Salmon studies in interior Alaska, 1996
By: by Matthew J. Evenson and Lisa Stuby.
Contributors: Stuby, Lisa.; Alaska. Division of Sport Fish. Statewide Research and Technical Services Unit.
Series: Fishery data series -- no. 97-31.
Publisher: Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish, Research and Technical Services
Published: 1997
Place of publication: Anchorage
Language: eng
Number of pages: 72
Subjects: Salmon -- Alaska, Interior -- Statistics.; Fish populations -- Alaska, Interior -- Measurement.; Fish-culture -- Alaska, Interior -- Statistics.
Description: Escapements of chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the Salcha and Chena rivers near Fairbanks, Alaska in 1996 were estimated using mark-recapture techniques. Estimates were 7,570 (SE=1,238) chinook salmon for the Salcha River and 7,153 (SE=913) for the Chena River. Females comprised only 0.26 of the escapement in the Salcha River and only 0.27 in the Chena River. Age class 1.3 comprised most of the males sampled in both rivers, while ages 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5 comprised most of the females in the samples. Estimates of escapement were attempted using tower counting techniques, however high, turbid water resulting from excessive rainfall prohibited counting during much of the run. Aerial survey counts of chinook salmon at peak escapement were 4,866 for the Salcha River and 2,233 for the Chena River populations. These aerial counts were 0.64 and 0.31 of the respective abundance estimates. A boat count was conducted in a section of the Chatanika River to index peak escapement of chinook salmon. The count was 198 chinook salmon. One hundred eight carcasses were collected on this survey. Males comprised 0.56 (SE=0.05) of this sample. Both males and females were most represented by age class 1.3. Coho salmon O. kisutch in the mainstream Delta Clearwater River near Delta Junction were counted from a drifting river boat at peak escapement on 29 October. Counts in spring areas adjacent to the mainstream river and in tributaries not accessible by boat were conducted from a helicopter on 22 October. The total count for the entire river was 17,375 coho salmon. The count of coho salmon in the mainstream river was 14,075, while the count in tributaries and spring areas was 3,300. Four hundred carcasses were collected on two separate sampling occasions to estimate age, size and sex composition. Females comprised 0.49 of the sample. Age 2.1 comprised 0.97 of the sample.
Notes: "November 1997"

Includes bibliographical references (p. 53-55).

Also issued online.