ABSTRACT 



EXCEPTIONAL DATA are available for the study of the salmon runs of the Columbia 

 River in 1938. Detailed figures on catch were supplied by Oregon and Washington in 

 such form that they could readily be combined with the counts at Bonneville Dam to provide 

 a basis for estimating the escapement. Tables show the catch of each species for each week 

 in each of six zones, and the counts at Bonneville and Rock Island dams. The general 

 course of the run of each species is shown. The numbers of fish bound for the spawning 

 grounds above Rock Island Dam are estimated as follows: Chinook salmon entering Colum- 

 bia River before May 1, 4 percent; during May, 6 percent; June and July, 15 percent; and 

 August to December, 1 percent. Bltieback salmon entering the river during the above 

 periods, 40 percent. Steelhead trout entering the river during June to September, 1 percent; 

 during the rest of the year, 10 percent. Fishing intensities are shown by escapement to 

 catch ratios. Percentages of chinook salmon escapement are less than 15 during May; 17 

 during June and July; and 33 during the remainder of the year. The June and July runs 

 are now greatly depleted, and an important part of these runs spawns above Rock Island 

 Dam. The blueback salmon escapement is about 20 percent, and of steelhead trout about 

 33 percent. Weekly and seasonal closed periods are shown to be almost entirely ineffective 

 for increasing the spawning escapement. Exploitation is further increased by the intensive 

 troll fishery conducted from Monterey Bay to southeastern Alaska. Chinook salmon are 

 also subjected to a sport fishery of considerable importance. Main runs of salmon to the 

 Columbia River are practically unprotected and are fished with destructive intensity. 



II 



