Annual Report and Investigators' Summaries 1959 60
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CONFIDENTIAL FISHERIES RESEARCH BOARD OF CANADA ARCTIC UNIT Montreal, Que. Annual Report and Investigatorsi Summaries April l e 1959 to March 31, 1960 H. D. Fisher, In Charge CONFIDENTIAL FISHERIES RESEARCH BOARD OF CANADA , ARCTIC UNIT Montreal ) Que. Annual Report and Investigators Summaries April 1, 1959 to March 31, 1960 FISHERIES & OCEANS CANADA PECHES ET OCEANS CANADA LIBRARY / BIBLIOTFIEQUE 200 KENT, STATION 7244 OTTAWA, ON KlA OES H. D. Fisher, In Charge REPORT FOR 1959-1960 OF THE ARCTIC UNIT, MONTREAL, QUE. by H. D. Fisher, Scientist in Charge The Arctic Unit carries out the responsibilities of the Fisheries Research Board toward marine and freshwater biological resources of the Yukon, Mackenzie, Keewatin and Franklin Territories, with the exception of Great Slave Lake which is covered by the Biological Station at London. Marine mammal studies are extended to the Atlantic coast of Canada. Fisheries potential is limited in the arctic, but stocks in general have been under-utilized, and there is room for small-scale development of fishing projects. Such development has begun in recent years with the current period of accelerated development of the north, and it is continuing on a gradually increasing scale. Field studies in fisheries aim at completing our knowledge of fish stocks throughout the vast region covered, and at providing a biological basis for management of subsistence, commercial and sports fishing activity. Similarly, studies on marine mammals, which traditionally have served as the backbone of native economy in most arctic marine areas, aim at following the effects of current utilization on the stocks, and at indicating where, to what extent and by what means further utilization can be accomplished without damaging the stocks. On the Atlantic coast, harp seals (Phoça g_r_oenlandiga) continue to 9 be exploited heavily by Canadian and Norwegian ships, on the spring breeding areas in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and off the east coast of Labrador and Newfoundland. Biological studies and population estimates have been carried out since 1949. The pilot whale (Globicephala Ep_lagna) is exploited for animal food in Newfoundland. Availability of this whale to the present hunting facilities varies greatly from year to year. A study of pilot whale populations and their relation to their main food, squid, aims at explaining and possibly forecasting fluctuations in pilot whale abundance off Newfoundland, as well as following the effects of exploi- tation on the stock. Studies on the distribution and abundance of marine invertebrates, including bottom fauna as well as plankton, contribute to our understanding of distribution and production, or lack of production, of fishes and marine mammals in given areas. Recent studies have concentrated in the area of eastern Hudson Bay and James Bay, a target for general economic development in the near future. These have been supplemented by fairly detailed oceanographic sampling and sections, in the relative absence of such work in this region to date. The Arctic Unit's headquarters consist of a stone house, converted from a residence, at 505 Pine Ave. West, Montreal. The premises are owned by and leased from McGill University, wnose libraries, together wlth those of _3_ the nearby Arctic Institute of North America, are open to the staff. In addition to the benefits of close contact with the University and other arctic work centred there, direct scheduled passenger and freight flights to the arctic leave from nearby Dorval airport, while much marine transport to the arctic leaves from Montreal harbour. The Unit operates no permanent field stations, although the need for one or two is becoming evident. The 50-foot wooden diesel ketch Calanus, built in 1948 9 handles many of the Unit's needs for marine mobility in the eastern arctic. From a wintering berth at Moose Factory, Ontario, the 1959 program of the vessel took it to various points in James Bay and southeast Hudson Bay, particularly around the Belcher Islands. The ship was sailed to Churchill for wintering and its engines were removed for overhaul. Construction of a 38-foot shallow-draft experi- mental fishing vessel, M.V. galvelingâ, was completed in Vancouver in 1959. The vessel was delivered to Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T. in August by marine barge via Bering Strait, and was run to Aklavik, in the Mackenzie Delta, for over- wintering. The vessel has sleeping quarters for up to three, and is equipped with echo sounder, radio-telephone, dragging and gill-netting gear. It will conduct exploratory fishing in the western arctic. Fisheries Investizeiong SquIbeastern Hudson Bay. A fisheries party was based in Robertson Bay, Belcher Islands, during the summer, concentrating on the principal freshwater system of the • islands, Kasegalik Lake and River, and on a typical small lake and river tributary to Kasegalik River. Arctic char (e_Alzglinms. alp nup) was found to be the dominant species of economic value. Lake herring (LelmichIhyg arted),) were not taken in the Kasegalik system but were found in smaller lakes. Cod (âemp_ oe,ac) were common in the brackish mouth of the main river. Capelin (Mallotus vlllosps). and sand launce (Ammedytes sp.) were common food fishes of the above and other species. The char at the mouth of the river fed mainly on fish, including themselves, rather than on amphipods as in most areas of the arctic. Populations of both sea-run and land-locked char are présent in the lakes during the summers. There is evidence that sea-run char do not go to sea every year after maturing. Intermittent years of anadromy, where growth is reduced during summers spent in a lake, may explain a considerable variation in size for a given age of sea-run arctic char. Growth is slow, 16 years being required to produce the average maximum-sized fish. The Eskimo population of the Belcher Islands is largely dependent on animal resources for food. Organized fishing in this area therefore should be confined to produc- tion for local use. A small sports fishery is also possible. Frobisher Bay, Baffin Island. The commercial fishery for arctic char operated for a second consecutive year at the mouth of the Sylvia Grinnell River, accounting for about 22,000 pounds of a total weight of 47,500 pounds removed by commercial, subsistence and sports fishing. This total is somewhat higher than desirable if the size of individual fish is to remain at that desired by the commercial market. Experimental fishing conducted at the mouth of the Jordan River, some ten miles from the mouth of the Sylvia Grinnell, indicated a very low return of char per unit of effort and pointed to the insufficiency of this area as a commercial fishing site. DArien Grounds. Little to nothing has been known concerning the distribution and abundance of fishes in the barren grounds of Mackenzie and Keewatin Territories. During the summer, a fish survey was made of 20 lakes in the region east of a line between laMartre and Dismal Lakes, to the west coast of Hudson Bay. Four parties, of two and three men, each occupied five different lakes for periods of about 14 days. They conducted extensive fishing operations and were moved from location to location by an Otter aircraft. Special arrangements were made with the Royal Ontario Museum and the Institute of Fisheries at the University of British Columbia for the participation of their ichthyologists. The freshwater taxonomic collections brought out were deposited with these institutions. In addition to detailed informa- tion on the fishes, a variety of associated biological data and material were collected for other organizations and specialists. Whitefish (Corqunms. sp.) and lake trout (Sal4relinus namayoush) were the dominant species at all locations, followed by round whitefish (Prosopium nyliplzmpum), pike (Esox lucime), cisco (LeuciclIthys sp.) grayling (Thvmallus signifer) and burbot (Lea I,ota). Distribution of arctic char generally was limited to those waters draining directly into the sea though a few specimens were taken in Contwoyto and Kathawachaga lakes. Inconnu (Stenodus lgunlichthys) was completely absent from the lakes of the barren grounds. Pike were missing from the Back and Burnside River systems and north of these to the arctic coast. The lakes examined contained for the most part standing crops of large, old fish. A comparison of growth rates in the different water systems was made. White- fish from Vaillant Lake eg., (66°12 1 N, 11)+029 1W), which drains into Coronation Gulf via Tree River, require 30 per cent more time to grow to a maximum size than do those in Great Slave Lake, indicating lower productivity per area of water. Those from laMartre Lake, between Great Bear and Great Slave, on the other hand have a higher growth rate than do those of Great Slave Lake. Arctic char on the west coast of Hudson Bay show a higher growth rate than char from elsewhere on the barrens or from Frobisher Bay where production has been estimated at about four pounds per acre. Generally speaking, the highest fish production per given area of water in the region covered lay between Great Bear and Great Slave Lakes. Intermediate production is indicated across the northern sector (about latitude 670 M), less in the Dubawnt-Angikuni region and lowest in the southern sector (Clinton Colden, Whitefish, Wholdaia). Hazen Lakg421111gsmere Island. It was not possible during the Hazen Lake field work in 1958 to determine whether char ran to sea, via Ruggles River. Analysis of data in 1959 on the char collected however has shown the presence of both land-locked and sea-run populations in the lake. The sea- run char show the same large variability in size per given age as do those in other regions studied. Growth in Hazen Lake is approximately 30 per cent slower than in the Sylvia Grinnell system, Frobisher Bay.