274 REPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Of the young of the sockeye little could be learned, and nothing of 

 special interest. After hatching they are said to remain in the several 

 tributaries until about June of tlie following year, A few grilse are 

 reported to be taken occasionally in the river as well as in the salt 

 water, but some question must attach to the identification of the speci- 

 mens thus captured until they have been critically examined. 



The initial steps toward the propagation of the sockeye on the Skagit 

 Eiver have been described iu connection with that river, while the 

 question as to what benefits may have been derived from the hatching 

 on the Frazer Eiver Is discussed under the heading of periodicity, 

 which follows. 



PERIODICITY IN ABUNDANCE. 



A periodicity in the abundance of the sockeye in alternating cycles 

 of four years' duration has been recognized in this region ever since 

 the first settlements were made upon the headwaters of the Eraser 

 Eiver by the Northwest Company in 1806. The species has been 

 shown to attain its maximum abundance in every fourth year. The 

 next season's run, while inferior, is expected also to be a good one, but 

 those of the two following years should be relatively small. There is no 

 question but that this fluctuation has occurred and that the sequence 

 has been in accordance with the explanation given, but no standard 

 can be fixed for measuring the extent of the variation. The differences, 

 however, have been suiSciently great and regular not only to attract 

 attention, but also markedly to affect the fishery and the canning 

 industry. The canners have been enabled to anticipate in large meas- 

 ure the conditions of each approaching season, and to plan accordingly, 

 thus regulating the extent of their preparations. 



The statistics of the fishery alone do not furnish a suitable basis for 

 determining either the occurrence or the regularity of this periodic 

 variation, owing to the fact that the extent of the catch has often been 

 influenced by the state of the market or the depression of trade. Thus, 

 in the good years packers may have been led to greatly reduce their 

 output, causing a shortage in the catch, while in poor years an active 

 demand may have induced the fishermen to largely increase their 

 operations. From information given in the official Canadian reports it 

 has been possible to supplement the statistics by evidence as to whether 

 the fish were actually abundant or scarce in any year, irrespective of 

 the amounts captured in the nets, and while fine distinctions can not 

 be drawn from this source the data seem to be sufficient to test approx- 

 imately the correctness of the alleged periodic changes. 



These facts have been brought out in the following table, in which 

 the anticipated and actual conditions are shown for each year from 

 1877 to 1898. For reasons already explained it has been impossible to 

 use other than very general terms to express these conditions, but they 

 will undoubtedly serve the purpose here desired. The recurring cycles 

 are indicated by the numbers in the second column, number one in each 

 cycle standing for the year of maximum abundance. 



