- 4 . . Cc9dwtMu2q - Reca[ '- - - - -; of AT ' - - "c Saln - - Tagged I and Released in the Bay of Fundy near , I I the Saint John River, New Brunswick,

, Freshwater and Anadromous Division Fisheries Research Branch

I .Department of Fisheries and Oceans Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2S7

. t

i J

December, 1983

Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheriesand Aqi - -" Sciences f I -. 1737

~anadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences No- 1737

December, 1983

RECAPTURES OF ATLANTIC SALMON TAGGED AND RELEASED IN THE BAY OF FUNDY

NEAR THE SAINT JOHN RIVER, NEW BRUNSWICK, 1970-73

G-HI Penney

Freshwater and Anadromous Division Fisheries Research Branch

Department of Fisheries and Oceans Halifax, Nova Scotia

B3J 2S7

@ Minister of Supply and Services Canada, 1983 Cat No. Fs 97-4/1737 ISSN 0706-6473

iii

CONTENTS

L I S T O F ILLUSTRATIONS V

ABSTRACT/R$SUM$. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v i i

INTRODUCTION. a a

METHODS AND MATERIALS a . ~ i s h i n g / ~ a g g i n g Efforts a n d N e t s U s e d . . . . . . . . . . . Methods of T a g g i n g . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Recapture F a c i l i t i e s and Dates of Operation. . . . . . . .

R E S U L T S ~ ~ m ~ m ~ ~ m m m ~ m ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ m ~ ~ ~ ~ F i s h i n g P e r i o d s , C a t c h e s a n d T a g g e d Releases . . . . . . . R e c a p t u r e s of T a g g e d F i s h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T i m i n g f r o m T a g g i n g to Recapture . . . . . . . . . . . . .

DISCUSSION. . . - - - ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 9 9 9

REFERENCES. t

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE 1. Summary of numbers and s i z e s o f d r i f t n e t s used e a c h y e a r , 1 9 7 0 - 7 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

TABLE 2. Yearly (1970-73) f i sh ing periods, catches, m o r t a l i t i e s and numbers o f f i s h tagged and released. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

TABLE 3. Yearly (1970-73) catches of salmon and g r i l s e i n 5 4 a y i n t e r v a l s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

TABLE 4. N u m b e r s o f salmon and g r i l s e recaptured i n each year (1970-73) o f tagging. . . . . . . . . .

TABLE 5. Numbers o f commercial and angling recaptures of salmon by f i s h e r i e s s t a t i s t i c a l d i s t r i c t s i n each year (1970-73) of tagging . . . . . . . . . 4

TABLE 6. Days from tagging to recapture o f wild salmon a t Long Reach, Nashwaak River and Mactaquac . -

FIG. 1 0

FIG. 20

FIG. 30

FIG. 50

FIG. 6 .

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Bay of Fundy and Sa in t John River system, showing d r i f t - n e t tagging a rea and t a g recapture loca t ions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Days from tagging t o recapture of wild salmon before and a f t e r September 1 a t Long Reach i n 1972. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Days from tagging t o recapture of wild salmon before and a f t e r September 1 a t Long Reach i n 1973. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Days from tagging t o recapture of wild salmon before and a f t e r September 1 i n theNashwaakRive r in1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Days from tagging t o recapture of wild salmon before and a f t e r September 1 a t M a c t a q u a c i n 1 9 7 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Days from tagging t o recapture of wild salmon before and a f t e r September 1 a t Mactaquac i n 1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2

vii

ABSTRACT

Penney, G.H. 1983. Recaptures of Atlantic salmon tagged and released in the Bay of Fundy near the Saint John River, New Brunswick, 1970-73. Can. MS Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. No. 1737. vii + 12 p.

Drift-net fishing in the Bay of Fundy near the Saint John River, New Brunswick, resulted in the tagging and release of 1,897 wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) between May 30 and August 7, 1970-73. In total, 876 (46.2%) were recaptured. Only three of the tagged salmon were reported captured commercially outside the Saint John River area during the years they were tagged. In 1973, 69.9% of the total recaptures at the Nashwaak River fence were taken on or after September 1. The average time interval from release to recapture ofthese fish was 90.0 days.

Key words: Atlantic salmon, tagging, tag recovery, time interval, Bay of Fundy. Saint John River, drift net fishing, counting fence, angling recoveries, commercial fishing recoveries.

Penney, G.H. 1983. Fkcaptures of Atlantic salmon tagged and released in the Bay of Fundy near the Saint John River, New Brunswick, 1970-73. Can. MS Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. No. 1737. vii + 12 p.

Entre le 30 mai et le 7 aoet 1970-73, 1 897 saumons atlantiques ( Salmo salar ) sauvages capturks dans la p8cherie aux filets maillants dans la baie de Fundy. prhs de Saint-Jean, au Nouveau-Brunswick, ont 6th marques et remis en libertb. En tout, 876 poissons ont 8tC recapturbs (46.2%). Seulement trois des saumons maruqbs ont 6th recaptures par des engins commerciaux hors de la zone de la rivihre Saint-Jean dans l'annbe du marquage. En 1973, 69,9% des recaptures totales au barrage de comptage de la riviare Nashwaak ont eu lieu le ou aprhs le ler septembre. L'intervalle de temps moyen entre le marquage et la recapture de ces poissons a 6th de 90,O jours.

INTRODUCTION

During t h e years 1970-73, t h e F i she r ies Research Branch, through a charter-boat arrangement, dr i f t -net ted , tagged and released 1-SW ( g r i l s e ) and 2-SW and o lde r f i s h (salmon) i n t h e Bay of Fundy within a 16-Ian radius of t h e mouth o f t h e Saint John EIarbour (Fig. 1 ) . The tagging program was designed t o provide da ta on t h e i r d i s t r i b u t i o n i n t h e Bay o f Pundy area, on cotmaercial and angling exploita- t i o n r a t e s and on migration times t o various locat ions within t h e Sa in t John River system.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

FISHIBG/TAGGIBG EFFORT AND NETS USED

Drift-net f i sh ing was done under con t rac t by two experienced fishermen operating o u t of U r n e v i l l e (Fig. 1). They provided a 9.6- boat, t h e i r f i sh ing s k r l l s and ass is tance i n handling and tagging f i s h . Bett ing and tagging w a s generally c a r r i e d o u t i n June and Ju ly f o r 8-12 hours a day, Monday t o Friday, ceasing only when wind v e l o c i t i e s exceeded 24 lau/hr. In both 1970 and 1971, a col~mercial salmon d r i f t - n e t f i she ry operated on 2-SW and o lde r f i s h i n t h e tagging and re lease area.

Individual n e t s used during t h e 1970-73 period were provided by t h e Department o f Fisher ies and Oceans and var ied i n s i t e (stretched-mesh measure) from 114 t o 165 mm (4.5-6.5 in . ) . The 114-mmmeshwas used t o capture 1-SW f i s h , while mesh sites fram 152 t o 165 mm were used t o capture 2-SW and o lde r f i s h . Bets ranged i n length fram 70 t o 150 fathoms each (420-900 f e e t ) and were a standard 25 meshes deep. Different cam- binat ions of n e t s i z e s were joined and placed on a pawer-drun located on t h e s t e r n of t h e boat (Table 1). A "gang" of from 5 t o 9 individuals g i l l n e t s , ranging i n t o t a l length from 550 t o 1,200 fathoms (3,300- 7,200 f e e t ) , was released over t h e s t e r n o f t h e boat and d r i f t e d nor theas ter ly on a flood t i d e and southwesterly on an ebb t i d e .

METHODS OF TAGGING

Nets were constant ly pat rol led . When a f i s h was sighted, it was re t r i eved by using a gaff t o l i f t t h e n e t sect ion i n which t h e f i s h w a s entangled i n t o t h e boat. Fish were quickly removed from t h e n e t and placed i n an on-board 2 25-1 i t r e ( 50-gallon) recovery tank containing continuously c i rcula ted f r e s h sea water. After recovering from t h e e f f e c t s o f net t ing, f i s h t h a t were deemed t o be i n a s u i t a b l e condit ion were tagged. Both tagged and untagged (weak and unsuitable) f i s h were released a t a d i s t ance from t h e n e t s which would minimize t h e p robab i l i ty of inmediate recapture.

Fish were categorized a s salmon o r g r i l s e of e i t h e r wild o r hatchery or ig in . Wild f i s h were those that or ig inated from na tu ra l spawning and hatchery f i s h were re tu rns from hatchery smolt re leases . Hatchery re tu rns were i d e n t i f i e d by t h e i r absence o f an adipose f i n o r o the r iden t i f i ca t ion marks applied before being released a s smolts from t h e hatchery.

For appl ica t ion of tags , f i s h were removed from the recovery tank and placed i n a water-fi l led plywood box, f i t t e d with a rubber head s h i e l d t o calm t h e f i s h . The tagging box was 122 x 31 x 23 c m (48 x 12.2 x 9 in . ) and was divided lengthwise by a p a r t i t i o n supporting a metre-stick used i n measuring f i s h length. Fish were placed between t h e p a r t i t i o n and one s i d e o f t h e box t o prevent excessive movement while being tagged. In 1970, e i t h e r white o r y e l l w , modified Car l in t a g s (30 x 10 arm) were used: i n 1971, yellow, Flay, T-bar, tube-type t ags (75 mm long) were used. The tube was at tached t o a p iece o f p l a s t i c with a T-shaped end which secured t h e t a g when in jec ted i n t o t h e f i s h with a tagging gun. Tags used i n 1972 and i n 1973 were modified Car l in t a g s 5 x 15 mm and b lue i n color. Carl in t ags were at tached to t h e f i s h with s t a i n l e s s s t e e l w i r e . A l l t a g s were at tached t o t h e f i s h a t t h e base of t h e dorsa l f i n and were marked with a serial number and t h e Department's r e tu rn address. To encourage cooperation from fishermen, a $3.00 reward was paid f o r each t a g returned.

TABLE 1. Sumaary of nrrmbers and s i z e s o f d r i f t n e t s used each year, 1970-73.

N e t spec i f i ca t ions

Length ( fa thaus) of individual n e t s 150 100-150 70-90 70-90

Mesh sites (arm)

Salmon Gr i l se

N u m b e r of ne t s i n "gang"

Length (fathams) of "gang"

Percent of "ganq" consis t ing o f 114-mm mesh 0 16% J u l 5-13 16% 12% 35% J u l 14-26 J u l 1-27 Jun 16-Aug 7

RECAPTURE FACILITIES AND DATES OF OPERATION

Sources of tag-return information included t h e Bay of Fundy and Sa in t John River commercial fishermen, anglers and Fisher ies Research Branch salmon-trapping f a c i l i t i e s . Fisher ies Research Branch f a c i l i t i e s were located (Fig. 1) i n Big Salmon River (Fishery S t a t i s t i c a l D i s t r i c t 48)r t h e Saint John River a t &ng Reach ( D i s t r i c t 55) , Salmon River ( D i s t r i c t 56), Nashwaak River ( D i s t r i c t 58) and a t Mactaquac Dam ( D i s t r i c t 58).

The normal cosmpercial season extended from May 15 t o August 15, Monday through R i d a y inclusive. However, i n both 1970 and 1971, the re was a two-week closure i n June. Angling recoveries during each of t h e years 1970-73 could occur between May 15 and October 15. During t h e tagging program, Fisher ies Research Branch salmon-trapping f a c i l i t i e s on t h e Big Salmon River operated from mid- o r l a t e May t o about t h e end of October. Trapping f a c i l i t i e s a t two locations i n Long Reach operated i n 1970 and 1971 a s commercial stands from May 15 t o August 15 and a s government t r a p s from August 16 t o t h e end of October. In 1972 and 1973, t h e Long Reach t r a p s f ished from mid-May o r e a r l y June t o e a r l y i n November. The Salmon River ( D i s t r i c t 56) counting t r a p operated only from August 29 t o November 9, 1970. The 2bshwaak Ftiver counting t r a p operated between August 18 and October 29, 1972, and from June 13 t o November 5, 1973. Mactaquac salmon-trapping f a c i l i t i e s w e r e i n operation each year during 1970-73 from about mid-May t o mid-bkvember. Fisheries Research Branch trapping and re lease f a c i l i t i e s usual ly operated seven days per week.

RESULTS

FISHING PERIODS, CATCHES AND TAGGED RELEASES

Yearly ( 1970-73) f i sh ing periods, catches of salmon and g r i l s e , f i sh ing mor ta l i t i e s and numbers o f f i s h tagged and released a r e summarized i n Table 2. Fishing was generally ca r r i ed ou t during June and July. Catches o f salmon averaged 521 each year f o r t h e 1970-73 period and varied from 217 t o 707. Grilse catches were subs tan t i a l ly lower, averaging only 52 each year f o r t h e 1971-73 period. None o f t h e ne t s used i n 1970 were of mesh s i z e normally used t o catch g r i l s e and only 12%- 35% of t h e n e t *gangsm consisted of g r i l s e mesh i n 1971-73 (Table 1 ) . Catches o f salmon and g r i l s e i n 5-day i n t e r v a l s a r e l i s t e d i n Table 3. Salmon catches began i n l a t e May o r e a r l y June and tapered o f f i n l a t e Ju ly o r e a r l y August. G r i l s e catches, however, occurred mostly i n July. Fishing mor ta l i t i e s (Table 2) averaged 6.7% o f t h e salmon and 7.0% of t h e g r i l s e catch. Numbers of tagged salmon and g r i l s e released i n a year ranged from 210 t o 662 f o r t h e former and from 23 t o 69 f o r t h e l a t t e r . Adult r e tu rns of hatchery o r i g i n represented only 3.2% of t h e tagged salmon and 3.5% of t h e tagged g r i l s e released during t h e 1971-73 period.

RECAPTURES OF TAGGED FISH

Recaptures of tagged f i s h by d i f f e r e n t methods and a t various locations f o r each year (1970-73) a r e summarized i n Table 4. Recaptures include only those f i s h recovered up t o December 31 i n t h e year o f

TABLE 2. Yearly (1970-73) f ishing periods, catches, mor ta l i t i e s and numbers of f i s h tagged and released.

Fishing period

Number untagged f i s h caught Salmon G r i l s e

Fishing mor ta l i t i e s Number of salmon Percent of t o t a l caught

N u m b e r of g r i l s e Percent of t o t a l caught

Number of f i s h tagged and released Salmon- G r i l s e

Jun 1-Jul 29 Jun 1-Jul 26 May 30-Jul 27 May 31-Aug 7

Includes 1, 11 and 36 hatchery salmon, 1971-73, respectively. Includes 2, 1 and 2 hatchery g r i l s e , 1971-73, respectively.

TABLE 3. Yearly (1970-73) catches of salmon and grilse in 5-day intervals.

Salmon Grilse Period 1970 19 71 197 2 19 /$ 19 /O 19 71 19/ 2 197 3

May 30-Jun 3 Jun 4-8 Jun 9-13 Jun 14-18 Jun 19-23 Jun 24-28 Jun 29-Jul 3 Jul 4-8 Jul 9-13 Jul 14-18 Jul 19-23 Jul 24-28 Jul 29-Aug 2 Aug 3-7

Totals

TABLE 4. bllmnbers of salmon and grilse recaptured in each year (1970-73) of tagging.

Grilse 19 70 19 71 19 72 19 73

Method and location

Commercial f rsherres

Angling fisheries

Fisheries Research Branch traps:

Big Salmon River Long Reach Salmon River Nashwaak River Mactaquac

Miscellaneous

Total recaptures

Percent of total tagged h released 56.9 47.1 41. 5 42.0

Found dead (District 58). Includes 6 and 10 hatchery salmon in 1972 and 1973, respectively. Includes 1 and 1 hatchery grilse in 1971 and 1972, respectively.

taggfng. Fish recovered colamercially or by anglrng are excluded from Fisheries Research Branch trap totals even though they may have been previously recaptured in these traps. Fish recaptured in the Long Reach traps and subsequently recaptured in upstream traps are included only in the totals for the farthest upstream recapture location to avoid double-counting.

Prior to the closure of the commercial salmon fishery in 1972, coamrercially caught tag returns in 1970 and in 1971 accounted for 73.2% and 63.6%, respectively, of the total salmon recaptures. In the absence of commercial salmon fishing, Fisheries Research Branch traps in 1972 and in 1973 accounted for 94.6% and 95.08, respectively, of total salmon recaptures. Ooramercial fisheries recaptures of salmon shownfor 1972and 1973consistof - incidental by-catches reported from sturgeon and herring fisheries, respectively. There were no tags

m i n g the 1970-73 period, the propor- tions of tagged older salmon that were recaptured averaged 46.8%: while grilse recaptures averaged 14.1% during 1971-73.

TABLE 5. Numbers of commercial and angling recaptures of salmon by fisheries statis- tical districts in each year (1970-73) of tagging.

returned from incidental catches of salmon in 1970 or in 1971 by other-species fisheries. Tags returned by anglers accounted for 4.8% of the total salmon recaptures over the 1970-73 period. Table 5 lists the numbers of salmon recaptured by cammercial and angling fisheries in the various Fisheries Statistical Districts F i g 1 . When the cammercial salmon fishery was open in 1970 and 1971, 87.2% and 60.3%, respectively, of the total salmon tags returned from commercial salmon fisheries were from Districts 48 and 49 combined.

Statistical district no.

Caumercial recaptures

40 48 + 49 50 51 55 56 57 58 Unknown Total

During 1970-73, 83.7% of the total angling recaptures of salmon were reported to be from District 58. The Hashwaak River accounted for 80.6% of the District 58 salmon tags returned by anglers.

TIMING FROM TAGGING TO RECAPTURE Auglinq recaptures

The elapsed time, in days, from tagging and release of wild salmon in the Bay of Randy to recapture in Fisheries Research Branch traps at Long Reach, 1972-73; the Ihshwaak River, 1973; and at Mactaquac, 1972-73; are listed in Table 6. To exclude any effects of multiple recaptures on migration times, only first-time recaptures were used to deter- mine timing from tagging and release to recapture.

48 55 56 58 Unknown Total

Mashwaak River 10 Keswick River 1 Unknown location 2

TABLE 6. Days from tagging to recapture of wild salmon at Long Reach, PSashwaak River and Mactaquac.

No. of % of recaptures total

Minimum no. Maximum no. Mean no. of days of days of days Location and year

Long Reach, 1972 For the year Before Sep 1 Sep 1 and later

Long Reach, 1973 For the year Before Sep 1 Sep 1 and later

Hashwaak River, 1973 For the year Before Sep 1 Sep 1 and later

Uactaquac, 1972 For the year Before Sep 1 Sep 1 and later

Mactaquac, 1973 For the year 101 - 16 Before Sep 1 38 37.6 16 Sep 1 and later 63 62.4 45

The mean recapture times combined a t t h e Long Reach t r a p s i t e s , 17 and 18.5 km upstream from Saint John, were 38 and 43 days i n 1972 and 1973, respectively. A t Long Reach, 23% of t h e t o t a l recaptures were taken on September 1 o r l a t e r i n 1972, compared t o 35% during t h e same period i n 1973. A t t h e Nashwaak t r ap , located approximately 21 km upstream from t h e mouth o f t h e Nashwaak River o r 140 km upriver o f Saint John, t h e mean recapture time was 72 days i n 1973; 70% of these recaptures were taken on September 1 o r l a t e r . Recapture t imes a t Mactaquac, 137 km above Saint John, averaged 57 and 63 days i n 1972 and 1973, respectively. In 1972, 45% of t h e t o t a l recaptures a t Mactaquac were taken on September 1 o r l a t e r , compared t o 62% taken during t h e same period i n 1973.

The times i n days from tagging and re lease t o recapture (Table 6) a r e i l l u s - t r a t e d f o r individual f i s h i n Figs. 2-6. An oblique l i n e on each f igure is t h e locus o f po in t s on which t h e x-axis is equal t o t h e y-axis. Distance v e r t i c a l l y above t h e oblique l i n e represents t h e number of days from tagged f i s h re lease t o subsequent recapture.

Mactaquac recaptures i n each year (Figs. 5 and 6) appear t o be represented by one group o f f i s h t h a t moved upstream a s a u n i t and were recaptured wel l before September 1, and a second group which moved upstream much more slowly and were recaptured mainly from mid-September t o e a r l y October.

DISCUSSION

Experimental f i sh ing and tagging operations during 1970-73 were generally ca r r i ed ou t i n June and Ju ly i n an a rea (Fig. 1) between Point Lepreau and Cape Spencer, and extending seaward f o r about 16 km, t o coincide with t h e timing and locat ion of t r a d i t i o n a l salmon d r i f t -ne t f i s h e r i e s i n t h e area. Huntsman (1931) o u t l i n e s t h e Bay of Fundy salmon tkift.net f i s h e r y a s being located along t h e coas t i n t h e Saint John a rea and extending westward t o Point Lepreau and beyond. Smith (1969) descr ibes t h e f i she ry a s usual ly operating i n an a rea from 16 t o 19 km offshore and extending from Cape Spencer t o t h e v i c i n i t y of Point Lepreau.

N u m b e r s o f 2-SW and o lde r salmon caught each year varied from 217 t o 707, with catches being dependent on f i s h abundance, s u i t a b i l i t y of t i d e s and weather f o r f ishing, and on f i sh ing e f f o r t . Unti l t h e commercial ban began i n 1972, salmon catches were a l s o influenced by competition between t h e tagging and commercial boats. Large-salmon catches genera l ly peaked between mid-June and mid-July, while g r i l s e were most evident during t h e month o f July. Smith (1969) explains t h a t fishermen believed i n s u f f i c i e n t numbers of salmon were present t o j u s t i f y s i g n i f i c a n t f i sh ing e f f o r t u n t i l l a t e May or e a r l y June.

Average f i sh ing m o r t a l i t i e s (1970-73)

of 6.7% of t h e salmon and 7.0% of t h e g r i l s e catch occurred when f i s h became badly entangled i n t h e nets . Such mor ta l i t i e s usual ly occurred during windy conditions, o r when t i d e s pu l l ing i n two d i f f e r e n t d i rec t ions t ightened t h e nets , o r when changing o f the t i d e s would cause n e t s t o bunch together i n i r r e g u l a r shapes.

Substant ia l home-water c ~ e r c i a l exploi ta t ion of Saint John River salmon stocks is indicated by t h e proportions of tagged salmon catches reported by commercial fishermen. They accounted f o r 73.2% and 63.6% of t h e t o t a l tagged salmon recoveries i n 1970 and 1971, respect ively- Smith (1969) estimated year ly exploi ta t ion r a t e s by hame-water commercial salmon fishermen t o vary from 50% t o 90% of t h e salmon. During t h e c losure of t h e commercial salmon f ishery , proportions o f tagged salmon recovered a t Mactaquac increased t o 58% (1972) and 47% (1973)r from 16% i n 1970 and 34% i n 1971 when t h e commercial salmon f i she ry was open. Tags returned by anglers accounted f o r 5% of t h e t o t a l tagged salmon recaptures from 1970-73.

Only one tagged salmon and two tagged g r i l s e were recovered i n t h e Fisher ies Research Branch counting-fence t r a p i n Big Salmon River. Smith ( 1969) reported t h a t of 189 salmon tagged and released from t h e commercial salmon d r i f t n e t s i n t h e Bay of Fundy i n 1962 and 1963, only two were recaptured i n Big Salmon River i n t h e year of tagging. Jessop (1976) concluded t h a t Big Salmon River salmon contributed very l i t t l e t o t h e extensive salmon d r i f t -ne t f i she ry o f f t h e mouth o f t h e Saint John River, s ince only tw tagged Big Salmon River f i s h have been reported from t h i s f i she ry .

R a m 1970 t o 1973, only th ree tagged salmon were reported caught commercially outs ide t h e Sa in t John River a rea during t h e year tagged. One, i n D i s t r i c t 40, was i n a conuuercial salmon t r a p and those l i s t e d f o r Districts 50 and 51 were reported caught i n he r r ing weirs. The one salmon angling recapture l i s t e d f o r D i s t r i c t 48 was reported caught i n Black River. Smith (1969) s t a t e d t h a t the Bay o f Fundy salmon d r i f t - n e t f i she ry catches salmon t h a t a r e primarily o f Saint John River or ig in , bu t t h a t some contribution may be made by o the r nearby r ive r s . Hunstman (1931) concluded t h a t t h e salmon taken i n t h e d r i f t -ne t f i she ry t h a t operates westward along t h e coas t from t h e mouth o f t h e Sa in t John River r e a l l y belong t o t h a t r ive r . He descr ibes t h e Saint John River a s dominating southern and western blew Brunswick, and a s a r e s u l t t h e Saint John River salmon a r e t h e p r inc ipa l ones f o r t h e northwest coas t of t h e Bay of Fundy .

Most of t h e salmon t a g s returned from t h e conrmercial f i she ry were from f i s h reported caught i n Fisher ies S t a t i s t i c a l D i s t r i c t s 48 and 49. These D i s t r i c t s combined provided 87% and 60% of t h e t o t a l commercial r e tu rns i n 1970 and 1971,

respectively. The inland Saint John River D i s t r i c t s 55-58 accounted fo r 13% i n 1970 and 38% i n 1971 of the t o t a l commercial returns. Smith (1969) reported t h a t the inland f ishery catches an average of 17% of the combined t o t a l Bay of Fundy, Saint John Harbour and Saint John River salmon catch, and t h a t the inland portion of the catch has varied from 9% t o 36% yearly.

Of t he wild salmon tagged and released between Hay 30 and August 7 , the propor- t ions recaptured before and a f t e r September 1 varied from year t o year a t t he same recovery s i t e and within the same year between recovery s i t e s . The Nashwaak River recovery site showed the highest proportion (70%) of recaptures occurring on September 1 o r l a t e r , and the highest average number of days (72) from tagging and re lease t o recapture. Elson (1974) c lass i f ied a s early-run, those f i s h t h a t ascended by August 31 a counting fence located about 11 km above t he head of t i d e on the Northwest Miramichi River. He c lass i f ied those entering t he counting t r a p from September 1 onward a s late-tun f ish. Brawn (1982) concluded from visual and ul t rasonic track- ing of tagged f i s h t h a t late-run f i s h can be i n a r i ve r estuary a s ea r ly a s June and t h a t they may delay t h e i r upstream migration f o r a s much a s three and one-half months.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Fisheries Research Eranch biologis ts , K.E.H. Smith and C.E. Wykes planned and directed t he tagging and recapture program. Jack Ingram, Fisheries Research Branch technician, organized l og i s t i c support and supervised f i e l d operations. Harry McCavour and Clarence MaGuire, owners and operators of t he tagging boat, provided invaluable fishing knowledge and experience. Other Fisheries Research Branch personnel a l so contributed a s follaws: Technician Wayne Penney recorded and ass i s ted i n the compilation of f i e l d data, technician Phi l Gallop draf ted e a r l i e r versions of the figures and constructive review of the report was provided by biologis t D r . T.L. Marshall.

Brawn, V.M. 1982. Behavior of Atlantic salmon (Salmo sa l a r ) during suspended m i g r a t i o n a a n u a r y , Sheet thrbour, Nova Scotia, observed visual ly and by ultrasonic tracking. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 39:248-256.

Elson, P.F. 1974. Impact of recent economic growth and indus t r ia l development on the ecology of Northwest Miramichi Atlantic salmon (Salmo sa l a r ) . J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada 3 1 m 5 C

Jessop, B.M. 1976. Distribution and timing of t ag recoveries from native and nonnative Atlantic salmon (Salmo sa l a r ) released i n to Big Salmon R i - b ~ e w Brunswick. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada 33: 829-83 3.

Smith, K.E.H. 1969. Compendium, St. John River system, H.B. Resource Developnent Branch, Dept. of t he Envir., Halifax. Typed manuscript. 238 p.

Huntsman, A.G. 1931. The Maritime salmon of Canada. Bull. Biol. BoardCan. 21 , 99 p.

June July Tagging date

FIG. 2. Days from tagging t o recapture of wild salmon before and af ter September 1 a t Long Reach kn 1972.

Tagging date

FIG. 3 . Days from tagging t o recapture of wild salmon before and a f t er September 1 a t Long Reach in 1973.

June Jub Tagging date

FIG. 4 . Days from tagging t o recapture of wi ld salmon before and a f t e r September 1 i n the Nashwaak River in 1973 .

Jlme JW Tagging date

FIG, 5 . Days from tagging t o recapture of w i l d salmon betore and a f t e = September 1 a t Mactaquac in 1972 .

WY June July AWJSt Tagging date

FIG. 6, Days from tagging to recapture of wild salmon before and after September 1 at Mactaquac in 1973,