| Native fish wheels [mg an could catch eels —[azssmtz" THE CATCH of the sum- mer could be lamprey eels for operators of the Kitselas band’s fish wheels, Gitaus Fisheries manager Wilfred Mackenzie says a Seattle-based firm wants to buy the wriggling black serpent-like fish from the Kitselas band, ‘They'll buy as many els as we can catch,” he said, “They have a market for it’? _ “He said the Kitsclas hope to have their fish wheels turning once -again on ‘the river by July 8. In addition to the eccls, the band has a commercial. al- location fram the: Depart- nent- of: Fisheries and Oceans to take 10,000 sock- -eye selectively. That’s ‘the same level as last year, “Those salmon will be sur- plus to spawning require- ments. ; The fish wheel technology has been widely endorsed as a way of fishing selectively ‘without threatening weaker stocks. The commercial fishery’s nets at the mouth of the tiver kill rare runs of steel- head and wild coho along with the plentiful sockeye, The fish wheel, by con- trast, scoops up everything and places the live fish in holding tanks beside the pontoons. Kitselas fishery workers armed with dip nets then remove all the sockeye and throw all other species back in the river. Mackenzie says work is underway this) month to redesign the wheels. They’ve been ‘converted from three-scoop to four- scoop designs, and they’ve also switched from wood. ta more durable aluminum in most cases. Mackenzie said they've also gol a grant. from the B.C. Science Council to get Fleet set to hit Skeena KITSELAS BAND members will ply the waters of Kitselas Canyon with their rotating fish wheels. _The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 26, 1996 - A11 For Free MS is the most common a Estimates neurological disease affecting Call young adults in Canada, Decorating For Multiple Sclerosis Soclety of Canada 1-800-268-7582 i 635-2202 635-0207) Vinyl Siding Pressure Washing Drywall and Textured Ceilings pod Vez you coming to Prince George this weekend NG =_ ——_- RAMADA HOTEL (formerly The Holiday Inn) Downtown Prince George CALEDONIA SENIOR SECONDARY OFFICE HOURS 00* July 2+ 5:9 am-3 pm Da\g | | Twesciay ° Friday Kips** July §- 12: Pam-1] pm oe " Monday - Friday EAT ; E| July 15 - 19; Office closed SPECIAL FREE: July 22 - 24: Office closed fron Children’s Menu WEEKEND RATE July 29 + Aug 2:9 om - 1 pm (PER NIGHT) Monday - Friday Aug 6-9:9am-1 pm Tuesday - Friday Aug 12-14: 9am- 1 pm Monday - Wednesday Aug 19- 23: Pam-3pm Monday - Friday Aug 26: Regular Hours 8:30 am - 4:40 pm Monday - Friday PHONE: 635-6531 FAX: 635-5390 RAMADA HOTEL 444 George St., Prince George, B.C. Call Direct For Reservations 1-800-830-8833 TRY OUR SUNDAY BRUNCH at TRADERS RESTAURANT 1Qam - 2 pm Adults $13.95 © Children $8.95 “Subject to availability **Based on 2 children ealing from our Kids Menu for a weekend stay. Gr Pesce perio help from UBC's mechani- cal engincering department lo redesign the pontoons to make the fish wheels more manocuvrable, The new designs are being tested at UBC. The Kitselas expect to op- erate four fish wheels this year, most of them at Kit- selas Canyon, upstream of Kleanza ‘Creek on the Skeena. The Kitsumkalum band may operate: about three wheels at Hell’s Gate slough or points further downstream. , fully asa (esi there last year, Mackenzie said they’lt also work with the Gitxsan ta add more wheels in the Hazelton-Kitwanga —_—_ area. One was operated success- CONVOY suppty itp. Construction Materials “There’s also a possibility of other First Nations com- ing in from other parts of the province to work with us,’’ Mackenzie said. The Kitselas also continue lo examine the idea of es- lablishing their own custom processing plant, he added, but that plan won’t go ahead until. next year at the ear- liest, We are pleased to announce Convoy Supply Limited are now exclusive COMMERCIAL fishing switches inio high-gear today as fishers converge al the mouth of the Skeena River, vying for the prized sockeye salmon. As of June 5, there were 1,315 gillnet boats licenced to fish the north. coast waters. That’s nearly twice as many as were licenced to fish the entire south coast. ‘But Chris Dragseth of the Department of Fisherics and Oceans cautions that the nunibers could be misleading because this is the first year that area licencing has been in effect. Last year, licenced boats could fish the entire coast, ‘Normally there would have roughly been 1,400 to 1,600 gillnets and over 300 -. Seines fishing the north coast,” Dragseth ’ says. “‘At last year’s peak we had 1,680 gillnets up here, This year there’s 300 to 400 fewer. And we only have 190 seines licenced so far.”’ Dragseth credits the federal licence buyback scheme and area ficencing for the reduction in the numbers of vessels plying the north coast waters. But he says he’s not expecting a reduced catch. “It's hard to say if there will be reduc- tion,’ Dragseth says. ‘We'll have to wait until the 26th for the best indication of that. But the smaller numbers will make the fleet more manageable,’’ Skeena sockeye are especially valued be- cause of their high oil content, The river's sockeye rin this year is expected to be more than 3 million fish this year, making it likely the most lucrative in the province. The Emerson Medical Clinic | NEW PHONE NUMBER IS 615-5040 THE NEW BUILDING LOCATION IS 4634 Park Avenue, 4th Floor. For As Little Ag distributors for Tested | Truss Systems. Feel free to drop by and talk to our knowledgeable staff for your construction material needs. 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