monitoring was reduced in 1970 because of the closing out of three sub-stations and the effort was limited to the estuaries in Prince County, Prince Edward Island and the Caraquet-Shippegan areas of New Brunswick. Cardboard filler, veneer rings and scallop shells were used to sample spatfall and obtain spat for the Conway Narrows seed farm. Average to excellent spat sets were obtained in all areas. Efforts were implemented to re-establish oyster producing ground in Shediac Bay and in the Shemogue area of New Brunswick. The old beds were cleaned using the escalator harvester and a total of 900 boxes of scallop shells were spread in selected areas of both waters to improve spat collection. In addition, 50 boxes of adult oysters were relayed to the Shemogue area from Richibucto River to help establish an oyster population. An effort was made this year to obtain a record of the amount of oyster stock relayed from the contaminated areas to lease areas. The estimated total for Prince Edward Island was 12,400 boxes, of which 9,800 were obtained from Summerside Harbour. In Nova Scotia 450 boxes were relayed from Cape Breton waters to Prince Edward Island. In New -17-

Brunswick 718 boxes were fished from the Shelldrake Island area in the Miramichi River and relayed to leases in Neguac. The summer picking season for small oysters was successful this year in the Caraquet-Maisonnette areas of Gloucester County, New Brunswick. Over 1,800 boxes were picked in the Maisonnette, 1,100 boxes on the Caraquet shore and 400 boxes in the Shippegan area. All small oysters picked under permit are relayed to leases. 3.0 DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION SECTION -19-

3.0 DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION SECTION Section Leader: D. B. Lister

The general objective of this section is to develop and implement measures which will increase the stocks of fish and shellfish in the region. One of the section's responsibilities is the provision of biological advice and engineering assistance to the Hatchery Production and Maintenance Section. As in 1969, the major portion of the biological effort was directed to an evaluation of the overall salmon hatchery activity and to an applied research program to increase its effectiveness. In 1970, two additional biologists joined the Section to direct programs in hatchery evaluation and fish disease control. Bio-engineering surveys conducted during 1970 identified two possible future salmon development projects at Liscomb River, Nova Scotia, and at Tetagouche River, New Brunswick. The studies indicated that it is economically feasible to provide access for adult salmon to extensive spawning and rearing areas located upstream of natural obstructions on these rivers. The oyster program was expanded to emphasize the development of improved off-bottom culture techniques. Considerable advice and technical assistance was provided to the Eskasoni oyster farming venture initiated at Bras d'Or Lakes in 1970. A major effort was also directed to a review of the Branch's oyster program and to recommending changes in the Ministry's oyster lease policy to encourage the development of efficient, large-scale oyster farming enterprises.

3.1 Salmon Development L. J. A. Ducharme J. M. Millen 3.11 East River Salmon Rehabilitation 1. Adult Salmon Transplants and Smolt Output In 1970, 77 adult Atlantic salmon were intro- duced to Fifteen Mile Stream, an important salmon producing tributary in the East River system. Thirty-one were captured in the adult collection facilities at head of tide; the remainder were transferred from the trap on nearby West River. The number of females (48) and the egg potential (151,000) was only slightly below that in the two previous brood years. -20-

Forty-eight percent of the run of approximately 1,000 smolts out of Fifteen Mile Stream were three-year- olds. To date the egg-to-smolt survival rate has been most encouraging; it is roughly three times greater than the norms established in studies of several New Brunswick salmon populations.

Brood Smolt Output Estimated Egg to Year 1969 1970 Smolt Survival (%) 1966 3797 480 1.36 1967 500 1.40

The relatively low juvenile densitie8 and associated lack of intra-specific competition have undoubtedly enhanced fresh-water survival during the initial stages of the project. Only 31 grilse out of an expected run of 200 returned to the trapping facilities at East River in 1970. Conditions affecting the downstream smolt migration in 1969 are considered to be the most likely cause of the poor return in 1970. To improve future smolt out-migrations, modifications have been made to the Fifteen Mile Stream fence and the Ruth Falls louvers. A modified "skimmer" apparatus with self- adjusting intake was installed adjacent to the Malay Falls penstock for the 1970 smolt run and it collected 28% of the total run. Faulty hydraulics resulted in poor attraction and consequent low efficiency. The skimmer approach holds considerable promise as a solution to the smolt guidance problem and an improved skimmer design will be installed at Malay Falls powerhouse in 1971. 2. Louver Testing Testing of louver deflectors for the guiding of smolts around the Ruth Falls powerhouse has been carried out annually since 1967. Hatchery-reared smolts were used for most testing, but in 1969 and 1970 the louvers guided a portion of the wild smolt run from the Fifteen Mile Stream. In 1967 it became clear that the most important factor limiting the efficiency of the louvers was the by-pass design as it relates to the approach and by-pass velocity ratio. The Ruth Falls louver by-pass as originally -21-

DAM

POWER HOUSE (MALAY FALLS)

DAM RUTH FALLS LOUVERS

POWER CANAL

BARRIER DAM

Kil ometers 0 I POWER HOUSE 1 i 1 I J (RUTH FALLS) 0 I 2 Miles

SHEET HARBOUR

Fig. 6. East River Salmon Rehabilitation Project

PO. CAM

BYPASS PIPELINE

FLUME

Fig. 7. Louver Installation at East River Salmon Rehabilitation Project.

designed failed to produce the desired flow acceleration and the distribution of velocities down its vertical face varied too greatly. Usually,high by-pass velocities occurred in the deeper areas and lower velocities near the surface. Over the last three years the by-pass design has been gradually altered to produce: (a) a more uniform vertical distribution of velocities, and (b) a much higher by-pass acceleration. The acceleration was raised by increasing the static head on the by-pass by 50%. The optimum approach velocity: by-pass velocity ratio was found to be 1:1.5, but ratios up to five times greater did not adversely affect guiding efficiency. Smolt guiding tests in 1970 indicated an improvement over the previous year as the following tabulation shows:

Year Percent tests with guiding efficiency greater than 75% 1969 24 1970 85 -23-

3. Engineering Construction at East River

An improved adult and juvenile salmon counting fence was constructed at the mouth of Fifteen Mile Stream. The screen sections were constructed of light steel and proved to be relatively easy to install and remove. The new fence is considerably longer than the old fence at that site and the resultant increased water screening capacity facilitates cleaning and improves the guidance of smolts.

Fig. 8. Smolt counting fence at Fifteen Mile Stream, East River.

As a result of considerable bank erosion at the East River collection facilities, a retaining wall was constructed in August 1970.

Fig. 9. New retaining wall at Ruth Falls Collection Facilities, East River. -24-

Wooden flash boards were installed at the East River barrier dam to concentrate the flow, thereby enhancing conditions for smolt passage over the dam.

3.12 Liscomb River An aerial survey of the Liscomb River, Guysborough County, Nova Scotia, was conducted. No complete obstructions to salmon migration were observed above the Liscomb Mills dam and power plant located two miles upstream from the mouth. A detailed engineering study indicated that an existing natural run-around at the Liscomb Mills dam could be used and modified to provide low cost access for salmon to the upper 40 miles of the river system. 3.13 Tetagouche River A survey of salmon habitat in the Teta- gouche River, Restigouche and Gloucester Counties, New Brunswick, revealed 45 miles of stream suitable for salmon production. Only a nine-mile section of the main river between Tetagouche Falls and the mouth is presently accessible to salmon. Analysis of water samples taken at the time of survey in August revealed high concentrations of heavy metals, particularly copper and zinc. Water sampling is being continued to determine seasonal variations and to compare water quality at several locations in the system. 3.14 Digdeguash River Obstruction A rock obstruction at the mouth of the Digdeguash River, Charlotte County, New Brunswick, was examined. The major part of the falls is submerged at high tide. The remaining section obstructs salmon only at low river discharge. Plans have been made to blast this seven foot high section in two steps with appropriate stilling basins at the base of eash step. This will make the obstruction negotiable by salmon between half tide and full tide. 3.15 South Shore Nova Scotia Salmon Holding Pond The search for a suitable South Shore Nova Scotia salmon holding pond was narrowed to three rivers: the Middle and Mushamush Rivers (Lunenburg County), and the Broad River (Queens County). Each of these sites could accommodate a combination salt and fresh water holding pond and adult collection facilities. -25-

The objective is to develop a reliable source of early-run southern Nova Scotia salmon stock for future hatchery smolt stocking programs and distribution extension projects, particularly in the La Have River system. General design criteria have been developed and water quality investigations will be carried out at the above three sites in 1971. 3.16 Petite Riviere Survey

A survey was conducted to assess the water storage potential of existing reservoirs in the Petite Riviere system and the amount of suitable salmon habitat. This work was initiated to determine the feasibility of using existing reservoirs for fisheries flow control purposes in the event that the present hydroelectric operation on the river is terminated.

3.2 Oyster Development T. W. Rowell

One aim of this investigation is to develop techniques to fully utilize the natural seed potential of Maritime estuaries and to aid the successful application of these techniques by industry. A secondary aim is to develop more economical means of both off- bottom and on-bottom oyster culture from the seed to market stage.

3.21 Seed Production 1. Summerside Harbour, Prince Edward Island Summerside Harbour currently provides one- third of Maritime oyster landings. This area was selected in 1968 for evaluation of a shell-planting technique for increasing the amount of bottom habitat suitable for spat settlement.

Fifteen 750 to 1,000 square metre plots were planted with broken scallop shell and five small supple- mental plots were also established to increase the area of bottom tested. Several control plots, not treated with scallop shell, were established near the experi- mentally treated plots.

Results to date suggest that at least two factors favour the use of this technique to increase seed oyster production:

(i) Recently planted clean shell tends to be more attractive than old shell for attachment of oyster spat. On a weight-for-weight basis, the newly -26- planted shell took a spat set from 2.5 to 14 times greater than that taken on the shell already present. (ii) The distribution of naturally available shell is patchy and irregular. Large areas of bottom have insufficient shell for spat settlement. On a bottom- area basis, the planting of new shell resulted in a 2- to 48-fold increase in spat settlement.

Fig. 10. Planting broken-shell on experimental plot in Summerside Harbour.

The potential of this technique is difficult to determine without large-scale application, but it seems certain that oyster production in Summerside Harbour can be substantially increased. Other studies carried out at Summerside Harbour in 1970 included: hydrographic measurements at 16 stations; further sampling of the main oyster producing areas to determine the magnitude and size structure of the oyster population; and spatfall monitoring to determine the timing, duration, and intensity of spatfall over a large area of the estuary. Monitoring of Summerside Harbour spat transferred in 1968 to Bentick Cove and Conway Narrows in Malpeque Bay, and to Percival River on Egmont Bay was continued to evaluate growth and survival at these locations. 2 . Gillis Cove and Eskasoni, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia Members of the Eskasoni Oyster Farm Associ- ation were advised on the following technical aspects of oyster production: spat collection techniques; known -27-

reliable spat collection sites; the possibilities of spat production through the introduction of spawning stock; the use of off-bottom suspension devices such as racks and long-lines for collector suspension and seed rearing; and maintenance of shell strings to prevent fouling by mussels and predation by young starfish. A brief survey was made of the main cove at Eskasoni to determine the potential for regular spat collection based on present populations of oysters. The evidence from the survey was negative but a limited experiment to assess the effect of transferring 10-month- old spat from Gillis Cove to Eskasoni indicated excellent survival and growth on shell-strings.

Fig. 11. Shore-to-shore 800 foot longlines suspending shell-strings of growing oysters at Eskasoni, Cape Breton Island.

3.22 Off-Bottom Rearing The off-bottom rearing program at Gillis Cove was modified in 1970 in order to determine optimum rearing densities for specific ages and sizes of seed oyster. Available data on oyster growth and survival with combined information on capital and operating costs will permit an operator to estimate, within reasonable limits, his tray requirements and the likelihood of a profitable operation. Information was also collected on growth and survival of oyster spat on various types of commercial collectors and suspended from floats, racks and long- • lines. By September of 1970, 1969 spat (14 months old) -28- had grown to a mean size of 5.2 cm (2.0 in.) on scallop shell strings. The mean number of oysters per shell was 26.5. Plastic disc collectors developed in France were suspended in the same manner as the scallop shell strings. These had a mean count per disc of 41.3 oysters, with a mean size of 5.4 cm (2.1 in.). Spat reared on egg-crate collectors for one year and then on trays for 4 1/2 months (16.5 months old) grew to a mean size of 3.3 cm (1.3 in.).

Fig. 12. Left - Fourteen-month-old oysters on plastic disc spat collectors. Right - Close-up of oysters on plastic collectors.

Shore-to-shore long-lines,. Japanese long-lines, barrel floats and fiberglas-coated paper tube floats all withstood winter ice conditions without significant damage for the second year. Mussel fouling presents a considerable problem in off-bottom rearing with shell-strings or similar c ollectors because it causes flotation problems and may stunt oyster growth through competition for food. Small, recently-set mussels can be removed by the use of a high pressure spray of water. However, this technique is not satisfactory if shell string maintenance has been neglected to the point where mussels are larger than 3/4 inch. Experiments carried out at Gillis Cove indicate that a -29-

five second dip in an 0.4% solution of copper sulphate followed by four hours of air drying is sufficient to kill approximately 88% of the mussels on shell strings. There is an accompanying 14% loss of oysters, which may be acceptable in view of the advantages over manual cleaning.

A preliminary cost-benefit study was carried out on the various options and combinations of techniques which might be used in a large scale oyster operation in the Bras d'Or Lakes. This work was done in response to the needs of the Eskasoni Oyster Farm Association. It is planned to expand this study and to carry out experiments to refine the data.

3.23 Review of Programs and Leasing Policy Background papers were prepared on the following subjects: (a) immediate requirements for the development of the Maritime oyster industry, (b) assignment of responsibility for management, development and research within the Ministry, (c) reorganization of the Resource Development Branch oyster program to improve the use of staff, and (d) oyster development proposals for the Prince Edward Island Development Program.

A series of recommendations were also developed, in consultation with the Management Section, to update the oyster leasing policy so as not to hinder the growth of the oyster farming industry in the region.

3.3 Hatchery Evaluation J. A. Ritter Much of the information used in the hatchery evaluation program will be based on the five-year smolt marking project which began in 1968. Carlin tags, with monofilament polyethylene attachments, are being used. Tag returns for the different stocks are being related to various factors including size and smolt condition, as determined from the incidence of disease and the physiological condition of the various stocks at the time of release.

3.31 Salmon Smolt Marking Program

Between March 30 and May 30, 72,000 hatchery- reared Atlantic salmon smolts, of four distinct stocks, were marked. The objectives of the 1970 marking program are summarized as follows:

1. To determine whether fishery contributions -30- vary with the site of release by introducing identical groups (12,000 each) of two-year-old salmon smolts of Restigouche (early run) stock into two different rivers: (1) the main Restigouche River, and (2) the main South- west Miramichi, New Brunswick. 2. To measure fishery contributions made by a representative group (8,000) of two-year-old salmon smolts of Miramichi (late run) stock released into the Southwest Miramichi River. Fishery contributions of this late-run stock are to be compared with contributions made by the foreign Restigouche (early run) stock released into the Miramichi at the same location and the wild, native Miramichi stock tagged in the Miramichi Estuary during the spring migration. 3. To measure fishery contributions of a representative group (10,000) of two-year-old salmon smolts of Margaree River (late run) stock released into the Northeast Margaree River, Nova Scotia. 4. To measure fishery contributions and adult return to escapement of a representative sample of smolts from River Philip (late run) stock released into River Philip, Nova Scotia. 5. To determine whether the type of rearing pond (i. e. earth vs. concrete) influences the survival of salmon stocks and their contributions to various fisheries (River Philip stock). 6. To measure differential mortality due to tagging (River Philip stock). 7. To measure shedding of tags between smolt release and adult return at the grilse and large salmon stages (River Philip stock). 3.32 Highlights of Smolt Tagging Results (1967 - 69) 1. Three of the more important salmon stocks used in Maritime hatcheries (Restigouche early run, Miramichi late run, and River Philip late run) have contributed more to the distant fisheries of Newfoundland-Labrador and Greenland than wild stocks at Big Salmon River, West River (Sheet Harbour), and Miramichi River (Fig. 13). 2. The introduction of Northern New Brunswick stock (Restigouche early run) into rivers located in Southern New Brunswick (Big Salmon River) and along the southern and eastern shores of Nova Scotia (Medway,

-31-

La Have and Clyde River and West River, Sheet Harbour) has yielded poor returns. Not only have returns to "home water" fisheries from such releases been low or nil, but also the returns to Newfoundland-Labrador and Greenland fisheries have been generally poor for these stocks.

HATCHERY STOCKS WILD STOCKS

100

RESTIGOUCFIE MIRAM CHI RIVER PHILIP BIG SALMON WEST R VER MIRAMICHI EARLY RUN LATE RUN LATE RUN RIVER N.B.SHEE HARBOUR

ANGLING NEWFOUNDLAND HOME WATERS AND LABRADOR

MICOMMERCIAL II GREENLAND HOME WATERS

Fig. 13. Comparison of contributions to sport and commercial fisheries made by hatchery and wild smolt stocks released into Maritime rivers.

3. Adult returns from releases of yearling Restigouche (early run) smolts into southern and eastern Nova Scotia rivers have yielded lower returns than releases of two-year-old smolts of comparable stock.

4. Returns from groups of hatchery smolts tagged in the years 1967-69 have ranged from 0 to 2.2%. These returns are minimal estimates which have not as yet been corrected for losses due to tag shedding or differential mortality attributable to tagging.

3.4 Hatchery Engineering W. Spruin D. Korn The Development and Expansion Section provides engineering services to the Hatchery Production and Maintenance Section, including the design of new or improved facilities or equipment, and supervision of construction. -32-

At the Saint John Fish Culture Station the work of renovating the long ponds led to the modifi- cation of the pond drains and the renewal of the main water supply pipeline. The old 14-inch wood-stave line was replaced with a 24-inch reinforced concrete pipe. The reduced head loss in the new pipeline allows a three - foot cascade into the distributing box to aerate the water supply. In addition, the velocity in the raceways in summer was raised by installing two pumps to aerate and recirculate about 20% of the water. Experiments were conducted at Charlo Station on an air bubble system for keeping ponds free of ice. Under severe icing conditions in shallow ponds the equipment proved to be inadequate. Better equipment has been obtained for another test of this method in February 1971. At the Miramichi Station a building was moved to a new foundation and completely renovated for the use of the Pollution Abatement Section. This will free a major building for hatchery purposes.

3.5 Saint John River Salmon Hatchery Program T. G. Carey The Saint John River stocking program in 1970 saw the first major release of smolts reared at the Mactaquac Station, and the first return to the river of adult salmon which had been raised to the smolt stage at Mactaquac. In general, the program was beset with fewer problems than previously experienced, especially at Mactaquac Station, where mortalities were relatively low. Concentrated effort was put into improving efficiency of facilities at Mactaquac Station and to extending safety features to cover all possible areas where problems may arise. Two important aspects of the program still require attention. No eggs were incubated at Mactaquac in 1970-71 because of doubtful water quality due to gross water pollution. Experiments are being conducted to determine the most efficient facilities to use and optimum water temperatures required during incubation and initial feeding of fry. Adult brood stock were again transported to South Esk Station on the Miramichi River for holding through summer and fall. Biological criteria and -33- preliminary plans have been drawn up for new holding ponds to be located at Mactaquac. 3.51 Smolt Tagging and Release Smolts held at Mactaquac started showing migratory behaviour (swimming with the current) in the last week of April, but could not be released until May. 14 because of poor water quality in the main river. The last migrants left the hatchery on June 27. In 1970 a total of 412,860 smolts were released from Mactaquac Station. The total was comprised of 361,294 two-year smolts and 51,566 one-year smolts, virtually all of which exceeded 15 cm in fork length. Mean lengths of all spring run, summer run and fall run smolts were 17.4 cm, 17,8 cm and 17,7 cm respectively. Lots of 10,000 Mactaquac smolts were tagged from three select groups. Fifty percent of each group had their maxillary bone clipped (30% removal of the posterior end of the right maxillary) to measure shedding of tags between smolt release and adult return at the grilse and large salmon stages. Also, within each group of tagged smolts, 50% had been reared on Ewos dry food and 50% on Silvercup dry food during their hatchery life. All smolts reared at Mactaquac Fish Culture Station received adipose fin clips before release. During the period May 29 to June 25, one- year smolts of Saint John stock reared at Yarmouth Station in Nova Scotia were transported by air and by truck to the Saint John River at Mactaquac. A total of 16,563 were tagged to assess the survival of Yarmouth-produced smolts. All tagged fish were from three size grades of summer-run stock. A secondary objective of the tagging is to relate smolt survival to size at release. Numbers and approximate mean fork lengths of smolts in each size grade were as follows: 6687 (18 cm), 3232 (15.6 cm), and 6664 (12.9 cm). 3.52 Adult Collections and Spawning Program Of the 5,417 grilse and salmon captured in the collection facilities at Mactaquac Dam in 1970, a total of 1,008 (19%) were kept as brood stock. The 1970 egg collection for the Saint John Hatchery smolt program totalled 3.84 million, the major portion (91%) being from spring and summer-run stock. Efforts were made to collect a higher percentage -34-

(47%) of spring-run eggs in 1970 than in previous years because of the greater importance of early run adults in commercial fisheries and angling catches. Two additional groups were incorporated in the selective breeding program by crossing hatchery-reared male grilse with wild female salmon (two-sea-year fish).

Fig. 14. Sorting brood stock at Mactaquac Hatchery

3.53 Mactaquac Rearing Program Eggs collected from the 1969 year class for rearing to the smolt stage at Mactaquac were incubated and reared to the feeding fry stage at Antigonish and Cobequid Stations as a precaution against recurrence of the high fry losses experienced at Mactaquac in 1968. Fry transported to Mactaquac in June and July experienced normal survival and achieved above average growth during the summer. Because of the excellent growth rate of fingerlings in 1970, it is anticipated that 30% of the year class (150,000) will be released as one-year smolts in the spring of 1971. In order to maintain the numbers of smolts expected to be released from Mactaquac in 1972, 232,548 surplus fingerlings were transferred to Mactaquac from Saint John Station. Annual mortality among 1968 year-class yearlings held at Mactaquac amounted to 9%. This group, which totalled 53,000 at year end, has maintained -35- a satisfactory growth rate and is in good condition. It is expected that one-year smolts reared at Saint John and Yarmouth Stations for release in 1971 will boost the total release of hatchery-produced smolts to more than the original goal of 500,000 per year. This will compensate for the severe losses of fry experienced at Mactaquac in 1969. Totals of 784,000 underyearling and 77,000 yearling salmon were being reared at Mactaquac in November, 1970. One of the major objectives of the biological program has been to determine optimum loading capacity of rearing facilities at Mactaquac. Ponds have been stocked at different densities with fingerling and yearling groups, and differences between densities are being evaluated on the basis of growth rates, survival, food conversion and disease index. Investigations have also been initiated to establish the degree of stress experienced by fish during routine hatchery operations such as tagging, grading and transporation. Stress will be determined by studying physiological changes in blood and in tissues from liver and muscle. Parameters to be studied will include muscle and liver glycogen, lactic acid in blood and muscle, blood glucose, microhematocrit, red and white blood cells, and specific gravity of blood cells and blood plasma. 3.54 Engineering at Mactaquac Hatchery 1. Water Supply In 1970 a number of additions and modifications were made to the water supply facilities at the station. The surface level intake at Mactaquac Reser- voir was extended to a depth of 25-feet by installation of a four foot diameter fibreglas pipeline. This new intake system enables the hatchery to draw relatively warm water from above the thermocline over a greater range of reservoir levels. During 1969 the line which by-passes river water directly into the hatchery by skirting the aeration tower was damaged and had to be removed. This fall and the by-pass line was replaced by welded steel pipe of 30-inch diameter. A manhole inlet and drain was installed in the river water line to the tower. This enables the -36- tower to be shut down and the pipeline to be quickly cleared of any obstructing debris. A 24-inch corru- gated drain system was installed to increase overflow capacity from the tower. Valves are installed on all well water line junctions so that branch lines may be shut down when repairs are required on the pipeline or well pumps.

Fig. 15. Replacement of by-pass pipeline at Mactaquac Hatchery.

2. Improved Working Areas More office and workshop space has been provided at the station by converting the last bay of the garage into an office and workshop. New laboratory facilities for disease research were also provided in the Administration Building and a formaldehyde treating facility was constructed. Various projects were undertaken at Mactaquac to make the facilities safer. These included covering the smolt release channels with grating or plywood, providing slotted aluminum walkways in the aeration tower and posting warning signs around the premises.

3. General

To prevent erosion of the river bank and to afford some protection against flooding, a system of gabions and an erosion control fence has been erected -37- along the riverbank beside the hatchery. A new glass reinforced plastic fish transportation tank is being developed for use at the Mactaquac Hatchery. The single compartment tank has a capacity of 1,000 gallons and will be used for the transportation of adult salmon over long runs. The tank incorporates a system of cooling by evaporation and has a built-in aeration system which is superior to the oxygen tank system presently in use. A preliminary feasibility study and preliminary design has been carried out for adult salmon holding ponds and a public relations or information building for the Mactaquac complex. 3.55 Quality of Mactaquac Hatchery Water Supply Since Mactaquac Station started operating in 1967, numerous cases of high mortalities in ponds have been attributed to the toxicity of water drawn from Mactaquac headpond. A review was made in September of all data on water quality in the headpond collected by various sections of the Branch and a general pattern is beginning to emerge. In early summer, after spring freshets are over and as temperature increases, bacterial action on natural organic material, as well as on those organics contained in industrial effluents, increases and causes a decline in DO levels and an increase in CO1 levels. This lasts from June to October and is followed by an increase in DO levels from November to January which may be related to decreasing water temperature and increasing run-off during fall freshets. From February to April, DO levels decline, and then increase rapidly with the onset of spring freshets. It is also during this period that "pollution" toxicity of the water to fish appears to reach a peak, and is rapidly followed by toxicity now attributed to super- saturation of gases. Many of the changes in water quality and reasons for toxicity are still unexplained; however, and there is a need to conduct more extensive studies on pollution in the Saint John River Basin. Accurate information must be obtained on annual changes in water quality, the isolation and identification of toxic elements during periods of high pollution load in the system, and the determination of the sources of these toxic elements. We can now effectively regulate river and well water supplies to the hatchery to minimize the risk of fish kills. However, in a hatchery -38-

environment, fish are subject to continuous stress, and additional stresses due to factors such as polluted water supply must be reduced to a minimum to produce a high quality fish. 3.56 Public Relations More than 32,000 people visited Mactaquac facilities in 1970; ninety-two percent in the period May to November inclusive. Numbers of visitors are expected to increase in the future, with new tourist attractions being opened at Mactaquac Park. Existing facilities for receiving visitors are poor, and visitors interfere to some degree with hatchery operations. In view of these difficultues and because of the ideal location of the Mactaquac Station for attracting the public, recommendations have been submitted for an expanded and improved public relations program which would provide information on the overall involvement of the Department in rehabilitating the Saint John River Atlantic salmon resource.

3.6 Fish Disease Investigations R. A. Hyatt One biologist has been working full time on fish disease investigations since April, 1970. Disease laboratory facilities were completed in December, 1970, at Mactaquac Hatchery. Six disease outbreaks, as recognized by excessive mortalities, were investigated. Three outbreaks of suspected Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis occurred about three or four weeks after the fry had started to take feed, and mortalities were in the 50-80% range. Three other outbreaks were due to systemic internal bacterial infections of short gram-negative, non-motile, aerobic bacteria which are sensitive to both oxytetracycline and tetracycline-HC1. The thirteen Resource Development Branch fish culture stations were surveyed for bacterial disease incidence during the summer. The most important bacterial diseases recognized were kidney disease (at Margaree only), bacterial fin rot and a systemic internal infection which has not been fully characterized as yet. Thirty-four isolates were taken during the survey and are being characterized. Twelve groups of tagged hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon smolt were sampled after tagging to quantify disease incidence. A weighted average percent -39-

incidence figure was determined for each disease in each group and this figure is used as a disease index. Thirty-four ponds of fingerling and six ponds of yearling salmon are being reared at Mactaquac under varying density regimes. Disease indices have been determined from monthly fingerling samplings since August 1970, and from yearling samplings since July 1970. No significant differences in disease incidence have been observed yet in the fingerlings. The yearling disease indices for the December, 1970, sampling are shown below.

Density Non-Caudal Non-Caudal Internal Bact.

(No./Sq.Ft.) Fin Erosion Fin Rot Infection . 9.2 29.3 7.3 1.0 6.7 27.8 13.2 4.6 5.1 31.2 5.0 0 4.7 30.0 5.6 0 3.2 15.8 0.6 0 2.0 16.4 0 0

The fish from these experiments will be tagged as pre-smolts and released from the hatchery to evaluate rearing density effects on smolt contri- bution to the fishery and on returns to Mactaquac. Five disinfectants, each at several levels of concentration,were used to disinfect separate lots of 1,000 green Atlantic salmon eggs. Rinsed disin- fected eggs from each trial were incubated in nutrient broth at room temperature to determine the effectiveness of the disinfectant. Bacterial growth in the broth indicated ineffective disinfection of the egg surface. The disinfectants used were: hyamine (3 formulations), formalin, and polyvinyl pyrroliclone-iodine (PVP-I). The tests to date indicate that only PVP-I is an effective bactericide. 4.0 HATCHERY PRODUCTION AND MAINTENANCE SECTION -41-

4.0 HATCHERY PRODUCTION AND MAINTENANCE SECTION Section Leader: R. E. H. Macdonald

The aim of the Hatchery Production and Maintenance Section is to produce sufficient numbers of hatchery cultured Atlantic salmon, landlocked salmon and speckled trout to meet the stocking needs of the Maritimes Region. The salmon and trout reared at the 13 fish culture stations provide stocks of fish that are required for the Branch's Management, Development, Pollution and Hatchery programs. In addition, stocks of fish and eggs are supplied to other agencies such as: the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, various universities, Provincial Fish and Wildlife Departments, commercial and private operators of fish farms and ponds, National Parks and to governmental agencies in other countries. The trend in recent years in Fisheries Management and Development programs has been toward the use of larger fish for stocking. This is especially true for Atlantic salmon. Now the aim is to produce the maximum number of smolts possible. The smolts are released in the principal salmon rivers, while the smaller or underyearling salmon are used exclusively to supplement the natural production in the smaller feeder streams. Fifty-four percent by number of the salmon stocked in 1970 were classified as smolts. The same trend follows in the trout production program. Almost all the outside rearing ponds that formerly were not operated during the winter months are now used to winter speckled trout. In the spring of 1970, over 430,000 6-inch speckled trout were stocked in selected waters. The first stage of an experiment to raise speckled trout in the brackish waters of Bras d'Or Lakes was completed in 1970. A large lagoon with a small freshwater feeder stream at the inlet was enclosed with nets (later a steel mesh fence), and stocked with one and two-year-old speckled trout. It was found that natural food was abundant and feed costs could be kept to a minimum. The average weight gain of the fish exceeded one-half pound. A collection of one and one-half million eggs of excellent quality was made from this stock. Valuable information regarding site location requirements, type of enclosures and water requirements was obtained from this investigation. -42-

The experiment will be continued in 1971. The total production of fish, both in numbers and in weight increased in 1970 (Fig. 16). Fish production per man years of labour continues to increase while the total labour force remains almost the same (Fig. 17). Several factors contributed to this increase. Automatic feeders which are used to dispense the dry feed have reduced not only labour costs, but also have extended the feeding time during the daylight hours. The results have been increased growth and better food conversion.

30 20 0 28 TOTAL PRODUCTION SPECKLED TROUT .0 18 — 26 ATLANTIC SALMON 24 22 x 20 ") 18 16 o 10 01, 14 12 10 g w 8 6 4 2 2

1967 1968 1969 1970 1967 1968 1969 1970

Fig. 16. Hatchery fish production by weight and numbers.

Another factor contributing to increased production has been the use of the earth bank, gravel bottom ponds at Yarmouth, Cobequid and Saint John Stations.

These ponds not only provide more rearing space per gallon of water inflow (by reuse), but also provide a facility for conditioning smolts. It is through the use of this type of pond at Yarmouth and Saint John Stations that the one-half million one-year- smolts are being reared as a backup stock to the Mactaquac program for stocking the Saint John River. -43-

0 35 30 o 110 cr w›- 25 0, 100 cc I 20 < 80 ›- 60 15 z

17- 10 2 40 0 5 20 2 A

1967 1968 1969 1970 1967 1968 1969 19M

Fig. 17. Hatchery fish production and labour force.

The transfer and distribution of the quarter million smolts reared at Yarmouth for the Mactaquac program presented a major problem in moving large numbers of fish long distances in a two-week period. To reduce the travelling time, chartered aircraft with special tanks were tested in 1970. The travelling time was reduced to one and one-half hours by air compared with the former sixteen hours by truck. The total number of eggs collected in all hatchery operations during 1970 is given below:

Species No. Eggs Speckled Trout 18,139,000 Atlantic Salmon 7,444,000 Landlocked Salmon 36,000

The total number and weight of three sizes of speckled trout produced for stocking in 1970 is shown in the following table. -44-

Size of Trout No. Weight (lb.) 1-4 in. 1,002,000 12,876 4-6 in. 1,089 000 41,421 Over 6 in. 434,000 42,511

J. 4` 6)61 Y4-

Fig. 18. Earth ponds at Yarmouth

The total number and weight of three sizes of Atlantic salmon and two sizes of landlocked salmon produced for stocking in 1970 is as follows:

Size of Fish No. Weight (lb.) Atlantic Salmon: 1-4 in. 463,300 5,189 3-6 in. 177,100 10,329 Over 6 in. 375,200 42,199 Landlocked Salmon: 4-6 in. 26,000 1,010 Over 6 in. 5,000 427

174

3 .6- .71,4 6' 1) 15 7 -45-

The total number of Atlantic salmon produced for Mactaquac Sation on the Saint John River is summarized below according to size of fish.

Size of Fish No. 1-4 in. 975,000 4-6 in. 12,400

Over 6 in. 11,400

A total of 41,900 juvenile salmon were supplied to the Fisheries Research Board of Canada and various universities together with the following numbers of speckled trout.

Agency No. Trout F. R. B. and Universities 6,400 Provincial Agencies 107,000 National Parks 39,000

A total of 407,000 Atlantic salmon eggs were supplied to outside laboratories; 19,000 of these went to the Fisheries Research Board of Canada at St. Andrews, New Brunswick and the remainder were distributed to the following universities and states.

Laboratory Location No. Eggs Supplied

Dalhousie University 8,000 Saint Francis Xavier Univ. 1,000 State of New Hampshire 153,000 State of Connecticut 101,000

State of Massachusetts 100,000 State of Pennsylvania 25,000 -46-

Torrential rains in the month of February caused flooding with considerable damage to installations at several New Brunswick stations; particularly hard hit were Florenceville, Miramichi, Charlo and Hailes Brook. In Florenceville the rapid run-off resulted in heavy leaching of the river bank, undermining the apron of the spillway cribbing on both sides of the brook and the underpinning of the bridge which spans the brook adjacent to the hatchery building. These structures were repaired and the brook was straightened to reduce future flood erosion.

At Miramichi Station a two -hundred-foot section of Stewarts Brook between the reservoir and the hatchery was increased in width and straightened to facilitate the escape of water and prevent future flooding of the hatchery grounds. Two earth ponds were built at Charlo to take advantage of the 43°F water temperature from springs in the area. In order to protect the ponds in the event of an ice jam during the spring freshet, an eight-foot dike was constructed around the ponds. At Cobequid a six-foot transite water supply line was constructed along with two new junction boxes from the 14-inch main to the sub-hatchery, so as to increase the diminishing flow of water due to the heavy build-up of sediments in the pipe. A 12-inch transite drain was constructed from the main hatchery to connect with the new series of longitudinal earth ponds at Cobequid. The entire water supply to Cobequid hatchery is being reused in the longitudinal earth ponds. Two filter units were installed and two jar culture stands and a chemical system were erected at this station also. The three- inch headtank standpipes were removed and replaced by six-inch PVC standpipes to ensure a sufficient supply of water to the earth ponds.

The drainage ditch at Cobequid used for holding the brood stock trout was cleaned out and widened and the site of the pond development was graded following completion of the earth ponds. These ponds average 100-feet long by 12-feet wide by 3-feet deep, and they simulate as closely as possible natural environment with clean gravel bottoms and sides and an adequate supply of suitable water for rearing trout or salmon.

At Margaree a concrete barrier dam was constructed to divert water from Ingraham Brook into -47- the reservoir supplying water to the station. At Yarmouth the junction box on the main water supply line had to be completely replaced as it was damaged beyond repair by frost over the years. A new field tile system was constructed to replace the existing tile bed and 16 fibreglas reinforced plastic troughs were installed to replace the existing wooden troughs. The following buildings were painted during the year: the residence and workshop buildings at Florenceville, all the buildings at New Mills salmon pond and all the station buildings at Yarmouth and Coldbrook. 5.0 POLLUTION ABATEMENT SECTION -49-

5.0 POLLUTION ABATEMENT SECTION Section Leader: J. A. Dalziel

The year 1970 was a particularly challen- ging year for the biologists, engineers and technicians of the Pollution Abatement Section. It was the year when our coastline and sealife was endangered by oil pollution from the Arrow and the Irving Whale; the year when high concentrations of mercury were discovered in the natural environment and in the food we eat; and the year when people became more aware of their surround- ings and began to use words such as ecology, environment and eutrophication. Pollution Abatement Section activities were accelerated as a result of demands imposed by such public awareness. Staff doubled in 1970 with the addition of four professionals and three technicians. New laboratories were established at Bedford Institute as a permanent base for biological, chemical and engineering studies. Two mobile laboratories were also acquired, one for chemistry and one for biological. assays. A wide range of activities, oriented to the abatement of water pollution, were planned and executed and there were also several unexpectedly imposed programs in 1970 which challenged all our manpower and resources.

Pig. 19. Heavy and trace Fig. 20. Toxicity experi.- metal analysis ment on industrial by Atomic Absorb- wastes. tion. - 50 -

5.1 Marine Oil Pollution In February the oil tanker Arrow grounded and broke up in Chedabucto Bay, Nova ScT Two- thirds of the cargo of 16,000 tons of bunker oil escaped; much of this oil eventually ended up on 200 miles of the shoreline of Nova Scotia and Sable Island.

Fig. 21. Oil tanker Arrow.

Fig. 22. Oil on a Chedabucto Bay beach. -51-

Resource Development biologists and technicians participated in the ecological studies at Chedabucto Bay and assisted the clean-up task force in an advisory capacity. Fish and shellfish stocks of the area were not affected seriously by the oil spill. The second tanker-sinking occurred in September when the Irving Whale went to the bottom of the Gulf of St. Lawrence along with its cargo of Bunker- C Oil. Again pollution staff responded, this time mainly in an advisory capacity in relation to the controlled use of oil-dispersing chemicals.

5.2 Forest Spraying G. H. Penney J. Rod MacDonald Aerial spraying of New Brunswick's budworm infested forests covered 4.2 million acres in 1970. Most of the area was sprayed with fenitrothion, an organophosphate insecticide, at dosage rates of 1/8 to 1/4 pound per acre. Experimental areas were sprayed with dylox, matacil, lannate and phosphamidon. Resource Development biologists observed that juvenile salmon, held in cages in spray area streams, suffered no mortality. A post-spray census of juvenile salmon populations indicated that the fish stocks had been relatively unaffected by the insecticide spraying. Declines in the population densities of aquatic insects were observed in some spray area streams, but those changes may have been a function of natural environmental variations.

5.3 Saint John River, New Brunswick J. Rod MacDonald R. A. Row H. A. Hall The second part of a two-year bio-engineering pollution study on the Saint John River was conducted in 1970 on the Harbour and Estuary. A study of the industrial effluents of the Saint John area indicated that over 200,000 pounds of BOD and over 180,000 pounds of solids are discharged each day into the Saint John Harbour. The main sources of this organic waste loading were the Irving Pulp Mill, the Kimerley- Clark Paper Mill and the MacMillan Rothesay Pulp and Paper Mill. The wastes from the three pulp and paper mills and from the Irving Oil Refinery were found to be toxic to fish. The effects of these wastes on the quality of harbour water were readily detectable; dissolved oxygen concentration, for example, dropped -52-

below 4 mg/1 on occasion. Survival of caged fish in surface waters of the inner harbour was limited to a few hours. The effects of pollution were also identified in the estuary; dissolved oxygen concentrations of 3.5 mg/1 were measured in surface waters about 30 miles above Saint John.

Fig. 23. Fish Kill in the Saint John River Basin

In the upper Saint John River dissolved oxygen concentrations behaved much as in the past years. During the summer severe oxygen depletion was observed in the Edmundston to Beechwood section. Oxygen levels at Beechwood dropped below 5 mg/1 in early March and again during August. Regular sampling throughout the year in the Big Presquile tributary, a stream origin- ating in Maine, showed only one period of oxygen depletion.

The screening-clarifier system at McCain Foods Limited, Florenceville was operational about half of the time in 1970. The effluent after clarifi- cation was toxic to young salmon; toxicity is possibly related to the pH of the wastes.

A combination of settling ponds and biological oxidation ponds came into use in early 1970 when the new Saint Anne-Nackawic Pulp and Paper Mill opened. This mill is located on Mactaquac Headpond. Tests to date indicate that the discharge from this treatment system is non-toxic to fish at 100% concentration. Reduction of BOD loading has been good, but -53- not quite as complete as was expected. The company is continuing to modify the system in order to increase efficiency. Successful negotiations have been conducted with representatives of the Irving Pulp and Paper Mill in Saint John. This mill, which is currently expand- ing its operation, has agreed to withdraw all effluent sewers from the harbour and to proceed by stages to treat all wastes, first by primary treatment and later by secondary treatment.

5.4 Miramichi River, New Brunswick R. H. Cook R. A. Hoos

The toxicity of the effluents discharged from the two pulp mills, Miramichi Timber Resources (MTR) and Acadia Pulp and Paper was monitored frequently in 1970. Of the 294 bioassay tests conducted throughout the year on MTR clarifier effluent, 22 (7.5%) achieved the interim Departmental standard of non-toxicity at 65% concentration after 96 hours exposure. None of the 75 tests conducted on the untreated Acadia wastes measured up to this standard. Caged fish tests were conducted in the estuary adjacent to both mills and during the two months of observation, only slight mortalities were observed downstream of the Acadia mill. Biological oxidation ponds are currently being constructed at Newcastle to treat the pulp mill wastes discharged from MTR. This secondary treatment system should be operational by the summer of 1971. A cooperative "oil surveillance" program was established on the Miramichi which involved Resource Development and Conservation and Protection Branch staffs. An observer routinely patrolled the estuary and was provided with the equipment and procedures necessary to investigate oil spills. Several minor oil spills were investigated; prompt corrective action generally followed. Two substantial oil discharges from ships were investigated% The conviction and fining of the master of one of them, the M. V. Agneta, was indicative of the effectiveness of the program. The proposed establishment of a resin chemical plant (CIBA) at Chatham, New Brunswick, prompted an investigation into the toxicities of -54-

several of the effluent components. The toxic levels of formalin, methanol, and mixtures thereof, were determined and used in Departmental negotiations with the company. Adequate secondary treatment facilities were designed and included in the general construction of the CIBA plant; plant production is expected to commence early in 1971.

A series of biological assays conducted on water samples and bottom material of "Chemical Brook" which drains into the Miramichi River from the Domtar Wood Preserving Plant at Newcastle indicated that a pollution problem still exists. Early in 1969, Domtar was required to install treatment facilities at this plant. Although these treatment facilities have almost completely reduced the discharge of plant effluent, residues remaining on the banks of the brook and in a bog near the Miramichi are highly toxic. A report was prepared and Domtar has been apprised of the situation; corrective action is scheduled for the spring of 1971.

Resin acid soaps have been identified as a highly toxic component of groundwood and debarker effluent wastes. A resin acid treatability study was initiated to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of biological treatment in reducing resin acid concentrations.

Tests conducted on the effluent of Acadia Pulp and Paper showed that underyearling Atlantic salmon were the most resistant to the effluent followed by less resistant yearlings and grilse. Avoidance tests using juvenile salmon showed that there was no detect- ible avoidance response below a 10% effluent concentration.

Information on base-metal mining problems in the Miramichi River basin is contained in Section 5.6: Base Metal Mining.

5.5 Northeastern New Brunswick R. H. Cook R. A. Hoos

A co-operative program to evaluate the toxicity and chemical composition of industrial effluents in Gloucester and Restigouche counties was undertaken by technical personnel of the Resource Development Pollution Section and New Brunswick Water Authority. Effluents from the following industries failed to meet the Departmental requirements -55- of non-toxicity to fish at 65% concentration after 96 hours exposure: Consolidated Bathurst Pulp and Paper (Bathurst), New Brunswick International Pulp and Paper (Dalhousie), Fraser Companies Limited (Atholville), East Coast Smelting and Chemical (Belledune), Belle- dune Fertilizer Limited, and Canadian Industries Limited (Dalhousie). Allied Chemical (Dalhousie) effluent did not prove toxic. The results of this survey have been compiled in a report. Benthic surveys were conducted in North- eastern New Brunswick on the Miramichi estuary, Bathurst Harbour and Bellevue Cove at Belledune.

5.6 Base Metal Mining R. H. Cook E. E. Abbruzzese A mine water quality monitoring program was conducted in 1970 on all the mine properties in North- eastern New Brunswick. Mines were sampled regularly by Pollution Section staff and the water samples were analyzed by the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Water Quality Laboratory in Moncton. The following mines have been included in the survey: Heath Steele, Brunswick Mining and Smelting Projects # 6 and # 12, Anaconda Brass, Nigadoo Mines, Texas Gulf, New Larder U, Wedge, Restigouche, Copperfields Mining Corporation and Chester Mines. Toxicity information was collected along with water quality data on a bi-weekly basis on the Nepisiquit River. The results have confirmed that a serious pollution problem persists at the open pit operation at the Brunswick Mining and Smelting Project # 6 property. The company is in the active stage of removing waste rock piles from drainage areas and constructing an elaborate series of lime-slurry mixing ponds in addition to settling ponds. Sump drainage from the open pit is also to be treated in the above ponds. Pollution control facilities are nearing completion at Brunswick Mining and Smelting Project # 12. A series of treatment ponds located below the tail- ings area include a 30-day oxidation pond, a pH stabilization pond and a holding pond. Plans call for the total recycling of all effluent waters when the system is fully operational. The Northeastern New Brunswick Mine Water Quality Program was initiated in the fall. This program has an action-oriented approach towards the resolution -56- of the mines-fisheries conflict that exists in North- eastern New Brunswick. The Montreal Engineering Company Limited was awarded the Study Directorship of the program and both federal and provincial government agencies have agreed to assist by contributing advice and guidance, and by carrying out applied research projects as recommended by the Study Director. The program commenced with an evaluation of the proposed Chester Mines development on the Sevogle River, an important tributary to the Miramichi River. A report entitled, Appraisal of Proposed Chester Mine Development was prepared in December, 1970. The findings of this report have provided an introduction to the many problems that must be studied during the Program. The next report is scheduled for spring, 1971. Heath Steel Mines initiated the first phase of the consultant's recommendations for site drainage control at the mine property. This involved the construction of diversion channels, holding ponds and weirs, in addition to increasing the pumping capacities. The accidental discharge of several thousand gallons of acid into the Tomogonops tributary in May caused a serious fish kill in the Northwest Miramichi River. This accident resulted from an attempt by Heath Steele Mines to increase the pumping capacity of the pollution control system by acid cleaning of a clogged pipeline. In order to obviate similar accidents in the future, the company installed a larger pipeline to meet their pumping requirements. A series of caged fish tests were conducted in the Miramichi estuary near the Newcastle Public Wharf to determine if base metals were escaping from the storage piles of ore concentrate in sufficient quantities to cause a toxicity problem. A laboratory program was also initiated to investigate the relationships between base metal ion toxicity and salinity. A preliminary report on these studies concluded that the leaching of base metal ions does not present an immediate threat to the fishery resource.

5.7 Nova Scotia Pollution Problems J. Machell A survey of the wood products industry in the province resulted in the accumulation of data on the waste contributions and toxicity of the effluents of seven major wood products industries. The following -57- is a list of the industries studied: Anil Canada Limited at Chester, Minas Basin Pulp and Keyes Fiber Limited at Hantsport, Scott Paper Limited at Sheet Harbour, Scott Maritimes Limited at Pictou, Nova Scotia Pulp Limited at Pt. Tupper, and Bowaters Mersey Limited at Liverpool. For most of these industries it was the first time that data of this kind had been collected. The effluents of all these plants exhibited toxicity to fish. Negotiations regarding pollution abatement facilities were opened with Anil Canada Limited, Scott Maritimes Limited, and Nova Scotia Pulp Limited. Biological and water quality surveys were carried out on the La Have River Estuary and the Strait of Canso. The work on the La Have River will provide a background prior to the operation of the Michelin Tire Plant at Bridgewater. Pollution abatement negotiations were opened with the Michelin Company regarding both their plants at Bridgewater and at Granton, near Pictou. The Strait of Canso survey was part of a continuing program to study the effects of industrial effluents and pollution abatement on the waters of the Strait. Negotiations for satisfactory pollution abatement facilities were opened between the Department and Gulf Oil Canada Limited and Nova Scotia Pulp Limited. The discharge from the Canadian General Electric Heavy Water Plant at Port Hawkesbury in the Strait of Canso was checked for hydrogen sulphide content. On one occasion the gas-stripper treatment method was not removing the sulphide gas and this situation was brought to the attention of the Company for corrective action. In addition, abatement negotiations with new industries were held with Kenny and Ross Limited, Port Saxon, Shelburne County; and Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation, Lake Enon, Cape Breton County. A meeting was also held with Domtar Chemical Company in Truro to discuss a problem of waste disposal. During the year fish kills were investigated in Annapolis, Kings and Pictou Counties. Dissolved oxygen levels were monitored on the Corn- wallis River. Benthic surveys were conducted in the La Have River and in Chedabucto Bay as part of the Arrow oil spill investigations. -58-

5.8 Miscellaneous Several Resource Development Pollution staff have been involved in the preparation of sub- missions pertinent to the drafting of new Departmental regulations for implementation under Section 33 of the Fisheries Act. These have included standards on pulp and paper mill wastes, mercury, pesticides and other deliterious substances. 6.0 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SECTION -59-

6.0 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SECTION

Section Leader: D. C. Riley

The goal of the Environmental Protection Section is to maintain the environment inhabited by stocks of fish and shellfish in a suitable condition for maximum production of these stocks. The protection of the physical and biological environment from damag- ing inroads by nature and man is broad in scope and includes habitat protection from hydroelectric and flood control dams, construction of causeways and highway structures, gravel removal from streams and land-use practices, diversions and logging operations. In other words, the activity of this Section deals with physical alteration of the environment as opposed to chemical degradation which is the concern of the Pollution Abatement Section.

In February, 1970, an unusually high run- off accompanied by ice created serious flood damage to several water control structures and associated fishery protective works in New Brunswick. Several highway structures were extensively damaged or completely demolished during this freak occurrence. Major physical changes in the geometry of several important waterways due to these flood conditions were reported and subsequently reflected in a substantial increase in stream alteration requests during 1970.

The evaluation program initiated in 1969 was expanded and refined during 1970. The objective of this program is to acquire more precise and reliable information on hydraulic conditions and fish behaviour patterns at tidal installation in order to resolve similar fish passage problems in the future. The long delayed construction of the Secondary Sorting Facility at Mactaquac, New Brunswick got underway during the latter part of 1970. This project, when completed in mid-1971, will virtually eliminate manual handling of Saint John River adult fish during the capturing, sorting and transferring process.

6.1 Evaluation Studies C. L. Dominy H. E. Edwards Evaluation of fish passage problems associated with tidal structures continued to play a significant part of the Environmental Protection -60-

Section's activities during the year. Essential information concerning fish behaviour and hydraulic characteristics at tidal installations was collected and analyzed. 6.11 Petitcodiac River Fishway Analysis of 1969 field data from the Petitcodiac River Fishway evaluation studies suggested that the method of discharging water through the water control gates was adversely affecting the passage of adult fish. Negotiations were initiated and successfully concluded for a scheduled release of water during 1970. Preliminary analysis of 1970 field data, suggest'more compatible hydraulic conditions occur under various tidal stages as a result of the modified release schedule. Behaviour and movement of adult fish through the fishway structure and water control gates were monitored by utilizing an ultra- sonic tagging device. A progress report has been prepared dealing with the Petitcodiac River fishway efficiency; smolt delay; juvenile salmon abundance and growth; and the age, length and sex of the adult salmon run. The 1970 field data is currently being analyzed in preparation for possible further modifications to flow release procedures.

Fig. 24. Petitcodiac River Causeway, low tide (Fishway entrance on extreme right). -61-

Fig. 25. Petitcodiac River Causeway, high tide.

6.12 Pictou Harbour and Middle River Fishways Considerable fishery problems have resulted from the construction of Pictou Harbour and Middle River Causeways, Pictou County. During the year, an engineering review was conducted to determine the relationship of total water supply to demand on each causeway reservoir, including fishway requirements. The results of this study indicated ample supply of water exists for industrial use and fishway needs, providing reservoir draw-downs were properly regulated. A biological assessment of West and Middle River, Pictou County, using River John as control stream, was initiated during the year. This assessment data will be analyzed to determine if additional restrictions in the method of operating the water control gates are necessary. The information will be extremely helpful in resolving fishery conflicts arising from increased industrial demands in the future. 6.13 White Rock Fishway A biological assessment of the White Rock Fishway located on the Gaspereau River, Kings County, Nova Scotia, continued during the year. The -62-

evaluation included studies on the proportion of the gaspereau run successfully passing through the facility; the delay of entry and the rate of ascent; fall back and effects of changing tailrace water levels; crowding in the fishway; and fatigue resulting from ascending the fishway. A direct relationship was found between the tailrace water levels and the numbers of fish entering the fishway.

Fig. 26. Gaspereau at White Rock marked on the left pectoral fin.

Plans were developed in co-operation with Nova Scotia Light and Power Company, the owners, to supply additional attraction water for the fishway, but company labour problems prevented the plan from being implemented. Present plans are to provide additional attraction water in time for the 1971 migration season. Biological studies were initiated, in conjunction with the White Rock Fishway evaluation program, on some aspects of the biology of gaspereau in the system. Data includes estimates and comparison of length, weight, age, rate of growth, fecundity and sex ratios of gaspereau from two different river systems in Nova Scotia. 6.14 Great Village Aboiteau The Great Village River Evaluation Program was expanded and refined in 1970. Adult salmon tended to move upstream past the aboiteau gates primarily on the incoming tide, immediately before the flap gates -63- closed. Additional data, such as juvenile salmon abundance and growth, and characteristics of adult runs to the river were analyzed. Behaviour and movement of fish through the water control structure were monitored by utilizing an ultra-sonic tagging device. 6.15 Musquodoboit River A comprehensive flood control scheme was initiated on the Musquodoboit River system in 1965 by the Department of Regional Economic Expansion. During 1970, on Ogilvie Brook, a small tributary of the Musquodoboit River, a bio-engineering study was initiated. The purpose of the study was to determine what geometric and ecological changes occurred on one branch of Ogilvie Brook following construction of flood control dams, as opposed to an unaltered branch of the same tributary stream. In conjunction with the collection of hydraulic data, continuous water temperature readings were recorded. In addition, sampling was conducted to determine the water quality and the population densities of vertebrate and invertebrate fauna. 6.16 Steepass Fishway A biological and engineering assessment of a steepass fishway continued during 1970. This structure, located in the Missaquash River, Nova Scotia, was constructed by the Regional Economic Expansion Department to facilitate movement of trout and gaspereau beyond a water control structure, constructed for waterflow habitat improvement. A tag and recovery study revealed that an insignificant number of gaspereau and trout passed through the fishway during peak migration. Discussions are continuing with Regional Economic Expansion staff regarding further improvements to the entrance channel area and possible modifications to the flow releases procedures. 6.17 Logging Operations Continuous monitoring of J. D. Irving log driving operations on the Nashwaak River in New Bruns- wick was initiated during 1970. Before and after measurements were taken of the more critical reaches of the river bed to assist in evaluating possible adverse effects on indigenous stocks of fish from the log driving activities. In addition, a reconnaissance survey was conducted with regard to wood cutting practices on the Nashwaak River watershed area. An -64- interim report on the effects of logging operations on the Nashwaak River is currently being prepared.

Fig. 27. Nashwaak River logging operations.

6.2 Research and Development G. T. Beaulieu H. Jansen A prototype smolt by-pass trap was designed and installed at Big Salmon River, New Brunswick (see Fig. 5). Also, a temporary hydrometric station was installed and maintained above Big Salmon River fence to provide flow information for Management and Investi- gation Section biologists who are studying and predicting adult and juvenile fish movements in the system. Subsequent to the installation of the temporary hydrometric station, arrangements were made with the Department of Energy Mines and Resources for construction of a permanent station. Considerable staff effort was involved in the design and testing of a prototype secondary sorting facility to permit selection of Saint John River brood stock. Full-scale hydraulic modelling of the proposed facility was carried out under varying hydraulic conditions. Several design configurations were tested with live fish and the optimum layout selected for the final design. The model was tested at Cobequid Fish Culture Station and subsequently tested at Mactaquac using native Saint John River fish. Preliminary research on possible methods -65- of collecting and by-passing smolt from reservoirs was carried out during the year. Techniques tried and tested in the Western United States for by-passing juvenile fish from impoundments were reviewed and evaluated. Attempts were made to develop an experimental floating device to remove juvenile fish from water impoundments for overland transportation, but design difficulties were encountered in the preliminary stages of development. Further studies are planned during 1971 to determine if an economically feasible smolt by-passing device can be developed. An engineering feasibility study was completed for a proposed applied research facility. Several sites were investigated and for various reasons were eliminated in favour of River Philip, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. The proposed facility would enable studies to be carried out under controlled conditions with respect to hydraulic preferences, tolerance limits and behaviour patterns for various Atlantic species. A proposed functional layout of the facility has been developed.

6.3 Mactaquac Sorting Facility H. Jansen A significant staff effort was involved in the preparation of detail construction drawings and related contract documents associated with the

Fig. 28. Mactaquac Secondary Sorting Facility -66- construction of the Mactaquac Secondary Sorting Facility. Formal construction contracts were issued late in the year for the construction of concrete works and the supply and installation of plumbing components. A contract was issued to engineering consultants for the preparation of detail construction drawings for the electrical and mechanical components associated with the sorting facility. Detail design of various distribution and transportation channels is continuing. Present indications are that this facility will be operational by mid-1971.

6.4 Stream Alteration Investigations H. E. Edwards Considerable physical damage to natural waterways from the unusual February flood resulted in a substantial increase in stream alteration requests. Virtually all stream alteration requests received by the various provincial water agencies were referred to the Department's Environmental Protection staff for evaluation and recommendations. Over 250 stream alteration requests were received and evaluated. These consisted of stream diversions, small water control structures, channelization work, bank stabilization and gravel removal projects. Biological investigations were carried out with respect to a proposed causeway construction on Memramcook River, Westmorland County, New Brunswick. A bio-engineering team investigated a request from the Nova Scotia Water Resources Commission to construct a dam on the outlet of Timber Lake, East River, Chester, to supply Anil Hardboard Plant with additional water for expansion purposes. A proposal to rebuild a storage dam on West River, Sheet Harbour, was received and an investigation carried out to determine potential adverse effects on fisheries.

6.5 Fish Passage Facilities T. M. Humes 6.51 New Brunswick Due to unusually high water levels and ice breakup during the month of February, the Bartholo- mew River Fishway at Blackville, New Brunswick was completely demolished. The Bartholomew River dam sustained significant structural damage as well. Environmental Protection Section staff consulted with the owners of the dam, Miramichi Forest Products, and -67- their engineering consultants, and were successful in having the fishway completely restored. Over 400 salmon ascended the newly-constructed fishway ensuring one of the best spawning escapements in recent years. Negoti- ations are continuing with the owners of the dam to initiate essential repairs to the dam structure. The Pollett River fishway at River Glade, New Brunswick, was demolished by high water and ice conditions in February. The owners, the New Brunswick Department of Public Works, rebuilt the fishway structure during the year in accordance with functional drawings developed by Environmental Protection Section staff. Reconstruction involved a complete rebuilding of the fishway structure and ballast cribwork and modifying the spillway section adjacent to the fishway. An inspection and analysis of hydraulic field measurements relative to the Forest City fishway on the St. Croix River revealed that this structure is capable of passing adult fish. Design and construction of a third adult fish dumping site on the Saint John River immediately above the Mactaquac Dam was completed. Flemming and Gibson's fishway located on the North Branch of the Southwest Miramichi River at Juniper, New Brunswick, was rebuilt during the year. The reconstructed fishway structure conforms to criteria and functional layouts provided by Environ- mental Protection Section staff. Minor repairs were carried out at St. George fishway on the Magaguadavic River, while major repairs were necessary at the Petitcodiac and Milltown fishways. 6.52 Nova Scotia In consultation with W. N. Horner and Associates, Consulting Engineers, suitable fish passage facilities were provided at a water control structure on the outlet of Sherbrooke Lake, Guys- borough County. This project was sponsored by the Provincial Department of Trade and Industry and is part of a restoration project in the Village of Sherbrooke. Immediate remedial action was required last spring to permit escapement of gaspereau to their spawning area in Gaspereau Lake, Kings County, Nova -68-

Scotia. Due to a late spring run-off from the Gaspereau River system the level of Gaspereau Lake did not rise sufficiently to enable the fishway, located at the outlet of the lake, to operate. Negotiations with the owners, Nova Scotia Light and Power Company, resulted in releasing of water from Aylesford Lake into Gaspereau Lake to raise the water level. In addition, the owners carried out modifications to the fishway baffles and gate section of the dam to enable the fishway to operate effectively at a lower lake level. As a result of this action, an estimated 50,000 gaspereau were able to ascend to their spawning areas, thus ensuring continu- ation of the run.

Fig. 29. Lanes Mills Fishway, Gaspereau Lake

Reconstruction of the Department's River Philip fishway was scheduled during the latter part of the year, but due to continual high water levels this work was postponed until the summer of 1971. Minor repairs were carried out on Indian Falls fishway on the East Branch of the La Have River. Major repairs were necessary on the White Rock fishway, Gaspereau River, and Pictou Harbour and Middle River fishways, Pictou County. 6.53 Prince Edward Island Negotiations were initiated with the Prince Edward Island Department of Tourist Development, Fish and Wildlife staff regarding the installation of acceptable fish passage facilities at a number of recently constructed water control structures. -69-

6.6 Obstruction Removal Requests for stream clearance received considerable staff attention. A partial obstruction consisting of logs, trees, stumps and slash occurred at the confluence of the Little Southwest Miramichi and Main Southwest Miramichi at Red Bank, New Brunswick. The partial blockage was surveyed and arrangements were made to effect removal, but due to persistant high water levels action was postponed until 1971. Obstructions removed through the efforts of the Environmental Protection staff during 1970 include the following: a natural obstruction on Benacadie Brook and Salmon River, Cape Breton County and Barachois River, Victoria County, Nova Scotia. Relocation of the main sewer line for the Town of St. Jacques in New Brunswick was recommended as it constituted a partial obstruction. Negotiations were initiated and successfully concluded for the removal of three unused dams on various rivers within the region.

Fig. 30. Dam at Forest Glen, Pollett River, after breaching. In addition an unused saw mill dam at Forest Glen, Pollett River, New Brunswick was breached by Depart- mental forces because of difficulties encountered in establishing legal ownership of the structure. -70-

Negotiations are continuing with the New Brunswick Electric Power Commission personnel concerning fish passage problems associated with the abandoned hydroelectric dam on the Kouchibouguac River, Kent County, New Brunswick. Previous attempts to breach the structure encountered opposition from the local citizens on the assumption that flooding of adjacent property would likely occur. A compromise solution which involves enlarging the existing gate opening is currently being discussed with the owners. A combined topographic and hydrometric survey was conducted concerning a partial obstuction on Ogilvie Brook, tributary of Musquodoboit River, Nova Scotia. A geological rock fault restricts the natural flow of Ogilvie Brook to a narrow rock chute for approximately 150 feet and during certain discharge levels, a complete velocity barrier occurs.

Fig. 31. Ogilvie Brook natural obstruction.

A topographic and hydrometric survey of Middle River, Victoria County, Nova Scotia, was virtually completed during the year. Continual shifting of this .river course frequently creates a partial blockage and prevents escapement of salmon to the upper reaches of the watershed. Survey data accumulated during 1970 will enable a properly planned -71- engineering approach to be taken to alleviate this recurrent fish passage problem.

Fig. 32. Partial blockage at Middle River, Victoria County. BRANCH REPORTS - 1970

-73-

BRANCH REPORTS - 1970

Manuscript Report Series

70-1 Carey, T. G. and E. L. Robinson. Experi- mental testing of three paints as possible alternatives to International Antifouling Paint for fish ponds.

70-2 Carey, T. G. Selective breeding program at Mactaquac Fish Culture Station, Saint John River, New Brunswick.

70-3 Dominy, C. L. Petitcodiac River Causeway fishway evaluation studies. 70-4 Dominy, C. L. Great Village River Aboiteau evaluation studies. 70-5 Dominy, C. L. White Rock fishway evaluation studies. 70-6 Hoos, R. A. W. Bioassay test results on toxic components of C. I. B. A., Chatham, New Brunswick resin plant effluent. 70-7 Hoos, R. A. W. Domtar toxicity report - Newcastle, New Brunswick. 70-8 Hoos, R. A. W. Toxicity to Atlantic salmon of ore concentrate as stored on public wharf Newcastle, New Brunswick. 70-9 Row, R. A. The pulp and paper industry in the Maritimes. 70-10 Jansen, H. An investigation into a possible inadequate water supply to operate the Middle River and Pictou Harbour fishways. 70-11 Beaulieu, G. T. Hydrological report on Petitcodiac River Causeway. 70-12 Smith, K. E. H. Atlantic salmon investigations (1969) - Saint John River system, New Brunswick.

-74-

70-13 Row, R. A. Pollution survey of the Saint John industrial complex and its effect on the water quality of Saint John Harbour. 70-14 MacDonald, J. R., R. A. Row and J. R. Machell. Pollution survey - Saint John River system in 1969.

70-15 Hyatt, R. A. Fish population density estimates for the Fredericton District in 1969.

70-16 Riley, D. C. Engineering aspects of Mactaquac fish handling facilities.

Statistical Report Series

Wykes, C. E. 1970a. 1967 Atlantic salmon commercial catch statistics, Maritimes Region.

Wykes, C. E. 1970b. 1968 Atlantic salmon commercial catch statistics, Maritimes Region. Wykes, C. E. 1970c. 1969 Atlantic salmon commercial catch statistics, Maritimes Region.

Special Reports Millen, J. M. and L. J. A. Ducharme. Review of East River Sheet Harbour Salmon Development Project. -75-

OUTSIDE PUBLICATIONS - 1970

MacDonald, J. Rod. 1970. An occurrence of male predominance among repeat spawning Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada 27(8) : 1491-1492.

Ruggles, C. P. 1970. What do a few fish matter? Atlantic Advocate, October 1970. pp 22-27.

Turner, G. E. and H. R. MacCrimmon. 1970. Reproduction and growth of smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieui, in a Precambrian lake. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada 27(2) : 395-400.