NORTH QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS (1)
Pinks — Cycle year catch 316,000 (1972), 641,000 (even year average). Cycle year escapement 331,000 (1972), 700,000 (even year average). Expectations: Light return of 150,000 fish to Masset Inlet. Total return to Masset Inlet expected to be much below escapement requirements, and restriction of the fishery will be necessary. Above average return of 400,000 fish to Naden Harbor expected, and a short fishery on that stock is proposed.
Chums — Cycle year catch 36,000 (1969), 34,000 (1970), 36,000 (1971), 40,000 (five-year average). Cycle year escapement 50,000 (1969), 25,000 (1970), 45,000 (1971), 33,000 (five-year average). Expectations: Below average returns are expected this year. Proposed regulations are:
• Restriction of salmon net fishing to gillnets with minimum mesh size of 8Vi inches prior to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 16.
• Effective 6 p.m. Sunday, May 26, salmon net fishing to be reduced to three days a week for conservation of sockeye and pink stocks.
• Closure of Naden Harbor and Masset Inlet effective 6 p.m. Sunday, June 16 until further notice.
• Effective 6 p.m. Sunday, July 21, closure of the area to salmon net fishing for the balance of the season for conservation of local pink and chum stocks. Limited fisheries for pink and chum salmon may be allowed in Naden Harbor if returns exceed escapement requirements.
• Prohibition of possession of pink salmon caught by trollers between July 21 and August 18.
EAST COAST QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS (2E)
Pinks — Cycle year catch 445,000 (1972), 374,000 (even year average). Cycle year escapement 766,000 (1972), 578,000 (even year average). Expectations: Total return of 1.4 million fish expected. Escapement and catch goals of 700,000 are proposed.
Chums — Cycle year catch 363,000 (1970), 319,000 (10-year average). Cycle year escapement 199,000 (1970), 253,000 (10-year average). Cycle year escapement 199,000 (1970), 253,000 (10-year average). Expectations: Below average return of 400,000 chums anticipated. The proposed escapement goal is 220,000 fish. The following regulations have been proposed.
• Reduction of salmon net fishing to three days per week effective 6 p.m. Sunday, August 4.
• Closure of the area to salmon net fishing from 6 p.m. Sunday, September 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, September 15, for conservation of early chum stocks.
• Salmon net fishing for two days a week effective 6 p.m. Sunday, September 15. The season closing date will be based on assessment of chum stocks.
WEST COAST QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS (2W)
Pinks — Cycle year catch 644,000 (1972), 279,000 (even year average). Cycle year escapement 383,000 (1972), 221,000 (even year average). Expectations: A total return of one million pinks is expected, with an escapement goal of 400,000 proposed.
Chums — Cycle year catch 54,000 (1969), 192,000 (1970), 82,000 (1971), 103,000 (five-year average). Cycle year escapement 383,000 (1972), 221,000 (even year average), 79,000 (1969), 108,000 (1970), 78,000 (1971), 91,000 (five-year average). Expectations: An average return in the order of 200,000 fish. Approximately 100,000 will be required for escapement.
Proposed fishing patterns are:
• Reduction of salmon net fishing to two days a week effective 6 p.m. Sunday, August 4.
• Closure of Otard Bay and
waters between Bottle Point and Cape St. James to salmon net fishing from 6 p.m. Sunday, August 4 until 6 p.m. Sunday, September 8.
• Closure of the area to salmon net fishing from 6 p.m. Sunday, September 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, September 8 for conservation of early Chum stocks.
• Effective 6 p.m. Sunday, September 8, salmon net fishing two days per week. Season closing date will be based on assessment of chum stocks.
NASS RIVER (3) Sockeye — Cycle year catch 201,000   (1969),   124,000 (1970), 251,000  (five-year average). Cycle year escapement 182,000
(1969) , 112,000 (1970), 198,000 (five-year average). Expectations: Heavy return of age five sockeye and average return of four-year-old fish should produce above-average stock totalling 900,000 fish. Escapement goal of 200,000 fish is proposed.
Coho — Cycle year average 93,000 (1971), 91,000 (five-year average). Cycle year escapement light to medium (1971). Expectations: A below average return.
Pinks — Cycle year catch
I, 081,000 (1972), 825,000 (even year average). Cycle year escapement 254,000 (1972), 248,000 (even year average). Expectations: An average return of 1.1 million fish. The escapement goal is 300,000 fish.
Chums — Cycle year catch 67,000 (1969), 185,000 (1970), 69,000 (1971), 181,000 (five-year average). Cycle year escapement 29,000 (1969), 35,000 (1970), 29,000 (1971), 46,000 (five-year average). Expectations: An average return.
Springs — Cycle year catch 19,000 (1969), 14,000 (1970), 17,000 (five-year average). Cycle year escapement 27,000 (1969), 18,000
(1970) , 17,000 (five-year average). Expectations: An average return. Restriction of early season fishery is proposed to reduce increasing rate of exploitation of this stock. Proposed regulations are:
• Restriction of salmon net fishing to gillnets with minimum mesh size of 8V4 inches prior to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 23.
• Restriction of salmon net fishing to two days per week from February 3 to June 23 for conservation of springs.
• Establishment of the Nass River boundary at the Double Island to Village Dock line effective 6 p.m. Sunday, February 3.
• Salmon net fishing three days per week effective 6 p.m. Sunday, June 23 for exploitation of sockeye.
• Closure of Work Channel, Khutzeymateen Inlet and Observatory Inlet to salmon net fishing effective 6 p.m. Sunday, June 23 until further notice.
• Reduction of salmon net fishing to two days per week for conservation of pink samon stocks effective 6 p.m. Sunday, July 14.
• Closure of the waters of Steamer Pass to salmon net fishing effective 6 p.m. Sunday, July 14 until further notice.
• Effective 6 p.m. Sunday, September 8, closure of the area to salmon net fishing for the balance of the season to conserve coho salmon.
SKEENA RIVER (4) Sockeye    and    Pinks —
Prospects and proposals for the fishery are dealt with in detail in the report of the Skeena River Salmon Management Committee. An above average return of both sockeye and pinks, however, is expected.
Coho — Cycle year catch 114,000 (1971), 89,000 (five-year average). Cycle year escapement, light. Expectations: Below average return.
Chums — Cycle year catch 17,000 (1969), 34,000 (1970), 39,000
(1971) , 52,000 (five-year average. Cycle year escapement light (1969), light (1970), very light (1971). Expectations: below average return expected.
Springs — Cycle year catch
II, 000 (1969), 8,000 (1970), 10,000
(five-year average). Cycle year escapement 30,000 (1969), 20,000
(1970) , 25,000 (five-year average). Expectations: The Skeena River spring salmon population has declined in recent years and in order to achieve rehabilitation, restriction of the early season fishery is proposed.
Proposals excluding those for the sockeye and pink salmon fisheries June 23 to September 8, are:
• Reduction of salmon net fishing to three days a week effective 6 p.m. Sunday, February 3 for conservation of spring salmon.
• Restriction of salmon net fishing to gillnets with minimum mesh size of %Vi inches prior to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 23.
• Closure of sub-areas 4-4 and 4-
5 to all commercial salmon fishing from 6 p.m. Sunday, April 14 to 6p.m. Sunday, June 23, for conservation of spring salmon.
• Restriction of salmon net fishing to gillnets with maximum mesh size of five and three-eighths inches from' June 23 to mid-August for conservation of springs.
GRENVILLE-PRINCIPE (5)
Sockeye — Cycle year catch 46,000 (1969), 130,000 (1970), 77,000 (five-year average). Cycle year escapement 25,000 (1969), 25,000 (1970), 51,000 (10-year average). Expectations: below average return expected.
Coho — Cycle year catch 67,000 1971), 108,000 (five-year average). Cycle year escapement light (1971). Expectations: A very light return expected.
Pinks — Cycle year catch 1,283,000 (1972), 1,717,000 (even year average). Cycle year escapement 283,000 (1972), 220,000 (even year average). Expectations: An above average return of 900,000 local pinks is anticipated. The 1974 escapement goal is 300,000 fish. In addition, substantial interception of Skeena River pinks is expected in the northern portion of the area.
Chums — Cycle year catch 23,000 (1969), 80,000 (1970), 32,000
(1971) , 77,000 (five-year average). Cycle year escapement 4,000 (1969), 13,000 (1970), 25,000 (1971), 17,000 (five-year average). Expectations: A below average return of chums is anticipated, and the following fishing pattern is proposed:
• Restriction of salmon net fishing to gillnets with a minimum mesh size of 8Vi inches prior to
6 p.m., Sunday, June 23.
• Closure to salmon net fishing, effective 6 p.m. Sunday, June 23, of the waters of Petrel Channel, Markle Pass, Ala Pass, Tuwartz Pass, Union Pass, Grenville Channel and sub-area 5-3 (Principe Channel).
• Effective 6 p.m. Sunday, June 23, reduction of salmon net fishing to three days a week for conservation of sockeye and pink salmon.
• Salmon net fishing for three days week in sub-area 5-3 effective 6 p.m., Sunday, August 18, for conservation of local pink stocks.
• Effective 6 p.m. Sunday, September 1, closure of sub-areas 5-2 and 5-2 to salmon net
fishing until further notice for conservation of pinks.
• Closure of the area to salmon trolling inside the offshore fishing line for a two to three-week period for conservation of coho salmon, effective 6 p.m. Sunday, September 1.
• Effective the same date, closure of the area to salmon net fishing for the balance of the season.
BUTEDALE (6) Sockeye — Cycle year catch 34,000 (1969), 93,000 (1970), 78,000 (10-year average). Cycle year escapement 11,000 (1969), 28,000
(1970) , 43,000 (10-year average). Expectations: a return slightly below average with a light run of age five fish combining with an average return of four-year-old fish.
Coho — Cycle year catch 52,000
(1971) . Cycle year escapement 58,000 (1971), 91,000 (10-year average). Expectations: A return of slightly below average.
Pinks — Cycle year catch 5.5 million (1972)., 2.5 million (10 years, even-year average). Cycle year  escapement one million
(1972) , one million (five years, even-year average). Expectations: A 2.3 million catch is anticipated. Kitimat River egg depositions were severely damaged during early breakup of ice in January 1973, and this will affect early pink runs.
Chums — Cycle year catch 277,000 (1970), 65,000' (1971), 185,000 10-year average). Cycle year escapement 132,000 (1970), 96,000 (1971), 224,000 (10-year average). Expectations: Even though spawning and incubation conditions were excellent, only a light to moderate return is anticipated due to very light seeding.
Springs — Cycle year catch 25,000 total (1969), (Net catch 7,000), 37,000 total (1970), (net catch 22,000), 16,000 10-year average net catch). Cycle year escapement 24,000 (1969), 15,000 (1970), 25,000 (10-year average). Expectations: Average returns of five-year-old fish combining with light returns of four-year-old fish should provide return slightly below normal.
These regulations are proposed:
• Douglas Channel, Gardner Channel, Klekane Inlet, Aaltanhash Inlet, Khutze Inlet, Green Inlet, Laredo Inlet, Racey Inlet and Chappie Inlet will remain closed to all commercial samon fishing, effective 6 p.m. Sunday February 3, until further notice.
• For conservation of immature spring and early sockeye, 8V6 inch minimum mesh size restrictions will be in effect from February 3 to June 30. Salmon net fishing will be allowed four days a week during this period.
• Salmon net fishing will be reduced to three days a week for conservation of sockeye and early pinks, effective 6 p.m. Sunday, June 30.
• Effective 6 p.m. Sunday, July 14, net fishing may be reduced to two days a week for conservation of chums.
• Effective 6 p.m. Sunday, July 21, net fishing will be per-
mitted three days a week to allow exploitation of pink salmon.
• Effective 6 p.m. Sunday, August 18, net fishing will be reduced to two days a week, until further notice, for conservation of chum salmon.
• Effective September!, salmon net fishing will be closed, until further notice, for conservation of chums.
• Effective 6 p.m. Sunday, August 4, the portion of salmon purse seine Area 6 on the west coast of Price Island south of a line drawn true west and east through Luard Shoal Light will be closed to all salmon net fishing until further notice, to permit more precise management of stocks passing through these waters.
• Effective 6p.m., Sunday, June 30, troll fishing will be restricted to the same times as those applied to the net fishery inside the surf line for conservation of coho and pinks.
BELLA BELLA
Sockeye — Cycle year catch 59,000 (1969), 8,600 (1970), 39,000 (10-year average). Cycle year escapement 12,000 light (1969), 6,000 very light (1970), 12,000 (10-year average). Expectations: Return expected to be average.
Coho — Cycle year catch 179,000 (1971), 157,000 (10-year average), 32,000 (net catch 1971), 63,000 (10-year average net). Cycle year escapement 16,000 light to medium (1971), 15,000 (10-year average). Expectations: Average return anticipated, but due to fishing pressure on chums, coho are subject to over-exploitation.
Pinks — Cycle year catch 1,373,000 (1972), 1,043,000 (even year average). Cycle year escapement 270,000 (1972), 456,000 (even year average). Expectations: Early returns expected to be light due to over-exploitation in brood year. Later runs expected to be average.
Chums — Cycle year catch 195,000 (1969), 806,000 (1970), 295,000 (1971), 427,000 (10-year average). Cycle year escapement 200,000 (1969), 373,000 (1970), 273,000 (1971, 265,000 (10-year average). Expectations: Returns should be well above average. These regulations have been proposed:
• Minimum mesh size of 8Vi inches to be in effect from February 3 to June 30 for conservation of early sockeye. Net fishing to be permitted four days a week.
• Effective 6 p.m. Sunday, June 30, large mesh size restriction to be rescinded.
• Effective 6 p.m. Sunday, June 30, net fishing will be two days a week until July 14.
• Effective 6 p.m. Sunday, June 30, until further notice: (a) a triangular boundary will be implemented at Tinkey River from Shingle Rock to Grief Island to a boundary sign on Don Peninsula north of Tinkey River; (b) fishing in Spiller Channel north of a straight line from Grief Island to a fishing boundary sign on Don Peninsula will be restricted to
Concluded on page 11
10/THE FISHERMAN — JANUARY 25, 1974