AN EVALUATION OF FYKE TRAPPING AS 



A MEANS OF INDEXING SALMON 



ESCAPEMENTS IN TURBID STREAMS 



by 



Howard D. Tait,* Jerry L. Hout,* and 



Fredrik V. Thorsteinson 



Fishery Research Biologists 



Bureau of Commercial Fisheries 



U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 



Juneau, Alaska 



ABSTRACT 



Test-fishing experiments conducted on the Kenai River in Alaska in 1957, 1958, 

 and 1959 showed that large metal fyke traps were effective for obtaining indices of 

 the escapement of red salmon into turbid streams. The traps also provided informa- 

 tion about the age and size composition and rate of migration of red salmon runs of 

 the Kenai River in those years. 



The traps were evaluated as test-fishing gear by comparing the characteristics 

 of the catch in them with the commercial catch and with the results of test gill netting 

 and seining. Traps were fished at various locations to determine the influence on the 

 catch of water depth and velocity and proximity to shore. The studies revealed that 

 red salmon migrated chiefly along the bank in the turbid water of the Kenai River. 

 This same migration pattern has been observed in clear-water streams. 



The number of red salmon caught in the traps each year was used as an index 

 of the escapement. The data show a significantly lower escapement occurred in 1959 

 than in 1957 and 1958. 



INTRODUCTION 



Increasing fishing pressure and declining 

 salmon runs in the Cook Inlet district in 

 western Alaska have made critical the need 

 for precise estimates of the escapement of 

 red salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka, into Streams 

 of the area. Estimates of the numbers of 

 salmon that spawn are needed to evaluate 



the effectiveness of salmon management regu- 

 lations and to provide a basis for predicting 

 the size of future runs. 



In the research reported In this paper, 

 large metal fyke nets were tested as a tool 

 for obtaining indices of the escapement In 

 extremely turbid streams, which are common 

 to the area. In the course of conducting 



iTait is now the Research Director, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Juneau, Alaska. 

 *Hout is presently taking graduate work at the University of Alaska, College, Alaska. 



