Reconstruction of the Total Return of Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) to the Skeena River for Brood Years 1965 to 1982

An assessment of the total return of sockeye salmon to the Skeena River is presented for brood years from 1965 to 1982. Annual reconstructions required catch and spawning escapement data. Age structure information was used to apportion the catch and escapement to the appropriate brood year. The proportion of the catch in each of the major interception fisheries consisting of Skeena River origin sockeye salmon for years 1982 to 1987 was based on a series of studies using tagging, genetic, scale pattern and parasite markers. Three different procedures were used to estimate stock composition of the catch for years prior to 1982 and for 1988. The total run size estimates from each of the three procedures are compared.