TAGGING OF SALMON
-o
Dr. Clemens, director of the
Pacific Biological Station at Na
naimo, stated that tagging in
British Columbia waters com
menced in 1925 when work was
carried on during May and June,
and 1125 fish tagged. Of these
122 tags were returned, and 60
per cent of these returns came
from the Columbia river district.
In 1926 tagging was carried on
from March to September, and
1353 salmon handled. The re
turns amounted to 185, or 13
per cent, and of this amount
again 60 per cent were found in
the Columbia river. During
1927 tagging was continued on
the west coast of Vancouver Is
land. During March and April
54 fish were tagged in the Quat
sine Sound and 518 during May,
June, July and August in other
waters on that coast. Once again
the movements of these fish
were confirmed by the finding of
approximately 60 per cent of the
portion returned in the Colum
bia river area.
These tagging operations were
explained by Dr. Clemens with
charts and statistics of a highly
technical nature. He pointed out
that returns indicated almost
certainly the trend of movement
of salmon of the varied species.
Fish tagged on the west coast of
Vancouver Island, as already
shown, travelled at a ratio of 60
per cent to the Columbia River,
while less than 30 per cent came
through the Straits of Juan de
Fuca to Canadian waters and
Puget Sound.
Tagging of Springs and Cohoes
Tagging of spring salmon at
the north-east end of Vancouver
Island showed a definite run of
springs down the east coast of
the island to the Fraser River;
he also reported a feature of the
tagging of cohoe salmon had
been the fact that no returns
pa me h) later that? year of tag
ging with the exception of one
fish. The cohoes thus tagged
were all in the beginning of their
,s#cond year, and far as could be
ascertained from reports sent in
with tags the fish in general had
increased weight when caught.
Dr. Clemens regretted that fish
ermen frequently neglected to
give weight of tagged fish which
they reported. He estimated
from reports that the fish had
gained over one pound per
month.
During this past season exper
iments were tried out at the
mouth of the Fraser River to
find what river system was visit
ed. The live fish were caught in
well of boat from traps at Point
Roberts up the Fraser River and
liberated at points between the
mouth of the river and Mission.
Out of 462 fish tagged and re
leased in the river 61 were re
turned by fishermen. Reports of
the vicinity in which these were
caught reveal the fact that the
fish seem to mill to and fro
around the mouth of the Fraser
Compliments B. C. Work
Representatives from Wash
ington, Oregon and California,
reported on tagging work, ad
mitting that they had achieved
little owing to lack of coopera
tion and organization. A. S. Ein
amsen assistant superintendent
"f state hatcheries for Washing
ington, said that work done in
British Columbia waters was so
complete and well organized that
his department had decided for
the present to accept the finding
there owing to the similarity of
conditions.—Canadian Fisher
man.
. .Rebellion to tyrants is obedi
ence to God.—Dr. Franklin.
’Tis a wise saying, Drive on
your own track.—Plutarch.
What is not good for the
swarm is not good for the bee.—
Rf^peiis Aurelius,
SUBSIDIES FOR BOATS AND
AND EQUIPMENT
The fishing indust :r or Quebec
Province will be given material
encouragement through an ap
propriation of $185,000 which
the Provincial Government has
voted for the development of its
fisheries.
A form of subsidy was institut
ed for the purpose of helping
the fishermen to equip them
selves with new boats. This al
lowance was made on “length of
keel” basis. A still more com
prehensive form of assistance
has just been granted which will
allow the fishermen to refit and
improve the boats they alrc idy
have.
Under the terms of the .new
grant, every fisherman who
equips his boat or vessel with
new rigging, which includes s lils
motors and other accessories, is
entitled to a subsidy of 25 per
of the cost. The maximum al
lowance which a fisherman can
obtain from the Government is
limited to $100. Should the new
equipment run to $500. the max
imum grant of $100 will be made.
No grant will be made for re
pairs to old rigging.
Through this assistance, it is
expected that many boats v "I
be fitted vdth new engines and a
brisk demand for new equip
ment is foveasted.
Assistance is also being given
in establishing modern plants
for the production of high-grade
cod liver oil and fish meal bv
awarding grants for the pur
chase of the necessary equip
ment.
The encouragement of the
Quebec Government will un
doubtedly result in a consider
able impc' us being given to the
fishery industries of the province
which employs over 12,000 men.
The annual value of Quebec’s
fish production is around $3,000,
000,000.—; arcadian Fisherman