gs/1195/ks ; 07/01/95 12:00 AM ; 10/25/95 12:00 AM

Job no. 1 Ortmann, David W. Salmon and steelhead harvest and escapement studies, south fork of the Salmon River

Job no. 2 Welsh, T., D. Corley, D. Ortmann and T. Holubetz Salmon spawning ground surveys, Salmon River drainage

JOB 1: Chinook salmon harvest studies were not conducted in 1965, due to a closure on all chinook fishing in the study area. The steelhead sport fishery in the South Fork of the Salmon River drainage was curtailed by adverse water conditions throughout most of the fishing period. A harvest of less than 100 steelhead was indicated. A weir was placed in the South Fork of the Salmon River below the major spawning area, and a run of about 2,000 adult chinook was enumerated. More than one-half of the spawning population was 3-year-old male fish . Sex and age composition data were recorded at the weir and related to comparable data collected from redd counts and fish found dead on the spawning grounds. Close agreement was noted between weir and dead fish data. Redds were counted at a rate of 1.5 per female chinook thought to be on the spawning grounds.

JOB 2 (RECOMMENDATIONS): The redd count, age-class composition and sex-ration data, are essential for the effective management of the chinook salmon runs of the Salmon River drainage. The collection of these data should be continued. Indications were that the peak of spawning activity in Bear Valley and Elk Creeks was earlier by about one week in 1965 than in several years previous. Frequent checks should be made prior to the scheduled survey data to determine if the spawning time on each stream is similar to the past years.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal aid to fish restoration F 49-R-4