FISHERIES DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES
Hourston Reviews 1964 Work
ONCE again it is a pleasure for senior members of the department's staff and myself to accept your invitation to attend the twenty-first annual convention of your organisation.
It gives us an opportunity of reviewing with you the 1964 fishery and also to report developments within the department which are of interest to you as fishermen.
We suspect, however, that the most important aspect of our visit here is the opportunity it gives you to discuss subjects of uppermost interest to yourselves. This, of course, is as it should be and we are quite happy to provide this opportunity.
REVIEW OF 1964
SALMON: While 1964 did not produce any exceptionally large individual run of salmon, the total catch of some 20,600,000 pieces was slightly better than the 10 year average.
SOCKEYE: The 1964 forecast for the sockeye runs was not too hopeful. However, the catch of 3,619,000 pieces was greater than expected and has only been exceeded in the past 10 years by the catches of 1958 and 1961. The Skeena River, with a catch of 766,000 pieces, and Rivers-Smith inlets, with 1,278,000 pieces, were the main producers.
PINKS: With the exception of the large catch in 1962, the 1964 pink take of 9,628,000 was greater than in any cycle year in the last 10 years. It was an "off" year for Fraser River. The central areas again produced well above average. The only below average returns in the north occurred in the Queen Charlotte Islands.
CHUMS: One of the highlights of the 1964 season was the strength of the chum salmon returns to the Queen Charlotte Islands following a lengthy period of severe conservation action. The early chum runs to the northern mainland areas also showed signs of rebuilding.
While the runs to the Johnstone Strait-Fraser River area and the west coast of Vancouver Island have not responded to the same extent as the northern runs, we are confident that our current conservation measures in these areas will be fruitful in the coming years. The 1964 chum catch of 2,250,000 million was the largest since 1958. The catch in the Queen Charlotte Islands of 750,-000 was the largest since 1950.
COHO: The strength of the coho return was the highlight of 1964. In addition to producing the most revenue to the fishermen of any individual species, the catch of 4,149,000 pieces was the largest since 1951 when detailed records were initiated. The troll fishery landed 65 per cent of the catch,
Printed here is the text of an address to the UFAWU convention by Pacific area director W. R. Hourston, outlining the work of the federal fisheries department during the past year. Delegates' questions and his answers on various issues will appear next week.
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mainly from the west coast of Vancouver Island and north coast areas. The catch of blueback from the Gulf of Georgia area improved sharply, almost doubling last year's figures; however, it is still well below the 10 year average.
SPRINGS: The catch of just under one million spring salmon compares favorably with the 10 year average and is up over the catches of the past five years.
ESCAPEMENT: Generally speaking the escapements of all species, with the exception of southern chum salmon stocks, were favorable.
Spawning runs of sockeye to the Skeena River, Rivers and Smith inlets and the Fraser River were adequate. While the pink stocks to the Queen Charlotte Islands were below requirements, satisfactory seedings were obtained in the northern mainland areas and in most of the Johnstone Strait areas. Chum salmon stocks were adequate in the majority of the South and Central Queen Charlotte Islands and showed some improvement on the northern mainland. However, they were again below requirements in the Johnstone Strait - Georgia Strait-Fraser River areas and much below requirements on the west coast of Vancouver Island, notwithstanding severe restriction in the fishery. Spawning stocks of coho salmon coastwise
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R. E. (BOB) McLAREN . . . chief biologist for the federal fisheries department's Pacific area, explains a point to delegates attending UFAWU convention.
were above average. Spring salmon escapements, although showing some improvement, were still below requirements in some of the major production areas.
HALIBUT: The halibut fishery started rather slowly with small catches in the Bering Sea. When the season closed total landings of halibut by Canadian fishermen at Canadian and United States ports declined from 37.3 million pounds in 1963 to 33.3 millions of pounds in 1964. Landings by US fishermen declined from 34.2 million pounds to an estimated 26.4 million pounds.
Opening halibut prices were low and at about the same level as 1963. As the season advanced and it became apparent that the overall halibut catch would be down sharply, prices became firmer and the average landed value for 1964 increased to 25 cents per pound compared with 22 cents in 1963. This was the highest average landed price paid in recent years with the exception of 1962 when average prices skyrocketed to 31.69c per pound.
HERRING: Herring landings during the calendar year of 1964 totalled 252,000 tons, the second highest on record but down 12
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percent from the record landings of 1963. Prices for herring oil and meal were up over 1963.
GROUNDFISH: Groundfish landings totalled 30 million pounds, one of the highest totals on record. Grey cod was mainly responsible with landings increasing to 12 million pounds, some 4% million pounds higher than the previous record established in 1958.
SHELLFISH: Crab production and unit prices increased in 1964 but shrimp production dropped sharply (down 41 percent) and oyster production was also down 10 percent.
TUNA: One large seiner landed 118 tons of tuna in Vancouver and this was trans-shipped for processing to the United States Now to review the activities of the various branches which should be of interest to you.
PROTECTION
Most of you are aware that a reorganisation of the Protection Branch in the Pacific Area is in progress. For the past'38 years the province has been broken into three districts under district supervisors with headquarters at New Westminster for the Fraser watershed, Nanaimo for Vancouver Island and the mainland opposite, and Prince Rupert for the coast north of Cape Caution, including the Queen Charlotte Islands. The new organisation, which will become effective April 1, 1965, will include 10 Protection Districts, each headed by a district protection officer as follows:
DISTRICT 1—The Fraser watershed upstream from Boston Bar including the Okanagan. District protection officer is L. C. Goodman with headquarters at Kam-loops.
DISTRICT 2—Howe Sound, Burrard Inlet, the Gulf off the Fraser and Fraser watershed upstream to Boston Bar. DPO is H. Burrow with headquarters at New Westminster.
DISTRICT 3—Areas 14 to 20 inclusive. DPO is G. W. Winsby based at Nanaimo.
DISTRICT 4—Areas 21 to 26 inclusive. DPO is J. W. Connor with headquarters at Port Alberni.
DISTRICT 5—Areas 11, 12, 13 and 27. Here the DPO is T. F. Rothery. His office is in Campbell River.
DISTRICT 6—Areas 9 and 10. Headquarters remain at Dawson's Landing with J. D. C. Holland as DPO.
DISTRICT 7—Areas 6, 7 and 8. The DPO is J. Fielden with base of operations at Kitimat.
DISTRICT 8—Areas 3, 4 and 5 and the Skeena watershed. DPO is P. D. Murray with headquarters at Prince Rupert.
DISTRICT 9—The Queen Charlotte Islands. Headquarters are at Queen Charlotte City. V. H. B. Giraud is the DPO.
DISTRICT 10—The Yukon Territory. J. A. Summers is DPO with headquarters at Whitehorse.
This reorganisation has been under consideration for several years. One of the major factors
responsible for it was the increasing complexity of fisheries management. The new organisation will exploit the recognised strengths of our experienced fishery officers and at the same time permit the deployment of technical staff in specific areas as required. It should result in better utilisation of manpower and equipment, and last but not least, it will provide more career opportunities for our fishery officers.
ENFORCEMENT
A word now on new equipment which the Protection Branch has obtained since last year. Two 25 foot aluminum vessels, the Alou-ette River and Babine River, were launched in December. The first replaces the Rissa at Mission; the latter will go into service on Babine Lake. The vessels are powered by 150 hp inboard-outboard engines and have top speeds in excess of 20 knots. Both carry radiotelephone and sounders and have accommodation for two men.
Two fibreglass vessels, the Warrior Rock and Crescent Rock were launched earlier this month. These are 30 foot craft, radiophone equipped and with accommodation for three persons. They are powered by 280 hp gasoline engines and can cruise easily at 17 knots with top speed of just over 20 knots.
The Crescent Rock replaces the old Statistic in Area 18. The Warrior Rock goes into service on the Fraser River and will replace the Seal Rock which is being sent elsewhere on the coast.
Last year, for the first time, the department sent a patrol vessel to the Bering Sea for the halibut fishery there. This is being done again this year and FPC Ho way left Vancouver March 22 en route to that area. The vessel will perform two primary functions, namely:
(1) Ensure that no preseason halibut fishing occurs, especially in Area 3B North Triangle and in Area 3B South.
(2 Provide a search and rescue service and give other assistance as may be necessary to the fishermen.
Favorable comment was received on services provided by the Laurier last year and we know that the Ho way will perform equally well.
I would also like to comment briefly on one of the functions of the Protection Branch, that is law enforcement. Fishery officers are charged with the enforcement of the BC Fishery Regulations
but the very geography and climate of our coastline assists those who wish to engage in illegal activities. The cost of providing total protection is prohibitive and only justifiable if there is no other real alternative.
No conservation program can succeed unless there is a tacit acceptance of the principles which give life to the law and to the regulations whereby a fishery is administered. What I am saying is that to be fully effective a law enforcement body must have the
See HOURSTON REVIEW — Page 11
GEORGE T. MclNDOE . . . fishery officer Mclndoe attended sessions of the annual UFAWU convention last month as a representative of the federal fisheries department. He provided delegates with information on regulations on several occasions. Mclndoe is formerly of Nanaimo but has been recently transferred to the Vancouver area.
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THE FISHERMAN - April 9, 1965