157 



Stock Statu* 



fall Chinook 



It is presently difficult to accurately assess the marine catch of fall 

 chinook. Numerical stock status information could be greatly enhanced by 

 coded-wire tagging representative groups from Simpson and Humptulips 

 hatcheries. Caution would be necessary in using Simpson fall Chinook as an 

 indicator for wild stocks since Simpson Hatchery fall chinook are a mixture of 

 a number of imported stocks (Stone, WDF, pers. comm. ) . 



Spring Chinook 



Restoration of Wynoochee spring chinook is an important goal of the CBFTF. 

 WDF personnel do not believe any native Wynoochee spring chinook exist (Stone, 

 WDF, pers. comm.). The details of a restoration program depends partly on the 

 present distribution and abundance of any spring chinook (likely Cowlitz 

 stock) returning to the Wynoochee, which has not been systematically assessed. 

 The firBt step required to support restoration is to assess the river's 

 potential to support pre-spawning adults through the summer. Agencies need to 

 know the river entry timing and spawning distribution of any existing spring- 

 summer chinook. This could probably best be done by a systematic snorkeling 

 survey. 



Chun 



Harvest managers are presently using a single, relative index for annual chum 

 escapement estimation. Ascertainment of chum escapement numbers, by system, 

 could greatly enhance chum management (Dick Stone, WDF, pers. comm.). 



Co ho 



Ongoing investigations of Bingham Creek and upper Chehalis smolt production 

 should be continued, as should coded-wire tagging of wild and hatchery coho in 

 the Basin. Evaluation of escapement estimation techniques should continue. 



Winter Steelhead 



Freymond (1989) cited a need for more accurate sport catch reporting 

 throughout the Chehalis Basin. He also encouraged that river of origin be 

 specified in catch reporting for both sport and commercial fisheries. 



SusBer Steelhead 



Return rates of hatchery fish to certain rivers has decreased in recent years, 

 for unknown reasons. If management decides to emphasize this run, it might be 

 advisable to investigate reasons for decline in post-release survival. 



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