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Chinook run tops forecasts This story was published Saturday, May 24th, 2003 By
Anna King There is nothing better than a spring chinook -- especially when there are more in the river than anyone expected. "The run has far exceeded our expectations," said Jonathan Modie, spokesman for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. The currently estimated run of 192,000 Columbia River Basin spring chinook salmon is nearly 47,000 above initial forecasts. That's allowed tribal fishermen to open their second commercial gillnet fishing period. "It's a little on the unusual side," said Stuart Ellis, harvest management biologist for the fish commission. "The year of 2000 was the first time the tribes had any opportunity for commercial sales of chinook since the 1970s." Anglers from Yakama, Warm Springs, Umatilla and the Nez Perce tribes met with the Columbia River Compact, representing Oregon and Washington, and decided to open the season from 6 a.m. Thursday to 6 p.m. today."We are teaching our children and our grandchildren to fish," said Kathryn Brigham of the Umatilla tribe. "It's very important to us, my husband has fished since the age of eight." The public can buy fish caught during this time throughout the Columbia Basin at over-the-bank sales. "They are very good eating," Ellis said. "You find a lot of people who think sockeye are better, but many people think that the spring chinook are better." Tribal sellers can be found at various locations between Bonneville Dam and McNary Dam. Major sales locations include the Columbia Point Marina in Richland, Marine Park at Cascade Locks, Lone Pine at The Dalles and the boat launch near Roosevelt. People who wish to buy fish will need a cooler and ice to store them on the ride home. Call toll-free (888) 289-1855 for more information. Scientists use environmental conditions, the number of returning fish from the previous year and early counts to gauge the number of fish expected in a particular run. The preseason forecast for this season's run was 145,400 at the mouth of the Columbia River. Fishery scientists now believe 192,000 spring chinook have returned. The return of 5-year-old fish is unusually large. "For some reason there are certainly more of them than we were expecting by quite a bit," Ellis said. Conditions may have been favorable when they ventured out to sea, or they may have survived well in the ocean, Ellis said. The return of the young male jacks also is good, meaning a strong run is likely next year. And this year's summer and fall runs also are expected to be good. Coming back upstream to their spawning grounds is a difficult swim. "Getting to Bonneville is one thing, but that is just the first step," Modie said. "They have to get through quite a number of dams." Fishing regulations and the rehabilitation of environment for spawning have continued to help wild salmon numbers. "There is a good amount of habitat out there for these fish, but there are some areas that aren't great," Ellis said. Teaching the importance of fishing and caring for the Earth to younger generations is very important to the tribes. "It is important that we treat all our natural resources with respect," Brigham said. Although fishing has changed drastically over the years, it is still a good way to earn money and help support a family, she said. "At one time, that's all they had to do is fish," Brigham said. "We did a lot of trading; fishing was just a way of life." Now, families have to supplement their fishing with other jobs but still take time off to fish. Salmon are used in many traditional ceremonies for the Umatilla tribe, including namings, funerals, memorials, gatherings and weddings. Traditionally, the spring salmon are caught and stored specifically for these ceremonies and hold a place of honor during ceremonial meals. "It's the first food on the table at our longhouse," Brigham said. |