PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES, 1934 359 



PACIFIC COAST AND ALASKA FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS 



The major salmon and herrinp^ investigations have been continued 

 through 1934 with some restrictions and limitations as to territory 

 covered. Dui-ing the year three new investigations were established; 

 namely, the Cohnnbia River sahnon investigation, the Washington 

 c'oho salmon investigation, and a detailed statistical study of the 

 <'atches of all species of salmon from 1897 to 1933 in Puget Sound, 

 the Fraser River, and Swiftsui'e Bank. The most severe limitation of 

 activity has occurred in Alaska where the investigations have been 

 confined mainly to the sj)ecies of most economic imjjortance; namely, 

 the red salmon and the pink salmon. 



COLUMBIA RIVER SALMON IN^'ESTIGATION 



In July 1934. the Division of Scientific Inquiry was allotted the 

 sum of $25,000 annually during a 10-year period for scientific studies 

 and experiments relative to the salmon fisheries of the Columbia 

 River. J. A. Craig, formerly engaged in a study of these fisheries, 

 was placed in charge of the investigation. Mr. Craig is being assisted 

 by A. J. Suomela, who has also had exi)erience on the Cohmibia River. 



The object of this investigation is to })rovide information and 

 recommendations which will point the way to the conservation of 

 these im]:)ortant fisheries and provide foi- their productivity in the 

 future. With this purpose in mind, a comprehensive program for the 

 investigation has been prepared. 



The development of the lands in the Columbia River Basin has 

 been attended with many activities, such as the construction of dams 

 and irrigation diversions and the introduction of sources of pollution, 

 which, coupled with the intensive commercial fishery, have placed a 

 great strain on the salmon j^opulations of this river. In order to 

 obtain some measure of the efi'ect of this strain on the abundance of 

 these populations it is necessary to conduct a detailed analysis, on the 

 basis of catch return per unit of fishing time and effort, of the catch 

 statistics of the salmon fisheries. It is known that the " run " of 

 blueback and chinook salmon into the Columbia River is composed of 

 a great number of races, each spawning in different tributaries and 

 having fairly definite times for entering the connnercial catch. The 

 statistical study should yield information regarding the status of 

 these separate races, as well as that of the composite runs of these two 

 species. The statistical analysis, therefore, becomes one of the most 

 fundamental and important parts of the present program of investi- 

 gation. 



In order to secure exact information on (1) the location and extent 

 of the spawning areas now available to the salmon, (2) the location 

 and extent of the spawning areas which have been destroyed and the 

 causes of their destruction, and (3) the general status of' the salmon 

 populations spawning in the Columbia River at the i)resent time, a 

 program of stream surveys has been undertaken. Field parties have 

 been sent out to cover the entire Columbia River system as rapidly as 

 possible in order to determine the above-mentioned facts. It is hoped 

 to discover the present condition of these s})awiiing areas and to 

 bring out facts which will lead to their improvement and rehabilita- 



