8 THE FRASER RIVER SALMON SITUATION. 



of 1897-1900 that the first serious damage was done to the sockeye run 

 of the Fraser River. By doubling the pack of the three small years, 

 not only was the surplus fully taken, but the necessary spawning 

 reserve was seriously encroached on, with the result that in the small 

 years of the following cycle (1902, 1903, and 1904), in spite of the 

 increased amount of gear employed, the pack was cut in half, while 

 the spawning-beds at the same time were but sparsely seeded. 



" The inevitable and disastrous trend of events should have been 

 evident to the dullest. But the parties in interest refused to hold 

 their hands and proceeded with the slaughter of the spawning remnant. 

 The result was quickly apparent. In 1902, 1903, and 1904 the total 

 sockeye-pack of the Fraser (river system) was cut to 1,200,000 cases, 

 and in succeeding years it has suffered still further reduction. The 

 pack of the three small years never again equalled 1,000,000 cases. 

 In 1906-8 it was 750,000 cases, 1910-12, 880,000 cases; in 1914-16, 

 796,000. And with each year the amount of gear employed has 

 increased by leaps and bounds. The small years of the present cycle 

 may be expected to register a smaller total than any which have gone 

 before." 



The total catch of sockeye in the Fraser River system in the past 

 two small years of the present cycle demonstrates the correctness of 

 Dr. Gilbert's forecast. The catch of 1918 produced a pack of but 

 70,420 cases, as against 534,434 cases in the preceding fourth year; 

 and the catch in 1919 gave a pack of but 84,063 cases, as against 

 155,714 cases in 1915. 



The evidence of the decline in the runs of sockeye in the Fraser 

 River system is overwhelming. The runs in all years have already 

 become so depleted that it is evident that under existing conditions 

 the sockeye will be exterminated within a short period. 



(6.) The Fraser River basin has an area of 90,903 square miles. 

 It contains sixteen great lakes that have a total area of 2,351 square 

 miles. No other river on the Pacific Coast drains so extensive an 

 area of lake water adapted to the propagation and rearing of sockeye. 

 In the past it has produced greater runs of sockeye than any other 

 river because this great spawning area was abundantly seeded every 

 fourth year. It has been shown that sockeye spawn in streams 

 tributary to lakes and on the shoals of lakes, and that their young 

 remain in the lake-waters for a year or more after hatching and then 

 migrate to the sea. Knowing that the sockeye were bred in the water- 

 shed of the Fraser, we therefore know that the great runs of sockeye 



