Chatham Project 

 At the present time the Pacific Biological Station is making an 

 intensive investigation of the sock-eye salmon fishery associated with 

 the Nass and Skeena Rivers. These are large rivers (2,500 to 250,000 

 cubic feet per second discharge) entering the inland seaway (Chatham 

 Somid) near the boundary between British Columbia and south-eastern 

 Alaska. A proportion of the salmon fishery occurs in Chatham Sound 

 be3?ond the geographic limits of either river. An intelligent study of 

 the fishery in the sound requires a knowledge of the influence and varia- 

 tions of the river in that area. The oceanographic problem is to determine 

 the course and influence of these two rivers in the region, from the time 

 of maximum river discharge (May) to the minimum (September) and 

 the variations introduced by the prevailing winds and tidal cycle. 



The field investigation has continued from 10th May to 10th 

 September, and a preliminary report is in preparation. 



Lighthouse Project 

 A programme of daily observations of the sea-water temperatures and 

 salinities was initiated on the Pacific coast of Canada in 1917 with one 

 station. This has been increased at intervals, until the present total of 

 eleven stations was reached in 1939. Most of the observations are made 

 from coastal lighthouses, which explains the project designation. 



The seasons are shown in the temperature data, and the integral 

 effects of land drainage are shown in the salinity records. The small 

 fluctuations are attributed to wind effects, since off-shore winds cause 

 upwelling and a consequent decrease in temperature and increase in 

 salinity. On-shore winds have the converse effect. The duration of any 

 combination of conditions is indicated by corresponding steady states 

 in the records. 



Oceanographic surveys are tedious' and costly undertakings which 

 cannot be repeated indefinitely, and from which the conclusions usually 

 are not available before the observed situation has passed. However, 

 it may be assumed in most cases that the oceanographic state is deter- 

 mined by the season, weather, tide, and runoff whose integral effect is 

 reflected in the conditions at one point in the region. Therefore oceano- 

 graphic surveys are usuaUy undertaken to observe type states in terms 

 of the controlling factors, and the conclusions related to the appropriate 

 lighthouse observations. This allows the recurrence of the observed state 

 to be recognized from these data alone — that is, the lighthouse data 

 serve to identify the conditions under which occasional oceanographic 

 observations are made, their duration, and frequency of repetition. 

 The daily observations provide a complete calendar of events in the 

 coastal ocean and seaways, by which present data may be made applicable 

 to the past and future. 



It is the purpose of this investigation to accumulate these records as 

 reference data for all other investigations in the Canadian coastal seas, 

 to determine their significance as submarine climatological indices, to 

 determine their relations, if any, with the success of coast fisheries, to 

 evaluate annual cycles and trends, and geographical differences. Their 

 use has been somewhat delayed by the War, but this process of examina- 

 tion is begun, an8 studies based on the data may be anticipated. 



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