~~T OF ~ 14, t2 

* NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC- 105

. ..,., () 

St.qTESOf t'

Survey of Juvenile Pacific Salmon

in the Northern Region of

Southeastern Alaska, May-October 1997

J. M. Murphy, A. L. J. Brase, and J. A. Orsi

S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

Alaska Fisheries Science Center

Septem ber 1999
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS

The National Marine Fisheries Service s Alaska Fisheries Science Center

uses the NOAA Technical Memorandum series to issue informal scientific and

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the Northwest Fisheries Science Center.

This document should be cited as follows:

Murphy, J. M. , A. L. J. Brase, and J. A. Orsi. 1999. Survey of juvenile

Pacific salmon in the northern region of southeastern Alaska, MayOctober 1997. U.S. Dep. Commer. , NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-AFSC- 105, 40 p. 

Reference in this document to trade names does not imply endorsement by

the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA.
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~ NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC- 105 -z. c.. 

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~""MEm of CO

Survey of Juvenile Pacific Salmon

in the Northern Region of

Southeastern Alaska, May-October 1997

J. M. Murphy, A. L. J. Brase, and J. A. Orsi

Alaska Fisheries Science Center

7600 Sand Point Way N. , BIN C- 15700

Seattle, W A 98115-0070

S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

William M. Daley, Secretary

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

D. James Baker, Under Secretary and Administrator

National Marine Fisheries Service

Penelope D. Dalton , Assistant Administrator for Fisheries

September 1999
This document is available to the public through:

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111

ABSTRACT

This report summarizes the initial findings of a 1997 juvenile Pacific salmon

(Oncorhynchus spp.) rope trawl survey in the northern region of southeastern Alaska. 

include surface ocean conditions, distribution and abundance of juvenile salmon and

associated species, coded-wire tag (CWT) recoveries, juvenile salmon fork lengths, and

onboard diet analysis. Fish and oceanographic data were collected during daylight hours

in May, June, July, August, and October at 20 stations in inside (inshore and strait) and

outside (coastal) waters. Mean sea surface ( 2 m) temperature and salinity data ranged

from 6. 70 to 15. C and 15. 1 to 31.6%0 respectively and differed between inside and

outside waters. Mean settled zooplankton volumes ranged from 1.0 to 28. 3 ml and were

highest in inside waters from May through July. A total of 31 taxa of fish and squid

(Gonatidae) were captured. Pacific salmon, sablefish (Anoplopomafimbria), Pacific

herring (Clupea pallasi), and capelin (Mallotus villosus) made up 95% of the catch. All

species of Pacific salmon native to North America were caught. Over 99% of the total

salmon catch were juveniles. Chum (0. keta) and pink salmon (0. gorbuscha) made up

89% of the juvenile salmon catch. At the strait stations, catch rates of juvenile pink and

chum salmon were highest in July, and declined from July-October with a corresponding

decrease in zooplankton abundance. Along the outer coast, catch rates of juvenile salmon

were also highest in July, and most juvenile salmon were captured within 25 km from

shore. The most notable CWT recovery was from a juvenile Umatilla River chinook

salmon (0. tshawytscha) captured along the outer coast in June. This recovery documents

the arrival of Columbia River chinook salmon off the coast of southeastern Alaska three

months earlier than previously reported information. Pacific herring, capelin, and Pacific

sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus) were the predominant fish prey in predator stomachs

examined, and minimal predation on juvenile salmon was observed.
CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION .

METHODS .

Oceanography .

Fish Sampling .

RESULTS .

Ocean Conditions .

RopeTrawICatch.

SpeciesDistribution .

Coded-wire Tag Recoveries .

Juvenile Salmon Fork Lengths .

PredatorDiets .

DISCUSSION .

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .

CIT.ArIONS

TABLES .

FIGURES . . 23

APPENDIX

TABLES

Table 1. Coordinates of stations sampled during a juvenile salmon rope trawl

survey in marine waters of the northern region of southeastern Alaska

May-October 1997 .

Table 2. Numbers and types of data collected during a juvenile salmon rope trawl

survey in marine waters of the northern region of southeastern Alaska

May-October 1997 .

Table 3. Surface ( 2 m) temperature (Temp.) and salinity (Salin.) data sampled

monthly in marine waters of the northern region of southeastern Alaska

May-October 1997 .

Table 4. Settled zooplankton volumes, and associated light intensity, collected in

marine waters of the northern region of southeastern Alaska, May-October

1997
Table 5. Numbers of fish and squid captured by rope trawl in marine waters of the

northern region of southeastern Alaska, May-October 1997 .

Table 6. Frequency of occurrence for fish and squid captured by rope trawl in

marine waters of the northern region of southeastern Alaska, May-October

1997

Table 7. Release and recovery information for coded-wire tagged juvenile salmon

captured by rope trawl in marine waters of the northern region of

southeastern Alaska, May-October 1997 .

Table 8. Fork lengths of juvenile salmon captured by rope trawl in marine waters

of the northern region of southeastern Alaska, May-October 1997 . . . . 

. . . .

. 21

FI G URES

Figure 1. Stations sampled during a survey of juvenile salmon

. . . . . . . . . . . .

. 25

Figure 2. Surface ( 2 m) temperature, salinity, and zooplankton settled volumes

. 26

Figure 3. Catch per rope trawl haul of juvenile salmon in inshore, strait, and

coastal stations

. .

Figure 4. Number of juvenile salmon captured by rope trawl at the Icy Point

stations .

Figure 5. The association between surface ( 2 m) temperature and catch per haul

of predominant taxa captured by rope trawl

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. 29

Figure 6. Species composition of predominant fish and squid species captured by

rope trawl

Figure 7. Fork lengths of juvenile salmon captured by rope trawl

. . . . . . . . . .

Figure 8. Bimodallength distribution of juvenile chum salmon captured by rope

trawl

Figure 9. Diets of potential juvenile salmon predators captured by rope trawl

. .

. 33
INTRODUCTION

In an effort to identify how life-history characteristics of juvenilel Pacific salmon

(Oncorhynchus spp.) such as migration and growth are affected by their abundance and

ocean carrying capacity, a seasonal rope trawl survey was initiated in 1997 by personnel

from the Auke Bay Laboratory (ABL). The survey was conducted along the primary

salmonid out-migration corridors in the northern region of southeastern Alaska. The

existence of regional mass-marking programs for otoliths using thermal techniques (Hagen

and Munk 1994) and historical data collections in the region (Packard 1967; Bruce et al.

1977; Mattson and Wing 1978; Coyle and Shirley 1990; Ziemann and Fulton-Bennett

1990; Orsf) were additional factors supporting the location of the survey. This report

summarizes initial findings of the survey and includes data on surface ocean conditions

distribution and abundance of juvenile salmon and associated species, coded-wire tag

(CWT; Jefferts et al. 1963) recoveries, juvenile salmon fork lengths, and onboard diet

analysis. Further analysis of otolith-marked fish will be used to determine stock-specific

life-history characteristics and will enable comparative analyses of diets, lipid levels, and

growth among hatchery and wild stocks.

METHODS

Juvenile salmon were sampled during May, June, July, August, and October in

inshore, strait, and coastal habitats during daylight hours aboard the NOAA ship John N

Cobb-a 28.3-m research vessel with a 325-hp main engine. Data were collected at

twenty stations along the primary salmonid out-migration corridors in the northern region

of southeastern Alaska (Fig. 1; Table 1). Vessel and sampling gear constraints limited

operations to onshore distances greater than 1.5 km, offshore distances less than 65 km

and bottom depths greater than 75 m. This prevented trawling at the Auke Bay Monitor

station, located near ABL. Sea conditions less than 2. 5 m and winds less than

12.5 m/second were usually necessary to operate the sampling gear safely.

Oceanography

Oceanographic data included CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) profiles, sea

surface temperature and salinity measurements, vertical plankton hauls, and double oblique

bongo net hauls. CTD data were collected to a depth of 200 m or within 10m of the

bottom with a Sea-Bird SBE 19 Seacat profiler. Surface ( 2 m) temperature and salinity

were measured at one-minute intervals using the ship s Sea-Bird SBE 23

thermosalinograph. Conical plankton nets were used for shallow vertical zooplankton

hauls from 20 m at each station, and deep vertical zooplankton hauls from 200 m or

All salmon species that have yet to spend their first winter in the ocean are referred to as juvenile, regardless

of their freshwater age.

J. A. Orsi, Auke Bay Laboratory, unpubl. data, 1993-96.
within 20 m of bottom at Icy Point and Auke Bay Monitor stations (Table 2). A conical

NORPAC net (50 cm diameter 243- p,m mesh) was used for shallow and deep vertical

zooplankton hauls, and a conical WP-2 net (57 cm diameter 202- p,m mesh) was used for

deep vertical zooplankton hauls. Double oblique bongo hauls were taken at each station to

a depth of 200 m or within 20 m of the bottom using a 60 cm diameter frame with 505-

and 333- p,m mesh nets. A Bendix time and depth recorder was used with the bongo hauls

to determine maximum sampling depth. Filtered seawater volumes were determined for

all zooplankton samples except the shallow NORPAC net samples using General Oceanics

(bongo) and Roshiga (conical) flow meters. Ambient light intensities were recorded at

each station with a Li-Cor LI- 189 quantum photometer. Zooplankton settled volumes

(SVs) were determined in the laboratory for the shallow NORPAC net samples by

estimating the volume of zooplankton that settled in a one-liter Imhof cone after 24 hours.

Fish Sampling

Two Nordic 264 rope trawls with 3-m foam-filled Lite trawl doors were used to

collect all fish. The first trawl had a small panel of 10.2-cm mesh sewn to the jib lines

along the head rope to reduce loss of small fish at the surface; the second trawl did not.

The second trawl was used in June, July, August, and October, after the first trawl was

torn by the ship s propellor. No significant difference was found in average length 

catch rates between the trawls when both were fished in June. Main warp was set at 137

, and 55-m wire bridles were used to attach the trawl to the trawl doors. Fishing

dimensions of the trawl were estimated as 18 m (vertical, head rope to foot rope) by 24 m

(horizontal, wingtip to wingtip), with a spread between the trawl doors ranging from 52 to

60 m (Orsi3). Trawl mesh sizes from the jib lines aft to the cod end were 162. , 81.3

40. 20.3 , 12. , and 10. 1 cm. A 6. 1-m long, 0.8-cm knotless liner was sewn into the cod

end. The trawls were modified to fish at the surface by altering trawl-door configuration

by attaching a cluster of three meshed A-4 Polyform buoys to each wingtip of the

headrope, and by attaching a single A-3 Polyform float to the center of the headrope.

Trawls were fished for 20 minutes at approximately 1.5 m/second (3 knots), and covered

approximately 1.85 km (1.0 nautical mile) across each station. Trawling speed was

monitored with an electromagnetic current meter (Marsh McBirney, Inc., Model 2000-21)

mounted to the side of the ship. Station coordinates were targeted as the midpoint of the

trawl haul.

Fish and squid captured in the trawl were identified, counted, measured, labeled

bagged, and frozen. Tricaine methane sulfonate (MS-222) was used to anesthetize the

fish. Fish fork length (FL) and squid mantle length (ML) were measured to the nearest

millimeter with a Limnotera FMB IV electronic measuring board (Chaput et al. 1992).

0rsi, J. A. 1996. NOAA ship John N. Cobb cruise report JC-96-01. Auke Bay Laboratory, Alaska

Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 11305 Glacier Highway, Juneau, AK 99801-

8626, 2p. (unpublished)
All fish and squid were measured except for a few large catches of juvenile sablefish

(Anoplopoma fimbria), juvenile chum salmon (0. keta), and Pacific herring (Clupea

harengus). Large catches were subsampled for lengths. Juvenile salmon were kept on

blue-ice packs during processing to minimize tissue decomposition and decrease gastric

activity. Immediately after processing, they were placed in a freezer.

All but the largest juvenile salmon were tested for CWTs using a portable CWT

detector onboard the vessel. Larger salmon were examined visually for missing adipose

fins; those missing adipose fins were examined in the laboratory for CWTs.

Stomach contents of potential juvenile salmon predators (all fish large enough to

prey on juvenile salmon) were examined onboard the vessel. Stomachs were examined

principally to estimate the incidence of predation on juvenile salmon. Stomachs were

excised and classified by percent fullness. Stomach contents were removed and identified

to the lowest practical taxon discernable by naked eye, generally to order, occasionally to

genus (e. , Euphausiacea, Calanoida, Decapoda (crab megalopae), Oikopleura sp.

Limacina sp.). Stomach content weight was determined by subtracting empty stomach

weight from full stomach weight.

RESULTS

Sampling effort during the survey included 90 rope trawl hauls, 100 CTD casts, 98

bongo net hauls, 110 shallow (20 m) conical net hauls, and 50 deep (200 m) conical net

hauls (Table 2). Rope trawl sampling was conducted at 19 stations each month except

October. Inclement weather prevented rope trawl sampling at all Upper Chatham Strait

stations and the False Point Retreat station in October (Table 2; Appendix).

Ocean Conditions

Sea surface temperature and salinity data were averaged for each locality and

ranged from 6. 70 to 15. C and 15. 1 to 31.6%0 respectively (Table 3; Fig. 2). Mean

surface temperatures were lowest at the Cross Sound stations between May and August

and at the inshore stations in October. Mean surface temperatures were highest at inshore

stations in May and June and at the Icy Point stations between July and October. Mean

surface salinities were higher along the outer coast (30.4-31.6%0) than inside waters

(15. 30.0%0) throughout the survey. Surface salinities were lowest during July at stations

located in inside waters, and typically increased with proximity to the outer coast. A more

complete description of temperature and salinity data collecting during the survey can be

found in Murphy and Orsi (1999).

Zooplankton SVs averaged for each locality ranged from 1.0 to 28. 3 ml (Table 4).

In the inside waters, zooplankton SVs ranged from 1.0 ml at the Upper Chatham stations

in August and October, to 28.3 ml at the Icy Strait stations in June. In the outside waters
mean SVs ranged from 3.0 ml at the Cross Sound stations in October to 12. 8 ml at the Icy

Point stations in May and July.

Rope Trawl Catch

A total of 11 648 fish and squid representing 31 taxa were collected during the

survey (Table 5). All five species of Pacific salmon native to North America and

steelhead (0. mykiss) were collected, and these six species made up 45% of the total catch.

Over 99% of the salmon collected were juveniles: 3 565 (68%) chum salmon, 1 108

(21%) pink salmon (0. gorbuscha), 237 (4%) sockeye salmon (0. nerka), 215 (4%) coho

salmon (0. kisutch), 113 (2%) chinook salmon (0. tshawytscha), and 1 (-( 1 %) steelhead.

A total of 29 immature chinook salmon, 5 adult pink salmon, and 5 adult coho salmon

were also captured. Chum, pink, and coho salmon were captured more frequently in the

trawl catches than other species or species groups (

:::

42%) (Table 6). However, the

numbers of chum and pink salmon were considerably greater than the number of coho

salmon (Table 5).

Non-salmonid species making up more than % of the catch included sablefish

(41 %), Pacific herring (5%), capelin (Mallotus villosus) (3%), squid (2%), and walleye

pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) (1 %) (Table 5). Pacific herring, capelin, and crested

sculpin (Blepsias bilobus) were the most frequently (? 24%) captured non-salmonids.

However, only 46 crested sculpin were captured. Juvenile sablefish were the most

abundant species captured during the survey, but occurred in only 11 % of the trawl hauls

(Table 6).

Species Distribution

Distribution of juvenile salmon differed by month, species, and location. Chum

pink, and chinook salmon were most abundant in July, whereas sockeye and coho salmon

were most abundant in June (Fig. 3). Catch rates of all juvenile salmon, except chinook

salmon, were highest at the strait stations; chinook salmon were caught primarily at the

inshore stations. At the Icy Point stations, catch rates of juvenile salmon declined with

distance offshore; most juveniles were captured within 25 km of shore and no juveniles

were caught beyond 40 km (Fig. 4).

Catch rates of the predominant fish species varied by sea surface temperature (Fig.

5). Catch rates of capelin were highest at temperatures less than or equal to 9OC. Catch

rates of Pacific herring were highest between 90 and 12OC. Catch rates of juvenile salmon

increased with increasing sea surface temperature, but declined at temperatures greater than

or equal to 15OC. Sablefish catch rates were the highest of all species at temperatures

greater than or equal to 15O

Overall composition of fish species varied by habitat and season (Fig. 6). Pacific

herring were caught throughout the summer at the inshore stations, but catch rates declined
in the fall. Juvenile salmon were the predominant species captured at the strait stations

and made up over 90% of the catch during June

, . 

July, and August. Immature chinook and

pollock were the predominant species in May. Species composition varied by month at

the coastal stations. The predominant taxa were squid in May; capelin and Pacific sand

lance in June; juvenile salmon in July; juvenile salmon, juvenile sablefish, and herring in

August; and juvenile sablefish in October.

Coded-wire Tag Recoveries

Twenty-three juvenile and immature salmon containing CWTs were captured:

13 chinook, 9 coho, and 1 chum salmon. Twenty-one of the CWTs originated in Alaska

and 2 in Oregon (1 chinook and 1 coho salmon; Table 7). Estimated migration rates of

coho salmon ranged from 3. 3 to 5. 0 km/day in inside waters and from 11.4 to 28.

km/day in outside waters. Migration rates for chinook salmon ranged from 0.2 to

1.3 km/day in inside waters; the chinook salmon captured in outside waters had migrated

19.7 km/day.

Juvenile Salmon Fork Lengths

Mean fork lengths of sampled juvenile salmon ranged from 95. 8 to 290. 3 mm

(Table 8; Fig. 7) throughout the survey. Coho salmon were longest each month, and their

mean length increased faster than those of all other salmon species. Mean lengths of

chum and pink salmon were similar, typically differing by only 1 or 2 mm each month.

Pink salmon were shortest each month except October. Mean lengths of sockeye salmon

increased more slowly than those of other salmon species; in October, they were the

shortest salmon species.

Mean fork lengths also differed between localities (Table 8). Sockeye and coho

salmon were consistently larger at the Icy Point stations than at the strait stations. Pink

salmon were consistently larger at the strait stations than at the Icy Point stations. Chum

salmon were larger at the strait stations each month they were captured except July. The

larger average size of juvenile chum salmon at the Icy Point stations in July was due to

the presence of a larger, second mode in the distribution of lengths (Fig. 8).

Predator Diets

Stomachs of 130 potential predators of juvenile salmon were examined and

included: adult walleye pollock, immature chinook salmon, adult Pacific herring, adult

spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), Pacific sandfish (Trichodon trichodon), adult pink

salmon, adult coho salmon, pomfret (Brama japonica), jack mackerel (Trachurus

symmetricus), and juvenile sablefish (Fig. 9). The stomach contents of the one jack

mackerel was also examined; it was empty and, therefore, was not included in the figure.
Eighteen percent of the stomachs examined were empty. Mean fullness of non-empty

stomachs was 50%. Piscivory was most common in pomfret adult Pacific sandfish

immature chinook salmon, and adult coho salmon. Most fish prey were highly digested.

Identifiable fish in the stomachs included juvenile Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes

hexapterus), capelin, and Pacific herring. Few predators (two Pacific sandfish) had

juvenile salmon in their stomachs. Primary invertebrate prey included decapods (crab

megalopae) for pink salmon and sablefish Oikopleura sp. for pollock, and lesser amounts

of Euphausiids for several species.

The large number (4 512) of sablefish captured at Icy Point Station (IPA) in

October required subsampling of the catch for diet analysis. We randomly selected 

sablefish for onboard diet analysis. As the remainder of the catch was being processed

we observed a caudal fin protruding from the mouth of a juvenile sablefish (222 mm).

The fish was removed from the stomach of the juvenile sablefish and identified as a

juvenile chum salmon (121 mm). This chum salmon was 87 mm shorter than the shortest

chum salmon captured at the Icy Point stations and 93 mm shorter than chum salmon

captured at all stations during October (Table 8), which emphasizes the importance of size

in determining predation risk. This predation event is not included in the summary of

predator diets (Fig. 9) because it was not part of the subsample of fish selected for

onboard diet analysis and herding action of the trawl may have led to this predation event.

DISCUSSION

Juvenile salmon initially distribute along shallow, estuarine habitats before

dispersing into deeper pelagic waters. Our peak catches of sockeye and coho salmon in

the deeper pelagic waters occurred in June, whereas peak catches of pink and chum

salmon occurred in July. The difference in timing may reflect different nearshore

residencies of these species. Coho and sockeye (except sea-type sockeye) salmon stocks

are older and larger than pink and chum salmon at ocean entry, and have a shorter

estuarine residency.

Sea-type sockeye salmon typically remain in estuarine habitats until late July in

southeastern Alaska due to a lower salinity tolerance at smaller sizes (Heifetz et al. 1989).

This is consistent with sockeye salmon length distributions observed in our survey; the

drop in minimum size between July and August suggests the presence of sea-type sockeye

salmon in our August samples (Fig. 7). Although it is reasonable to assume that sea-type

sockeye salmon are present in our samples, they are uncommon in our study area. The

Taku River is the only river system known to produce significant numbers (----13% of

returning adults) of sea-type sockeye salmon in our survey area (McPherson et al. 1988),

largely due to habitat conditions that allow for persistent riverine spawning (Eiler et al.

1992).

After juveniles disperse from the nearshore habitat, their migratory rates can be

high. The juvenile chinook and coho salmon captured along the outer coast from

Washington and Oregon had migration rates of 19.7 and 28.6 km/day. The Umatilla River
chinook salmon recovered in June is significant in that it is the earliest recovery 

Columbia River chinook salmon stocks off southeastern Alaska. Peak catches of pink and

chum salmon occurred simultaneously in inside and coastal waters, suggesting fairly rapid

migration through the survey area. Catches of pink salmon, however, did not decline as

rapidly as catches of chum salmon.

During the first year of ocean life, salmon migration is thought to be sizedependent (Hart and Dell 1986; Jaenicke and Celewycz 1996). Sockeye and coho salmon

were larger on the outer coast than in inside waters, supporting the concept of sizedependent migration. However, larger sizes on the outer coast may simply reflect the

presence of earlier-migrating sockeye and coho salmon from the Pacific Northwest and

British Columbia, not size-dependent migration. Pink and chum salmon were not

consistently larger along the outer coast, suggesting that body size may not be the primary

factor determining their migration from inside to coastal waters. Migration of pink and

chum salmon from inside to coastal waters may be more directly related to food

availability (Healey 1980) than to a threshold size; their decline in inside waters

corresponded with a decrease in zooplankton abundance, which could result in increased

competition and dispersal into coastal waters.

The distribution of juvenile chum salmon lengths in July along the outer coast was

distinctively bimodal, suggesting a mixture of stocks. Significant differences in age due to

stock mixtures will confound attempts to infer growth from length distributions. However

these differences may be used to help separate stocks when a proportion of the fish has

stock-identification information (e. , CWTs and thermal-marked otoliths). The stock

information obtained from CWTs and thermal-marked otoliths could be apportioned to the

entire sample based on the length distribution.

The width of the coastal migration corridor of juvenile salmon in the Gulf of

Alaska is an important aspect of their early marine ecology (Walters et al. 1978). Using

purse seines, Hartt and Dell (1986) estimated the coastal migration corridor to be within

37 km from the coast along southeastern Alaska, similar to what was observed during our

survey. Most of our juveniles were captured within 25 km of shore and no juvenile was

captured beyond 40 km. Other ocean surveys along the coast of southeastern Alaska have

captured juvenile salmon farther offshore: Jaenicke and Celewycz (1994) captured them

as far as 74 km from shore with purse seines in 1984, and Carlson et al. (1996) captured

them as far as 100 km from shore with a rope trawl in 1996 along the coast of

southeastern Alaska. A variety of factors such as deflections of the Alaska Coastal

Current by bottom topography, surface temperatures, food availability, and proximity to

primary outmigration corridors could affect the juveniles' distance from shore. However

other factors related to sampling, such as sampling effort, gear type, and weather

conditions play an important role in the ability to capture juvenile salmon. The distinction

between the two types of factors is important when comparing results between different

ocean surveys. Until sampling effects have been identified, it will be difficult to compare

results, especially presence or absence of juvenile salmon.

During exceptionally warm periods, such as the EI Nino (Wooster and Fluharty

1985) conditions during this survey, sea surface temperatures may significantly influence
juvenile salmon distribution and migration (Chung 1985). Pacific salmon may actively

avoid temperatures greater than 15O , due to its debilitating effects on metabolic functions

in salmon (Brett 1971). Our catch rates of juvenile salmon declined abruptly at sea

surface temperatures greater than 15O , suggesting that they may avoid warmer water.

Predation is thought to be one of the primary sources of marine mortality in

juvenile salmon (Bax 1983; Pearcy 1997). Our examination of predator stomachs did not

indicate high levels of predation on juvenile salmon; however, predation could be high in

areas not sampled, such as shallow nearshore habitats (most of Bax s sampling). Fish size

is thought to be an important factor in determining predation risk of juvenile salmon

(Parker 1971; Healey 1982; Holtby et al. 1990). Slower-growing individuals are

vulnerable to more predators for a longer time. The relatively small size of the chum

salmon found in the sablefish stomach during our survey emphasizes the importance of

size in determining predation risk. Changes in the abundance or distribution of predators

and alternative prey populations can modify levels of predation on juvenile salmon

independently of their growth and may be an important factor determining actual predation

levels (Fisher and Pearcy 1988; Holtby et al. 1990). Fish from stomachs of potential

predators of juvenile salmon were predominately capelin, Pacific sand lance, and Pacific

herring. Changes in the abundance or distribution of these fish species could substantially

alter predation pressure on juvenile salmon.

This report constitutes a preliminary summary of findings of the ocean survey 

juvenile salmon in the northern region of southeastern Alaska. Further analyses will

include an examination of otoliths for hatchery thermal marks. From the thermal-mark

information, competitive interactions between hatchery and wild salmon stocks will be

studied, and thermally marked hatchery fish will be used to obtain stock-specific lifehistory characteristics.

CKN 0 WLEDG MENTS

We thank Mary Auburn, Adrian Celewycz, Dean Courtney, Lee Hulbert, Steve

Ignell, Ellen Martinson, Don Mortensen, Molly Sturdevant, and Bruce Wing of the Auke

Bay Laboratory for their invaluable assistance in the collection of scientific data during the

cruises. Additional thanks go to Rick Brodeur, Steve Ignell, Don Mortensen, and Molly

Sturdevant for their helpful suggestions, which greatly improved the manuscript. We also

thank David King and Jim Smart of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, for their

support on trawl gear setup and in-season repairs. We commend the command and crew

of the NOAA ship John N Cobb-Ken Barton, Mike Devaney, Otis Gaines, Shannon

King, Bill Lamoureux, Strydr Nutting, Dan Roby, Del Sharp, and Richard Wingrove-for

their superb cooperation and performance throughout the cruises.
CITATIONS

Bax, N. 1. 1983. Early marine mortality of marked juvenile chum salmon (Oncorhynchus

keta) released into Hood Canal, Puget Sound, Washington, in 1980. Can. 1. Fish.

Aquat. Sci. 40:426--435.

Brett, 1. R. 1971. Energetic responses of salmon to temperature: a study of some thermal

relations in the physiology and freshwater ecology of sockeye salmon

(Oncorhynchus nerka). Am. Zoo!. 11:99-113.

Bruce, H. E., D. R. McLain, and B. L. Wing. 1977. Annual physical and chemical

oceanographic cycles of Auke Bay, southeastern Alaska. U.S. Dep. Commer.

NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS SSRF-712, 11 p.

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Guthrie III. 1996. Cruise report of the FN Great Pacific survey of young salmon

in the North Pacific-Dixon Entrance to western Aleutians-July-August 1996. N.

Pac. Anadr. Fish Comm. Doc. 222. Auke Bay Laboratory, Juneau, AK.

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measuring board. ICES 1. Mar. Sci. 49:335-339.

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juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) off Oregon and Washington. M.

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Fulton-Bennett (editors), APPRISE Interannual Variability and Fisheries

Recruitment, p. 3-60. The Oceanic Institute, Honolulu, HI.

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Fisher, 1. P. , and W G. Pearcy. 1988. Growth of juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus

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Hartt, A. C., and M. B. Dell. 1986. Early oceanic migrations and growth of juvenile

Pacific salmon and steelhead trout. Int. North Pac. Fish. Comm. Bull. 46, 105 p.

Healey, M. C. 1980. The ecology of juvenile salmon in Georgia Strait, British Columbia.

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Pacific, p. 203-229. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis.
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39:952-957.

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and salinity tolerance of sea-type sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in an

Alaska estuary. Can. 1. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 46:633-637.

Holtby, L. B. , B. C. Andersen, and R. K. Kadowaki. 1990. Importance of smolt size and

early ocean growth to interannual variability in marine survival of coho salmon

(Oncorhynchus kisutch). Can. 1. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 47:2181-2194.

Jaenicke, H. w., and A. G. Celewycz. 1994. Marine distribution and size of juvenile

Pacific salmon in southeast Alaska and northern British Columbia. Fish. Bull.

92:79-90.

Jefferts, K. B., P. K. Bergman, and H. F. Fiscus. 1963. A coded wire identification

system for macro-organisms. Nature (Lond.) 198:460-462.

Mattson, C. R., and B. L. Wing. 1978. Ichthyoplankton composition and plankton

volumes from inland coastal waters of southeastern Alaska, April-November 1972.

S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS SSRF- 723 , 11 p.

McPherson, S. A., A. J. McGregor, and M. A. Olsen. 1988. Abundance, age, sex, and

size of sockeye salmon catches and escapements in southeast Alaska in 1987.

Tech. Fish. Rep. 88- , Alaska Dep. Fish and Game, Div. Commer. Fish., Juneau.

Packard, G. L. 1967. Some oceanographic characteristics of the larger inlets of southeast

Alaska. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 24:1475-1506.

Parker, R. R. 1971. Size-selective predation among juvenile salmonid fishes in a British

Columbia inlet. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 28:1503-1510.

Pearcy, W. G. 1997. What have we learned in the last decade? What are research

priorities? In R. L. Emmett and M. H. Schiewe (editors), Estuarine and ocean

survival of northeastern Pacific salmon: Proceedings of the workshop, March

20- , 1996, Newport, Oregon, p. 271-277. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech.

Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-29.

Walters, C. 1. , R. Hilborn, R. M. Peterman, and M. 1. Staley. 1978. Model for examining

early ocean limitation of Pacific salmon production. 1. Fish. Res. Board Can.

35:1303-1315.

Wooster, W. S., and D. L. Fluharty (editors). 1985. EI Nifio north. Washington Sea

Grant Program WSG- WO 85- , University of Washington, Seattle, 312 p.

Ziemann, D. A., and K. W. Fulton-Bennett (editors). 1990. APPRISE Interannual

variability and fisheries recruitment. The Oceanic Institute, Honolulu, HI, 400 p.
TABLES
Table 1. Coordinates of stations sampled during a juvenile salmon rope trawl survey in

marine waters of the northern region of southeastern Alaska, May-October 1997.

Offshore Bottom

distance depth

Habitat/Locality Station Latitude Longitude (km) (m)

Inside Waters

Inshore

Auke Bay Monitor ABM 58O22. 00' 134O40.00' 1.5

Taku Inlet TKI 58O 11.19' 134O 11.71' 175

False Point Retreat FPR 58O22.00' 135O00. 00' 1.8 680

Lower Favorite Channel LFC 58O20.98' 134O43.73' 1.5

Strait

Upper Chatham Strait UCA 58O04. 57'N 135O00.08' 400

Upper Chatham Strait UCB 58O06.22' 135O00.91' 6.4 100

Upper Chatham Strait UCC 58O07.95' 135O04. 00' 6.4 100

Upper Chatham Strait UCD 58O09.64' 135O02. 52' 200

Icy Strait ISA 58O 13.25' 135O31.76' 128

Icy Strait ISB 58O 14.22' 135O29.26' 6.4 200

Icy Strait ISC 58O 15.28' 135O26.65' 6.4 200

Icy Strait ISD 58O 16. 38' 135O23. 98' 234

Outside Waters

Coastal

Cross Sound CSA 58O09. 53' 136O26. 96' 300

Cross Sound CSB 58O 10.91' 136O28. 68' 6.4

Cross Sound CSC 58O 12. 39' 136O30.46' 6.4 200

Cross Sound CSD 58O 13. 84' 136O32.23' 200

Icy Point IPA 58O20. 12' 137O07. 16' 160

Icy Point IPB 58O 12.71' 137O 16. 96' 23.4 130

Icy Point IPC 58O05.28' 137O26. 75' 40. 150

Icy Point IPD 57O53. 50' 137O42. 60' 65. 300
Table 2. Numbers and types of data collected during a juvenile salmon rope trawl survey

in marine waters of the northern region of southeastern Alaska, May-October

1997. Station abbreviations are defined in Table 

Data Collection Type

NORPAC NORPAC WPDates Habitat Trawl CTD Bongo Shallow Deep Deep

20-26 May Inshore

Strait

Coastal

May total

22-26 June Inshore

Strait

Coastal

June total

17-27 July Inshore

StraitC

Coastal

July total

22-28 August Inshore

Strait

Coastal

August total

2- 7 October Inshore

Strait

Coastal

October total 14

1997 Totals 100 110

~rawl = 20-min rope trawl hauls; CTD = profiles to 200 m or within 10m of the bottom; Bongo = double oblique

tows to 200 m or 20 m of bottom using a 60-cm diameter bongo frame, and 505- and 333-lLm meshes; NORPAC

Shallow = 20-m vertical hauls using a 50-cm diameter conical net with 243-lLm mesh; NORPAC Deep = vertical

hauls from 200 m or 20 m of bottom using a 50-cm conical net with 243-lLm mesh; WP-2 Deep = vertical hauls

from 200 m or within 20 m of bottom using a 57-cm diameter conical net with 202-lLm mesh.

Oceanographic data collection at TKI was repeated because of trawl gear complications during first attempt at

trawling.

Oceanographic data collection at UCC was repeated because of trawl gear complications during first attempt at

trawling.

Oceanographic data collection at OCD was repeated because of trawl gear complications during first attempt at

trawling.

lnclement weather prevented trawl and bongo data collection at FPR.

Only one CTD cast and one shallow NORPAC zooplankton sample were collected at the Upper Chatham stations

(station UCA), because of inclement weather.
Table 3. Surface ( 2 m) temperature (Temp.) and salinity (Salin.) data sampled monthly

in marine waters of the northern region of southeastern Alaska, May-October

1997. Station code abbreviations are defined in Table 1. Dash means station

was not sampled.

Temp. (Salin. Temp. (Salin. Temp. (Salin. Temp. (Salin. Temp. (Salin.

Locality Month (OC) (%0) (OC) (%0) (OC) (%0) (OC) (%0) (OC) (%0)

Inshore

May

June

July

August

Octo ber

Upper Chatham

Strait

May

June

July

August

October

Icy Strait

May

June

July

August

Octo ber

Cross Sound

May

June

July

August

Octo ber

Icy Point

May

June

July

August

October

TKI

10. 0 (17.

10.2 (16.

10. 5 (15.

11.5 (17.

7 (20.

UCA

9.4 (28.

14. (22.4)

13.6 (23.

11.2 (28.

7 (29.

ISA

1 (30.

12.2 (27.

12. (24.1)

11.2 (27.

6 (28.

CSA

(31.4)

(31.1)

11.3 (30.

15.2 (30.

11. 5 (30.

IPA

8.2 (30.

11.2 (30.

13.9 (30.

15. (31.0)

11.1 (29.

Inside Waters

ABM

7 (26.

12. (21.3)

11.9 (14.

12. 6 (18.

6 (24.

UCB

7 (28.

12. 9 (22.

13. 7 (23.

11. 3 (28.

()

ISB

5 (29.

12. (27.4)

13.2 (20.

11.5 (26.1)

(28.4)

LFC

11.2 (25.4)

12. 8 (22.

11.0 (15.

12. 6 (20.

(24.3)

UCC

8 (28.

12. 9 (22.

13. 1 (17.

12. 5 (26.

()

ISC

6 (29.

12.4 (27.

13. 5 (20.

12. 3 (24.

9 (28.

Outside Waters

CSB

(31.4)

(31.6)

(31.7)

10. 7 (30.

(31.1)

IPB

(31.2)

12.4 (31.4)

14. (31.2)

14. 1 (30.

12. 5 (30.

CSC

(31.7)

7.4 (31.8)

3 (31.

10.2 (30.

8.3 (31.2)

IPC

1 (31.3)

13.4 (31.5)

14.4 (31.4)

15. (31.1)

12.4 (30.

FPR

9 (29.

13. 9 (23.

13.4 (15.

12. 9 (19.

8.4 (27.

UCD

9 (28.

13.2 (22.

13.2 (16.

12. (28.1)

()

ISD

(29.4)

13. 0 (27.

13. (20.4)

12. 8 (23.

(26.4)

CSD

(31.8)

7.3 (31.8)

0 (30.

9.4 (30.

8.4 (30.

IPD

9.4 (31.3)

13. (31.5)

14. (31.9)

16.3 (31.1)

12.3 (30.

Mean

5 (24.

12.2 (20.

11.7 (15.

12.4 (18.

(24.3)

Mean

5 (28.

13.3 (22.4)

13.4 (19.

11.8 (27.

"8. (29.1)

Mean

6 (30.

12. 6 (27.

13. (21.3)

12. (25.3)

8 (27.

Mean

(31.6)

(31.6)

(31.3)

11.4 (30.

9.4 (31.0)

Mean

(31.2)

12.6 (31.

14.4 (31.4)

15. 1 (31.0)

12. 1 (30.4)
Table 4. Settled zooplankton volumes, and associated light intensity, collected in marine

waters of the northern region of southeastern Alaska, May-October 1997.

Zooplankton were collected with a 0. 5-m diameter conical net with 243-J-tm

mesh and towed vertically from 20 m to the surface. Station code abbreviations

are defined in Table 1. Dash means station was not sampled.

Volume (Light) Volume (Light) Volume (Light) Volume (Light) Volume (Light)

Locality Month (ml) (~/m (ml) (~/m (ml) (~/m (ml) (~/m (ml) (~/m

Inside Waters

Inshore TKI ABM LFC FPR Mean

May 22 (345.

()

(22.

()

19. 5 (183.

June 20 (365. 20 (844. 28 (182. 23 (566. 22. 8 (489.

July (43. (39.4) 30 (161.6) 11 (205. 15. 5 (112.

August 12 (177. 9 (301.1) 10 (148. 2 (108. 3 (184.

October (14. 10 (164. (70. (46. (73.

Upper Chatham

Strait UCA UCB UCC UCD Mean

May 30 (652. 40 (765. 16 (617. 25 (100.4) 27. 8 (361.7)

June 32 (815. 28 (832. (174. 24 (191.2) 27.3 (503.

July (85. 8 (213. 12 (140. (79.4) 13. 0 (129.

August 1 (116. 1 (140. (169. (82. 0 (127.4)

October (29.

() () ()

1.0 (29.

Icy Strait ISA ISB ISC ISD Mean

May (19. 20 (143. (197. 29 (748. 25.3 (277.

June 27 (-) 25 (240. 26 (340. 35 (466. 28.3 (349.

July 18 (102. 23 (180.3) (149.1) 28 (248. 26. 0 (170.

August (14. (28. (108. (38.4) ( 47.

October (21.0) (43. 2 (280. 2 (134. 1.8 (119.

Outside Waters

Cross Sound CSA CSB CSC CSD Mean

May

()

8 (127. 9 (257.

()

5 (192.

June 5 (220. 5 (128. (97. (91.6) 4.3 (134.4)

July (85. (71. (94. 5 (123. (93.

August (64. 4 (160. (172.4) 4 (608. 8 (450.

October (35. 3 (190. (250. 1 (304. 0 (194.

Icy Point IPA IPB IPC IPD Mean

May (93.1) 13 (182.4) (334. 16 (193.4) 12. 8 (201.0)

June 3 (282. 2 (660. 2 (825. 13 (622. 0 (597.4)

July (38. 11 (155. 14 (140. 12 (390. 12. 8 (180.

August (83.4) 10 (163. (489. 8 (372. 10. 8 (277.4)

October (6.

()

7 (320. 7 (300. 5 (208.
Table 5. Numbers of fish and squid captured by rope trawl in marine waters of the

northern region of southeastern Alaska, May-October 1997. Dash means none

captured.

Number Caught

Common Scientific

Name Name May June July August October Total

Chum salmon Guvenile) Oncorhynchus keta 783 499 245 565

Pink salmon Guvenile) O. gorbuscha 124 499 284 201 108

(adult)

Sockeye salmon Guvenile) O. nerka 116 237

Coho salmon Guvenile) O. kisutch 123 215

(adult)

Chinook salmon Guvenile) O. tshawytscha 113

(immature)

Steelhead Guvenile) O. mykiss

Sablefish Anoplopoma fimbria 710 4 795

Pacific herring Clupea harengus 237 157 135 599

Capelin Mallotus villosus 257 400

Squid Gonatidae 128 231

Walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma 100

Pacific sand lance Ammodytes hexapterus

Crested sculpin Blepsias bilobus

Pacific spiny lump sucker Eumicrotremus orbis

Soft sculpin Psychrolutes sigalutes

Rockfish Sebastes spp.

Pacific sandfish Trichodon trichodon

Spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias

Prowfish Zaprora silenus

Starry flounder Platichthys stellatus

Bigmouth sculpin Hemitripterus bolini

Lingcod Ophiodon elongatus

Smooth lump sucker Aptocyclus ventricosus

Arrowtooth flounder Atheresthes stomias

Three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus

Wolf-eel Anarrhichthys ocellatus

Salmon shark Lamna ditropis

Poacher Agonidae

Quillfish Ptilichthys goodei

Pomfret Brama japonica

Jack mackerel Trachurus symmetricus

Total 504 546 289 913 396 11 648
Table 6. Frequency of occurrence for fish and squid captured by rope trawl in marine

waters of the northern region of southeastern Alaska, May-October 1997.

Percent occurrence per 90 rope trawl hauls is shown in parentheses. Dash means

none captured.

Frequency of Occurrence

Common Scientific

Name Name May June July August October Total (%)

Chum salmon Guvenile) Oncorhynchus keta (46)

Pink salmon Guvenile) O. gorbuscha 39 (43)

(adult) (4)

Sockeye salmon Guvenile) O. nerka 30 (33)

Coho salmon Guvenile) o. kisutch 38 (42)

(adult) (4)

Chinook salmon Guvenile) O. tshawytscha (23)

(immature) 16 (18)

Steelhead Guvenile) O. mykiss (1)

Sablefish Anoplopoma fimbria (11)

Pacific herring Clupea harengus 22 (24)

Capelin Mallotus villosus 22 (24)

Squid Gonatidae (11)

Walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma 1 7 (19)

Pacific sand lance Ammodytes hexapterus (8)

Crested sculpin Blepsias bilobus (26)

Pacific spiny lump sucker Eumicrotremus orbis 17 (19)

Soft sculpin Psychrolutes sigalutes 14 (16)

Rockfish Sebastes spp. (3)

Pacific sandfish Trichodon trichodon (6)

Spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias (1)

Prowfish Zaprora silenus (10)

Starry flounder Platichthys stellatus (3)

Bigmouth sculpin Hemitripterus bo/ini (6)

Lingcod Ophiodon elongatus (3)

Smooth lump sucker Aptocyclus ventricosus (3)

Arrowtooth flounder Atheresthes stomias (1)

Three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus (1)

Wolf-eel Anarrhichthys ocellatus (1)

Salmon shark Lamna ditropis (1)

Poacher Agonidae (1)

Quillfish Ptilichthys goodei (1)

Pomfret Brama japonica (1)

Jack mackerel Trachurus symmetricus (1)

Total
Table 7. Release and recovery information for coded-wire tagged juvenile salmon captured by rope trawl in 

the northern region of southeastern Alaska, May-October 1997. Station code abbreviations are de

Release Infonnation Recovery Infonnation

Size Size 

Coded-wire Brood 

Species Tag Code Year Agency Locality Date (mm) 

(g)

Locality (Station Code) Date (mm) 

May

Chinook 04:45/21 1994 HDFAL Hidden Falls, AK 06/05/96 28.4 Icy Strait (ICC) OS/24/97 326 5Chinook 50:04/04 1994 DIPAC Gastineau Channel, AK 06/12/96 147 23.5 Upper Chatham (UCD) OS/21/97 310 4

June

Chinook 09:17/50 1995 ODFW Umatilla River, OR 03/26/97 - 48. Icy Point (IPB) 06/25/97 231 16

Chinook 50:04/22 1995 DIPAC Gastineau Channel, AK 06/10/97 - 18. Favorite Channel (LFC) 06/26/97 - 104 Chinook 50:04/26 1995 DIPAC Fish Creek, AK 06/10/97 - 24. Favorite Channel (LFC) 06/26/97 127 

Chinook No tag

Favorite Channel (LFC) 06/26/97 139 

Coho 50:04/12 1995 DIPAC Gastineau Channel, AK 06/1 0/97 16.2 Upper Chatham (UCA) 06/23/97 139 Coho 50:04/13 1995 DIPAC Gastineau Channel, AK 06/1 0/97 16.2 Icy Strait (ISA) 06/26/97 144 Coho 50:04/13 1995 DIPAC Gastineau Channel, AK 06/1 0/97 16.2 Upper Chatham (UCA) 06/23/97 125 

Coho 50:04/15 1995 DIPAC Gastineau Channel, AK 06/1 0/97 - 16. Upper Chatham (UCA) 06/23/97 140 

Coho 04:47/02 1995 HDFAL Hidden Falls, AK 06/02/97 - 18. Upper Chatham (UCD) 06/23/97 156 

Coho 04:49/37 1995 NMFS Duck Creek, AK 05/15/97

Icy Strait (ISC) 06/26/97 182 

Coho 04:07/18 1995 NMFS Auke Creek, AK OS/24/97 ~90 Upper Chatham (UCA) 06/23/97 121 

July

Chinook 50:04/25 1995 DIPAC Auke Bay, AK 06/1 0/97 - 26. Favorite Channel (LFC) 07/22/97 165 

Chinook 50:04/25 1995 DIPAC Auke Bay, AK 06/10/97 - 26. Favorite Channel (LFC) 07/22/97 193 

Chinook 50:04/26 1995 DIPAC Fish Creek, AK 06/10/97 - 24. Favorite Channel (LFC) 07/22/97 184 

Chinook 50:04/26 1995 DIPAC Fish Creek, AK 06/10/97 - 24. Favorite Channel (LFC) 07/22/97 165 

Chinook 50:04/27 1995 DIPAC Fish Creek, AK 06/1 0/97 - 24. Favorite Channel (LFC) 07/22/97 158 Chinook 50:04/27 1995 DIPAC Fish Creek, AK 06/1 0/97 - 24. Favorite Channel (LFC) 07/22/97 157 Chinook 04:47/11 1995 HDFAL Hidden Falls, AK OS/27/97 38.3 False Pt. Retreat (FPR) 07/22/97 224 15

Coho 04:47/50 1995 SSRAA Neets Bay, AK 06/01/97 - 20. Icy Point (IPB) 07/25/97 234 15
Table 7. Continued.

Release lnfonnation Recovery Infonnation

Size Size 

Coded-wire Brood 

Species Tag Code Year Agency Locality Date (mm) 

(g)

Locality (Station Code) Date (mm) 

Coho 07:09/46 1995 ODFW Columbia River, OR 05/30/97 - 37. Icy Point (IPA) 07/25/97 227 17

(Big Creek)

Chum 04:48/02 1995 BUROC Burro Creek, AK 06/21/97 12. Icy Strait (ISC) 07/21/97 162 

August

Chinook 04:40/51 1992 ADFG Fish Creek, AK 06/20/94 110 18. Upper Chatham (UCA) 08/23/97 68544

Coho No tag

Cross Sound (CSB) 08/26/97 247 29

ADFG = Alaska Department of Fish and Game; BURoe = Burro Creek; DIPAC = Douglas Island Pink and Chum; HDFAL = Hidden F

NMFS = National Marine Fisheries Service; ODFW = Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; SSRAA = Southern Southeast Regional 

Tag code on this fish identified it as a chinook salmon; however, it was identified in the field as a chum salmon and verified as such in th

electrophoresis. Further correspondence with a mark coordinator revealed that chum salmon may accidentally overwinter with chinook s
Table 8. Fork lengths of juvenile salmon captured by rope trawl in marine waters of the northern region of 

Alaska, May-October 1997. sd = standard deviation; ns = station not sampled.

June 

Locality

Size Range

(mm) 

Inshore 

Upper Chatham 124 71-136 94. 5 12.

Icy Strait 408 65-147 97. 1 10. Cross Sound 97 97. Icy Point 3 132-135 133. 1.7

July August

Size Range

(mm) 

Size Range

(mm) 

Si

Chum Salmon

103-140 116. 5 16. 1 22

612 88-175 133.4 12.4 116-210 167.3 22.

678 115-175 137. 8.4 181 107-196 161.8 18. 11 1

115-145 126. 11.4 131-159 143. 15 1

146 104-207 148. 7 26. 140-154 147. 11 1

All 536 65-147 96. 11.5 1 447 88-207 136. 8 13. 245 107-210 161.7 19. 38 1

Pink Salmon

Inshore 1 119 119. 150 150. 7 1

Upper Chatham 78-127 97. 5 13. 150 82-1 73 135.4 13. 123-218 163. 22.

Icy Strait 73-136 93.4 12. 269 112-175 136. 1 10. 211 129-207 155. 15. 19 1

Cross Sound 117-130 123. 131-171 144. 54 1

Icy Point 109-179 136.6 17. 133-162 145. 10.6 121 1

All 124 73-136 95. 8 13. 494 82-1 79 135.9 12. 284 123-218 155. 16.7 201 1
Table 8. Continued.

Locality

June

Size Range

(mm) 

July August

Size Range

(mm) 

Size Range

(mm) 

Siz

Sockeye Salmon

Inshore

Upper Chatham

Icy Strait

Cross Sound

Icy Point

All

3 129-144 134.3 8.4

48 78-137 103. 3 16.

64 84-193 112. 6 20. 1 141 141.0 

 

116 78-193 109. 6 19.

101-161 127.7 30. 129 129.

113-175 141.0 16. 147-210 179. 20.

125-167 138. 96-195 152. 26.4 4 1

6 1

119-175 156. 13.4 6 1

73 101-175 145.6 16. 96-210 158.8 27. 16 1

Coho Salmon

Inshore 4 116-140 131.0 11.5 162-230 200. 8 18.

Upper Chatham 66 107-220 137. 18.4 169-236 203.2 19. 219-286 245.4 19.4

Icy Strait 50 100-205 159.4 20.4 199-241 216. 14.4 205-259 236. 20. 3 2

Cross Sound 3 175-190 181.7 225-273 246. 16.4 5 2

Icy Point 3 183-202 189.3 11.0 7 203-238 223. 12.2 349 349. 1 3

All 123 100-220 147. 5 22.

Inshore 93- 187 135. 7 25.

Upper Chatham 3 167-177 172.

Icy Strait

Cross Sound

Icy Point 1 231 231.0 

All 93-231 143.0 31.5

47 162-241 207. 1 19.4 36 205-286 247.0 25. 926

Chinook Salmon

131-230 172.0 19. 161-205 193. 15. 8 1

201-256 226. 27.

217-314 245. 28. 4 2

2 2

52 131-230 172.0 19. 19 161-314 222.4 33.4 14 1
rJJ.
138000' 136000' 134000' 

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~PB 

42000' /'

./ 

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,.. 

p .... ...

.....

..... .,...,..

'm..

,...... ,.., ... .

.

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.. 

.. .. ...,......... ..... 

., .

, 

\\ .

. .,,

.

40000'

\... . .

140000' 138000' 136000' 1

Figure 1. Stations sampled during a survey of juvenile salmon in marine waters of the northern region of sou

May-October 1997. Stars identify the location of two major enhancement facilities in the region: Island Pink and Chum Hatchery) and HDFAL (Hidden Falls Hatchery).
Inshore Chatham Strait Icy Strait Cross Sound Icy Point

Temperature (deg C) Salinity (ppt) Settled zooplankton volume (ml)

10 

:;::... ...... (/) :;::... ..... :;::... :;::... ..... (/)

Q) 

(/)

::J ::J ..c ::J ::J

.g 

::J ::J ..c ::J 0') ::J 0') ::J 0')

::J 

.....

::J 

.....

::J 

.....

Figure 2. Surface ( 2 m) temperature, salinity, and zooplankton settled volumes sampled in

marine waters of the northern region of southeastern Alaska, May-October 1997.
. Inshore D Strai t 0 Coastal

320

Chum

,

IITB

240

160

Pink

= 1108

........

...0

(!)

Sockeye ...0

= 237

Coho

= 215

Chinook

n= 113

May

...... .. . ...... ....... ......

June July August

Month

September October

Figure 3. Catch per rope trawl haul of juvenile salmon in inshore, strait, and coastal stations in

marine waters of the northern region of southeastern Alaska, May-October 1997.
320

300

280

s::= 260

240

220

200

180

160

140

120

100

........... ............... ............... ......... ......... ............... ..............

!lID Chinook

D Coho

0 Sockeye

tlI Chum

. Pink

............... ...............

Distance offshore (kIn)

Figure 4. Number of juvenile salmon captured by rope trawl at the Icy Point stations

May-October 1997.
..c

100

Capelin

0::9 11- 13- ~15

100

Herring

0::9 11- 13- ~15

000

100

Sablefish

(Aug - Oct)

0::9 11- 13- ~15

000

Salmon

(June - Oct)

100

0::9 11- 13- ~15

2-m Temperatures (deg Celsius)

Figure 5. The association between surface ( 2 m) temperature and catch per haul of predominant

taxa captured by rope trawl in the northern region of southeastern Alaska

May-October 1997.
~ Pacific herring. salmon D sablefish III capelin 0 other 

Inshore

Stations

0.40

May June July August October

n = 256 n = 195 n = 142 n = 127 n = 21

-5 0. Strait

CtI Stations

'0 0.

+:i

00 0.40

0 0.

May June July August October

n = 186 n = 1162 n = 2862 n = 594 n = 464

Coastal

Stations

0.40

May June July August October

n = 273 n = 216 n = 296 n = 201 n = 5014

Figure 6. Species composition of predominant fish and squid species captured by rope trawl in

marine waters of the northern region of southeastern Alaska, May-October 1997.
'"rj

(fQ

(1) Fork length (mm)

.....::J

....... .......

0 ~ '"rj

~ ~ 0 (1) 

 

June (536) 

rn I ~ .-1-

() g

0.. .-I- (fQ

~ 0 .-I0.. cr' ::r July (1,447) (1) rn

(1) ~ 

....... 

August (250)

I,Q~.

I,Q s::

.....::J 

(1)

October (38)

_. 

(1) - (1) (1)

g

U'J

June (124) 

(1) (fQ ~

g:. 

rn -.0 

o..

(1) ~

July (494) ("t) ()

~:4 ~

August (284) 

.-I- 

.-1-

::r () s::

(1) ~ 

(1)

cr' 0..

(1) ~ cr' October (201)

_. 

rn ~

rn 0

C/:J. g:. 

("t) ~

June (116)

_. 

U'J ~

- N ~ (1) ("t) 

July (73) C/:J. U'J ~ 

N' ~ ~ (1) (fQ 

U'J 

(1) August (27)

(1)

(1) 

(1)

rn (1) October (16) ::r (1) ~

0 ~

::r ~

U'J ~

S' S ~ June (123) 

CD .-IJuly (47) + (1) '-' ::r (1)

.-I- ~ ::r

~o..

U'J .-I- :4 August (36)

(1) ::r ::r

rn 

(1) (1)

cr' ~ October (9) 0 ~

;x: (1)

 g

(1) (fQ

U'J _.

June (28)

.-I- 0

e: ~

U'J

_. 

 
Cii

I- 10

!l-

(.) ..

C1)

a..

100 125 150

Length (mm)

175 200 225

Figure 8. Bimodallength distribution of juvenile chum salmon captured by rope trawl in

coastal waters of the northern region of southeastern Alaska, July 1997.
S 0.

;:j

!5. 0.

0.40

..... ;..,

3-3

Number of fish

(1) (23) (8) (4) (4) (13) (40) (13) (1)

1.00

. .

...c::

(/)

...c::

c.I=

'"0

..... (,)

...c::

...... (,) (/), ;:j

'"0

.....

OJ)

..... p.

...c::

(/)

rJ':1

(,) p.. ;;... . .

OJ)

.....

...c::

(,)

...c::

(/)

OJ)

'"0

s..

rJ':1

. Fish Q Euphausacea

LiI O. Calanoida I!I Limacina sp.

DO. Decapoda

IZI Other

~ Oikopleura sp.

Figure 9. Diets of potential juvenile salmon predators captured by rope trawl in marine

waters of the northern region of southeastern Alaska, May-October 1997. Sample

sizes are shown above stacked bars; values in parentheses are the number of fish

containing at least one prey item.
APPENDIX
Appendix. Catches and life-history stage of salmonids and commerciallya important non-salmonids captured 

waters of the northern region of southeastern Alaska, May-October 1997. Dash means none ca

Juvenile

Date Haul No. Station Chum Pink Sockeye Coho Chinook Steelhead Sablefish Herring Pollock Chinook Herring Po

20 May 1001 TKI

20 May 1002 ABM

20 May 1003 FPR21 May 1004 DCD

21 May 1005 DCC21 May 1006 DCB

21 May 1007 DCA

22 May 1008 IPA22 May 1009 IPB22 May 1010 IPC22 May 1011 IPD23 May 1012 CSA23 May 1013 CSB23 May 1014 CSC

23 May 1015 CSD 24 May 1016 ISA

24 May 1017 ISB24 May 1018 ISC24 May 1019 ISD

25 May 1020 LFC 235

22 June 1021 TKI 154

22 June 1022 ABM

22 June 1023 FPR

23 June 1024 DCD

23 June 1025 DCC23 June 1026 DCB 10123 June 1027 DCA

24 June 1028 CSA24 June 1029 CSB

24 June 1030 CSC

24 June 1031 CSD
Appendix. --Continued.

Juvenile

Date Haul No. Station Chum Pink Sockeye Coho Chinook Steelhead Sablefish Herring Pollock Chinook Herring Po

25 June 1032 IPA

25 June 1033 IPB

25 June 1034 IPC

25 June 1035 IPD26 June 1036 ISA26 June 1037 ISB26 June 1038 ISC 524

26 June 1039 ISD26 June 1040 LFC

19 July 1041 DCA 22719 July 1042 UCD19 July 1043 DCC

20 July 1044 DCB 378 102

21 July 1045 ISA

21 July 1046 ISB

21 July 1047 ISC 491

21 July 1048 ISD 1231 206

22 July 1049 DCC

22 July 1050 FPR

22 July 1051 LFC23 July 1052 ABM

23 July 1053 TKI

24 July 1054 CSA24 July 1055 CSB24 July 1056 CSC25 July 1057 IPA

25 July 1058 IPB

25 July 1059 IPC

25 July 1060 IPD

26 July 1061 CSD
Appendix. --Continued.

Juvenile

Date Haul No. Station Chum Pink Sockeye Coho Chinook Steelhead Sablefish Herring Pollock Chinook Herring Po

27 July 1062 TKI

22 Aug 1063 ISA22 Aug 1064 ISB 115 161

22 Aug 1065 ISC

22 Aug 1066 ISD

23 Aug 1067 UCD

23 Aug 1068 UCC

23 Aug 1069 UCB

23 Aug 1070 DCA

24 Aug 1071 UCD

25 Aug 1072 IPA

25 Aug 1073 IPB25 Aug 1074 IPC

25 Aug 1075 IPD26 Aug 1076 CSA 

26 Aug 1077 CSB 26 Aug 1078 CSC

26 Aug 1079 CSD27 Aug 1080 FPR

27 Aug 1081 LFC

27 Aug 1082 ABM27 Aug 1083 TKI

02 Oct 1084 TKI03 Oct 1085 IPA 114 4512

03 Oct 1086 IPB03 Oct 1087 IPC 11103 Oct 1088 IPD

04 Oct 1089 CSA04 Oct 1090 CSB04 Oct 1091 CSC04 Oct 1092 CSD
Appendix 1. --Continued.

Juvenile

Date Haul# Station Chum Pink Sockeye Coho Chinook Steelhead Sablefish Herring Pollock Chinook Herring P

05 Oct 1093 ISA05 Oct 1094 ISB05 Oct 1095 ISC05 Oct 1096 ISD06 Oct 1097 DCA06 Oct 1098 LFC

06 Oct 1099 ABM07 Oct 1l00 FPR

Total 3 565 1108 237 215 113 795 545

Additional commercially important species captured included 3 juvenile lingcod and 13 juvenile rockfish. The lingcod were caugh

(stations CSA, IPA, and IPB). The rockfish were captured in July (12) and August (1) in outside waters (stations IPC and IPD in J

No trawling was done at this station.
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