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Research Document - 2001/037

Status of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) populations in Crabbes and Robinsons Rivers, and Middle Barachois, Fischells and Flat Bay Brooks, Newfoundland, 1999

By T. R. Porter, G. Clarke, and J. Murray

Abstract

Adult Atlantic salmon were visually counted in Middle Barachois Brook 1-3 August, and Crabbes River, Robinsons River, Fischells Brook, and Flat Bay Brook, 14-23 August 2000. The surveys were conducted by crews of 2 to 13 snorkellers floating down the main stem of each river. Salmon were predominately concentrated in pools with water depths less than 1m. An adjustment factor, ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 was applied to the counts in each river section to account for fish not observed. There were no known removals after the survey, therefore the adjusted count is considered to be the spawning escapement for the river. The salmon retained by anglers and 10% of the hooked-and-released salmon were added to the adjusted spawner counts to approximate the total returns to each river. The estimated total numbers of salmon that returned to each river are: Crabbes River, 1026 small and 155 large salmon; Middle Barachois Brook, 1142 small and 155 large salmon; Robinsons River, 1425 small and 322 large salmon; Fischells Brook, 1800 small and 276 large salmon: and, Flat Bay Brook, 2308 small and 477 large salmon. The percentage of the egg deposition conservation requirements achieved were 63% for Crabbes River, 95% for Middle Barachois Brook, 135% for Robinsons River, 142% for Fischells Brook, and 167% for Flat Bay Brook. The egg deposition is higher in 2000 than in 1999 for all rivers except Crabbes River. The information available did not lend itself to forecasting the abundance of salmon in 2001. Two rainbow trout were observed in Crabbes River. The origin of these rainbow trout is unknown.

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