. 566_ 



STATE OF WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES - EXHIBIT F 



Belllngham Bay 



The Nooksack River and Samlsh River runs 

 of Chinook still appear to be responding quite well to 

 hatchery plants, with the I967 run expected to be 3-6,000 

 fish larger than the I966 run. This should result in 

 a catch of about 26,000 chinook or about 4,000 above the 

 record catch of 22,000 attained in 1966. 



From the relationship derived from hatchery 

 plants and returns for the Nooksack - Samish systems 

 (Figure 6), it appears that the run of chinook in this 

 area during August and September is being sustained by 

 hatchery plants. Timing of the I966 catch from Bellingham 

 and Samish Bays, as illustrated in Figure 7, was normal. 



Since eggs for the Puget Sound hatchery 

 system are supplied on a pool basis and no chinook eggs 

 will be taken at Samish in 1967, there is little liklihood 

 that future production will be seriously harmed by increased 

 fishing pressure. The original hatchery stock for this 

 area came from the Green River Hatchery, and the hatcheries 

 at the Samish and Nooksack Rivers will be supplied from 

 this source in 1967, as they were in 19^5 and I966. 



For these reasons, it is proposed that Belling - 

 ham Bay (Areas 3 and 7) be opened 5 days per week from July 

 30 to September 9, and 4 days per week thereafter. This 



