Analysis of St. John River 1965 and 1966 salmon scale samples

An examination of salmon scale samples collected from the St. John river in 1965 and 1966 was carried out to determine the occurrence of different groups based on years in the river, years in the sea, and previous spawnings. The following sea groupings were found: grilse or 1+; 2 and 2+; and previously spawned. Smolt ages present were 2, 3, 4, and 5 years. Grilse formed 85 per cent of the total, the 2 and 2+ group- ings 13.5 per cent, and previously spawned 1.5 per cent in 1965. Smolt-age groupings were 2, 55 per cent; 3, 41 per cent; 4, 3.5 per cent; and 5, 0.5 per cent. The 1966 sample consisted of grilse, 56.8 per cent; 2 and 2+, 30 per cent; and previously spawned, 12.2 per cent. Smolt ages were 2, 33.2 per cent; 3, 63.3 per cent; 4, 3 per cent; and 5, 0.5 per cent. A five-year cycle in the salmon population was felt to be responsible for the difference between the two samples.