94 



Humptulips River System . Humptulips runs have averaged about 1,700 hatchery 

 fish over the last three years and 4,600 wild fish over the last four. The 

 winter steelhead run appears to be in good condition, insofar as the wild 

 escapement goal has been consistently exceeded (Table 5; Figure 13). 



Hatchery programs have made up less of the run since 1985, due to quarantines 

 of Lake Quinault and Quinault National Fish Hatchery stocks (Paul Huffman, 

 Quinault Nation, pera. conn.). Hatchery contributions are expected to return 

 to prior levels because of better hatchery techniques, use of conditioning 

 ponds, and development of local Humptulips brood (Paul Huffman, Quinault 

 Nation, pers. comm. ) . 



«■■— r Run 



Skamania-stock summer steelhead were 

 introduced as a hatchery run in 1979 

 (Paulsen, pers. comm.). Runs have 

 averaged about 700 adults over the 

 last three years (Table 5), and have 

 supported sport fisheries primarily 

 on the Wynoochee and HumptulipB, but 

 to a lesser degree on the main stem 

 Chehalis and Satsop rivers (Figure 

 14). The Wynoochee and Satsop catch 

 has declined since the early 1980s, 

 for unknown reasons (Paulsen, WDW, 

 pers. comm.), and a decline on the 

 Humptulips is due to shortage of 

 brood stock at the Aberdeen Hatchery. 



Figure 14. Chehilu EUnn maimer run Redhead. 



Current Total Run Sise and Historical Levels 



The GrayB Harbor non-Indian gillnet catch was at its highest during the 1894- 

 1903 period, and declined from that period to 1935. This suggests that 

 fishing pressure may have reached maximum efficiency. before catch reporting 

 began in 1894; thus, the base period estimate may be weaker than for salmon 

 and may underestimate run size. For simplicity, summer steelhead were not 

 included since they contribute a relatively small number of fish to the 

 Chehalis Basin catch. Marine catch is negligible. 



The average current wild steelhead run size is about 17,000 fish while the 

 historic run size is estimated to have been about 20,000 (Table 13). Hatchery 

 run size is currently about 7,000 (Table S). While the Chehalis Basin wild 

 winter steelhead population may be somewhat less than what it was 

 historically, it falls into the same order of magnitude as that reconstructed 

 from historical catch data (Table 13). This should be interpreted as a base 

 level of natural production, to be reinforced by assuring optimum wild 

 escapement through full utilization of all available habitat and refinements 

 in fishery management. Any additional hatchery programs should be considered 

 additional, rather than replacement, production. 



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