PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES 



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million pounds--144 percent more than in 1969; in Oregon, it was 13.1 million pounds — an in- 

 crease of 165 percent. Biologists attributed abundance of the fish to the excellent results achieved 

 by intensive hatchery programs carried out in both States. A cooperative effort by industry. State, 

 and Federal agencies has improved the water quality of Oregon's Willamette River — a stream once 

 too polluted to sustain fish life . The installation of modern fishways at the industrial complex at 

 Willamette Falls will further aid salmon migrations. In 1970, scientists observed the salmon mi- 

 grations by means of a television camera and video tapes — a method developed by NMFS engi- 

 neers . They reported that the spawning run of silver and fall Chinook salmon had exceeded all re- 

 cent migrations . 



California landings of chinook and silver salmon were 6.6 million pounds worth $5.1mll- 

 lion--a gain of 7 percent in volume and 33 percent in value compared with 1969. 



The total pack of canned salmon was 3,822,200 standard cases worth a record $138 .7 mil- 

 lion — an increase of 1,271,300 cases and $48.4 million compared with 1969. It was the largest 

 pack since 1966 . Most of the gain was in Alaska where the pack of 1 , 705 , 500 cases of red sal- 

 mon was nearly 1 million cases more than in 1969. The pack of pink salmon in Alaska (1 , 328, 500 

 cases) also increased sharply compared with the previous year. Alaska accounted for 93 percent 

 of the canned pack of salmon and 90 percent of its value. 



Tuna . Landings of 378.4 million pounds worth $71.5 million were 63.3 million pounds and $19.2 

 million more than in 1969. The harvest was second only to the record 389.9 million pounds taken 

 In 1950. A marked increase in landings of skipjack tuna (up 67 percent) and slighter increases in 

 albacore (up 17 percent) and yellowfin tuna (up 15 percent) accounted largely for the gain. Blue- 

 fin tuna landings declined sharply compared with 1969. 



Albacore landings of 56.1 million pounds were 8.0 million more than in 1969. The harvest 

 was the third largest on record — exceeded only by the 72.5 million pounds taken in 1950 and the 

 60.8 million taken in 1963. Most of the albacore remained in northern California waters from 

 July to early November. The resulting California production of 29.9 million pounds was twice 

 that of the previous year . The albacore runs in the Pacific Northwest were rather erratic, and fish- 

 ing was often hampered by strong northwesterly winds and rough seas . Few fish were taken in Au- 

 gust (usually the best month), but exceptionally good fishing in September partly compensated for 

 the disappointing August production. In Washington, albacore landings of 4.4 million pounds in- 

 creased 829,000 pounds; but in Oregon, landings of 21.8 million declinedS.O million pounds com- 

 pared with 1969. The average price per pound increased from 22 cents in 1969 to nearly 27 cents 

 in 1970. 



Bluefin tuna landings of 8.7 million pounds worth $1.6 million declined 43 percent in vol- 

 ume and 34 percent in value compared with 1969. It was the smallest production since 1952. The 

 average price per pound was 18 cents — almost 3 cents more than in 1969. In early July, fishermen 

 made fair catches of bluefin tuna off the coast of Baja California. The fishery developed quickly 

 in all areas, and by early August fishermen had taken a substantial part of the total bluefin har- 

 vest. Beginning in late August, two U.S. vessels based in Puerto Rico fished for bluefin tuna off 

 the east coast of the United States . They returned to Puerto Rico in late September with about 

 1,500 tons of mixed bluefin and skipjack tuna. 



Skipjack tuna landings of 76 .9 million pounds worth $12.1 million were 30 .9 million pounds 

 and $6.0 million more than in 1969. The average price per pound was 16 cents--compared with 

 13 cents in 1969. The skipjack fishery was generally slow until June and July when most of the 

 landings were made. Early in October, however, excellent catches of skipjack were taken off the 

 coast of Baja California. Several vessels made trips of 1 1 to 20 days with almost full loads of 

 skipjack tuna . 



