Craigflower Creek Escapement for years 1945 to 1993

Craigflower Creek (formerly Deadman's Creek)     Historic Escapement Reports from DFO.

 

Specie code:  C - Coho;  CT - Cuthroat trout;  CH - Chinook;  CM - Chum;  ST - Steelhead trout;  ST - Stickleback;
 

DATE
Coho M
Coho F
Chum
Steelhead
Cuthroat 
AUTHOR
NOTES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
1946
200
200
400

 

 
C.G. Barrie
Nov. 3, 1946 approx 3-500 coho and 300-500 chum entering channel.
1947
350
350
200
25

 
C.G. Barrie
Nov. 22 est. 500 to 1000 coho; 300 to 500 chum; 1 to 50 steelhead in channel.  
1948
200
200

 

 

 
C.G. Barrie
Stream inspection dates: Oct. 22; Nov. 19; Dec. 17 and Jan. 29.  Run start Nov. 17; peak Dec 13; end Jan. 29.  Estimated 300 to 500 in channel.  Sex ration: 50% male 50% female.  
1949
100
100

 

 

 
C.G. Barrie
Stream Inspection dates:  Nov. 8 and Feb. 1.  Run start Dec. 1.  Peak Dec. 15.  End Dec. 30.  Estimated 100 to 300 coho on grounds Sex ratio 50% male 50% female.  
1950
100
100

 

 

 
C.G. Barrie
Stream inspection dates:  Nov. 24, 1950 and Dec.. 15, 1950.  Run start Nov. 10, peak Dec. 9, end Dec 30.  Estimated 100 to 300 coho on grounds.  Sex ration 50% male 50% female.  Water levels normal.  Predators: mergansers and gulls.
1951
350
350

 

 

 
A.J. Touchings
Stream inspection dates:  Nov. 29, 1951.  Run start Nov 20, peak Dec. 10, end Dec. 20.  Estimated 500 to 1000 coho on grounds.
1952
385
315

 
25

 
A.J. Touchings
Stream Inspection dates:  Nov.21 and Dec. 17, 1952.  Run start Dec. 12, peak Dec. 17. end Dec 24.  Estimated 500 to 1000 coho and 1 to 50 steelhead on grounds.  Sex ration 50% male, 45% female, 5% jacks.  Water level normal.  Spawning beds in upper reaches evenly distributed.  Predators; mergansers.  Due to low water conditions at time of first inspection no salmon could ascend the stream to the spawning beds, but about three weeks later heavy rains rose the stream so as the salmon could ascend in good numbers.  At time of last inspection spawning beds were in ideal conditions (Dec. 17th).    
1953
350
350

 

 

 
A.J. Touchings
Stream Inspection date:  Jan. 6, 1954.  Run start dec. 3, peak Dec. 19, end Dec. 23.  Estimated 500 - 1000 coho; 1 - 100 steelhead.
1954
35
35

 
25

 
A.J. Touchings
Stream inspection date:  Dec. 9, Dec. 31, 1954.  Run start Nov. 28, peak Dec. 15, end Dec. 30.  Estimated 50 - 100 coho; 1 - 50 steelhead.  Predators sighted Merganser ducks.
1955
14
11

 

 

 
A.J. Touchings
Start run Dec. 1, peak Dec. ?, end Dec. 30.  Steelhead run start Dec. to March.  Estimated coho 25.
1956
350
350

 
25

 
A.J. Touchings
Inspection dates Nov. 30, Dec. 18, 1956.  Run start Nov. 25, peak Dec. 8, end Dec 20.  Steelhead Nov. to March.  Estimated fish on grounds; coho 700; steelhead 25.  Evidence 5% errosion/scouring due to recent high waters starting Dec. 8.
1957
38
37

 

 

 
G.T. McIndoe
Inspection dates Nov. 19, 24, Dec. 11, 15, 19.  Run start Dec. 5, peak Dec. 20, end Dec 30.  Fish on grounds coho 75.  Water level very low till second week in December.  This stream is overgrown by willows etc. in some stretches and requires fairly high water to allow good passage for fish.
1958
?
?

 
25

 
G.T. McIndoe
Inspection dates:  Oct. 23, Nov. 2, 8, 12, 16, 24, Dec. 11, 17.  Run coho start Nov. 10, peak Dec 8, end Dec 30.  Steelhead Nov. to April.  Fish on grounds coho ??.  Steelhead 25.  This stream is overgrown by willowsand hardhack in spots and requires a light bulldozer to clear out the streambed where necessary.  
1959
38
37

 
10

 
H. Burrow
Inspection dates:  Frequently during period Nov. 1 to Jan. ?  Run starts coho late Nov., peak Dec. 8, end Dec. 30.  Steelhead Dec. to March.  Fish on grounds: coho 75, steelhead few reported.  At the end of 1959, some logging debris was left in stream above spawning area by a small operator, this is to be removed as soon as weather permits the operator to get a `cat' in.
1960
38
37

 

 

 
H. Burrow
Inspection dates:  Nov. 23, Dec. 23.  Run starts coho Nov. 15, peak Nov. 30, end Dec 15.  Steelhead possibly a small winter run.  Estimated fish on grounds, coho 75, steelhead not known.  Flood conditions occurred on January 14 and 15, 1961.
1962
41
34

 

 

 
H.V. Grainger
Inspection dates:  Periodic throughout season.  Run starts coho Nov. 15, peak Nov. 25, end Dec. 31.  Estimated coho on grounds 75.  
1963
100
100

 

 

 
H.V. Grainger
Not inspected.  Reports from local residents.  Run start Nov. 5, peak Dec. 10, end Dec. 31.  Estimated fish on grounds, coho 200.  
1964
100
100

 

 

 
H.V. Grainger
Inspection dates:  November and December.  Coho run starts Nov., peak Dec10, end Dec 10.  Estimated fish on grounds 200.  
1965
100
100

 

 

 
H.V. Grainger
Inspection dates: Nov. and Dec.  Coho run starts Nov., peak Nov. end Dec. 9.  
1966
200
200

 

 

 
H.V. Grainger
Inspection dates:  December.  Coho run starts Dec. 2, peak Dec. 15, end Jan. 1967.  Estimated coho on grounds 400.
1967
0
0

 

 

 
H.V. Grainger
Inspection dates:  Nov. and Dec.  Up to the end of December at no time this year was there any signs of coho salmon in the stream or any evidence of any being in the stream.  This stream wanders through farmland and populated areas.  This is the first time as far back as our records go that no coho have being observed in the stream.  (see report for 1970)
1968
38
37

 

 

 
H.V. Grainger
Inspection dates: Nov. 18, Dec. 11.  Coho arrived in stream Dec. 1.  Spawn start Des. 2; peak Dec. 12, end Dec. 31.  Estimated coho on grounds 75.  Small windfall debris and small jambs in stream but not impassable to salmon.  Could be removed with very little effort.
1969
160
40

 

 

 
H.V. Grainger
Inspection dates:  Periodically during spawning period.  Coho arrived in stream Dec. 10.  Spawn start Dec. 12; peaks Dec. 24, ends Jan. 1970.  Estimated coho on grounds 200.  20% male, 20% female, 60% jacks.  Note:  The percentage of Jacks, coho, in this river was unusually high this year and much higher than reported for dry previous years.  
1970
375
375

 

 

 
H.V. Grainger
Coho arrived in stream Dec. 14.  Spawn start Dec. 14; peak Dec. 20, end Dec. 30.  Estimated coho on grounds 750.  Water level very low all summer and to Dec. 10th.  Although reported nil in 1967 a good run this year for this stream.  It is likely the 1967 run arrived late and was not observed.  Over a weeks work by two to three men to clear old forest debris in Dec. 1970 under Winter Works Program.
1971
12
12

 

 

 
H.V. Grainger
Inspection dates during spawning period.  Coho arrived in stream Nov. 10.  Spawn start Nov. 10, peak Nov. 15, end Nov. 25.  Estimated coho on grounds 25.  ??? 
1972
12
12

 

 

 
H.V. Grainger
Inspection dates Dec. 6-8; Jan. 3, 1973.  Coho arrived in stream Dec. 17.  Spawn start Dec. 17; peak Jan. 3/73.  Estimated coho on grounds 25.  Water levels very high in March and December.
1973
24
23

 

 

 
H.V. Grainger
Inspection dates Dec. 4; 19; 30th.  Coho spawn start Dec. 4, peak Dec. 19, end Dec. 30th.  Coho counted 47.
1974
38
37

 

 

 
H.V. Grainger
Inspection dates November 25, Dec. 20; 21; 23; 29.  Coho arrived in stream Nov. 18.  Spawn start Nov. 22; peak Nov. 25, end Dec. 31.  Coho counted on grounds 75.  Several days were spent in the lower portions of the creek clearing out two small log jams which would have affected the upstream migration of salmon.
1975
13
12

 

 

 

 
Inspection dates Nov. 19, 27th.  Coho arrived in stream Nov. 19.  spawn start Nov. 24; peak Nov. 27, end Jan/76.  Estimated coho on grounds 25.  Water level very low, summer and fall - High water during spawning period.  Flows through farm and residential areas.  High water conditions causing flooding during month of December made it very difficult to estimate number of spawning salmon in the stream.
1976
13
12

 

 

 

 
Inspection dates;  weekly during spawning period.  Coho arrived in stream Dec. 10.  Spawn start  Dec. 30, peak Dec. 30, end Jan. 15/77.  Estimated coho on grounds 25.  Very low water level during migration period.  Would not pass fish to spawning grounds.  A total of one coho counted by Dr. Langford at the weir.   It is suspected that low water levels prevented access.
1977
28
34

 

 

 

 
Inspection dates:  daily during migration.  Coho arrived in stream  Oct. 31.  Spawn start Nov. 15; peak Nov. 22, end Dec. 15.  Coho on grounds 62.  35% male; 55% female; 10% jacks.  Heavy silting from excavation work done ear headwaters.  Most spawning grounds affected.  Normal, high water levels due to rain later in October.  Land cleared near headwaters early in November caused heavy silting over large extent of spawning grounds.  Increased number of coho returning in 1977 possibly maybe attributed to early Juan de Fuca closure.
1978
129
79

 

 

 

 
Inspection dates:  Daily checks made at counting fence during migration period.  Coho arrived in stream Nov. 25.  Spawning starts Dec. 1, peak Dec. 7, end Jan. 10/79.  Total coho counted on grounds 208.  45% male. 38% female. 17% jacks.  Approximately  40 coho died unspawned due to toxic pollution in tidal portion of stream immediately below Helmegren Bridge (Nov. 20/78).  These 40 were not included in total numbers on grounds.  Further to land clearing in 1977, ditching and erosion caused more silting onto spawning grounds.  Coho observed spawning in the area of silting.  No fish observed above the above noted obstruction this fall.  Silting mentioned above occurred approximately two miles upstream from the mouth as a result of land clearing on Herbert Plasterer's Creed Road property.
1979
45
37

 

 

 
B.R. Gant
Inspection dates:  Regularly throughout spawn.  Coho arrived in stream Dec. 7.  Run duration undetermined.  Total coho counted 82.  45% male,, 45% female, 10% jacks.  Development above Marler Drive on Plasterer property caused heavy silting downstream during flood conditions.  Banks were overflowed and clay scoured.  Fortunately spawn beds are above Plasterer's property, so silting would not be a problem, however high water might have caused some damage.  Abnormal flood conditions present in mid December.
1980
38
37

 

 

 

 
Inspection dates:  Regularly throughout spawn.  Coho arrived in stream Nov. 7.  Run start Nov. 15, peak Nov. 21, end Dec. 1.  Total coho counted 75.  45% male,, 50% female, 5% jacks.  Flood conditions one month after spawn.  Heavy silting throughout spawn area.   Some erosion.  Water level normal during spawn.  Abnormally high during flood.  River otters above 2nd falls killed many spawners.  Strongly suggest the be eliminated.  Land cleared three years ago adjacent to upper reaches of stream caused heavy siltation once again.  Tremendous flood December 24th to 27th.  Difficult to determine loss of spawn.
1981
15
10

 

 

 

 
Inspection regularly throughout spawn.  Coho arrived in stream Nov. 18.  Spawn start nov. 25, peak Dec 6, end Dec. 15.  Total Coho on grounds 25.  40% male; 40% female; 20% jacks.  Heavy silt lode coming off Creed Rd. property during December rains.  High - heavy rains throughout migration period.  Due to a small run most spawners were below the small falls.  River otters in deep pools.  Very poor spawning of Coho this year.  Possibly due to two reasons. 1) Tremendous incidental catch of early Coho by Seine boats in the Straits of Juan de Fuca.  2) Excessive siltation in the fall and spring of 1978/79 may have contributed to the high mortality of the eggs and fry.  Work crews from Wilkinson Rd. Centre cleared lower portion of the stream during late September.
1982
50
40

 

 

 

 
Inspection regularly throughout spawn season.  Coho arrived Dec. 3; spawn started Dec. 10; peak Dec. 15; end Dec 20.  Total Coho on grounds 90.  45% male; 45% female; 10% jacks.  Late arrival due to low water.  Fish held in Portage for 3-4 weeks.  Fish located near Pike Lake.  Otters sighted in creek.  
1983
120
120

 

 

 

 
Inspections throughout spawning season; Oct. 20 to Dec. 20.  Coho arrived on grounds Nov. 4; spawn starts Nov. 12; peak Nov. 30; end Dec. 30.  Total Coho on grounds 240.  40% male; 50% female; 10% jacks.  Salmon distributed entire length of bed from Marlere Drive to Pike Lake at Mann Avenue above Pike Lake.  River otters in creek.  Largest Coho return in many years.  Locals living along stream commented most fish and furthest extent of spawning ever seen (see map).  Recommended a trap and counting fence on stream for 1984.
1984
45
45

 

 

 

 
Four inspections Oct. 9 to Oct. 30.  Coho arrived on grounds Nov. 2; spawn started Nov. 10; peak Nov. 15; end Dec 1.  Total Coho on grounds 90.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
1985
60
60

 

 

 

 
Inspection dates: Nov. 2; 5; 9; 15; 22; Dec. 2; 10; 20; Jan. 15; 22.  Coho arrived on grounds Nov. 20; spawn start Dec 20; peak Jan. 1; end Jan. 20.  Estimated total Coho on grounds 120.  Abnormally low-freezing conditions end of November-Fish migration and egg development unusually late.  Spawners extended to Prior Lake - Thetis Lake tributary but not to Pike Lake side.  Otters at fish trap and at canyon.  !3 female Coho taken at Fish Trap for Goldstream Hatchery producing 30,000 eggs. 15,250 fry released into creek and lakes from March 10 and June 11, 1985.
1986
100
100

 

 

 

 
Inspection dates Nov. 22; Dec. 6.  Coho arrived Nov. B; Spawn start Nov. B; peak Dec. A; end Dec. C.  Estimated Coho on grounds 200.  Spawning throughout system up to Prior Lake and Pike Lake.  Low flows prohibited access until rains on Nov. 15, 1986.  Falls at mouth impassable at low flows.  Only obstruction is the falls at the mouth of the creek which are passable only during high flows.  Counting fence was removed by a `concerned' citizen when he noticed a number of fish below it were being blocked.  Accurate count therefore not obtained.  12,631 coho fry released into system during spring 1986 (all with R.H. ventral clip).
1987
23
47

 

 

 
Stefan Beckman
This is the year Esquimalt Anglers (Garry Caton) got heavily involved in managing the creek.  Male to 17 lbs., Female to 15 lbs.  Inspection dates Nov. 2;11;Dec. 4; 12.  Coho arrived on grounds Nov. A; Spawn start Nov. B; peak Dec. A; end Dec. C.  Estimated Coho on grounds 70.  Water levels remained critically low until early December.  Some seal predation in Portage Inlet.  Otter predation as well.  Portage Inlet Salmon Society succeeded in obtaining 48,382 Coho eggs from 32 female and 7 male Coho.  Another 30 Coho were let go above fence.  The fence was removed on Nov. 26/87.No fish had been released into Craigflower Creek in 1987.
1988
7
8

 

 

 
Stefan Beckman
Inspection dates Oct. 18; 30; Nov. 6; 15; 22; Dec. 1.  Coho arrived in stream Nov. A; Spawn start Nov. B; peak Dec. A; end Dec. B.  Estimated total Coho on grounds 15.  Water levels normal this year.  The Portage Inlet Salmon Society operated a broomstick fence again this year.  However, due to vandalism and broken broomsticks, Coho moved upstream without being counted or eggs collected.  Escapement of 15 Coho was observed by Fishery Officers and volunteers.  This is a very disappointing Coho return. Colquitz Ck. also had a poor return suggesting that these fish must have been impacted on in the ocean.  In mid May/88, 8000 fry wee released into Pike Lake, and 8000 Coho fry were released into Prior Lake.  
1989
64
64

 

 

 
Stefan Beckman
Inspection dates Oct. 18; Nov.. 9; 10; 11; 20; 25; Dec. 2; 14; 5; 19.  Coho arrived in stream Oct.C; Spawn start Nov. B; peak Dec. A; end Dec. B.  Estimate coho on grounds 128. Flood condition in earl December.  Environmental Youth Corps enumerated stream and found 9 coho between Thanet Rd. and Pike Lake, 1 coho just south of Bukin Dr. E., and 2 coho between Prior Lake and McKenzie Lake.  The Portage Inlet Salmon Society operated a broomstick fence again this year.  However, in early December, the broomstick fence was bypassed by floodwaters.  The Environmental Youth Corps enumerated the stream thoroughly in mid-December to assess distribution and enumeration.  The Goldstream Hatchery is incubating 45322 coho eggs from this years brood stock.  As no brood stock was obtained in 1988, no coho fry were released into Craigflower Creek in 1989.  (56 Coho to Goldstream Hatchery)   
1990
88
87

 

 

 
S. Doyle
Inspection dates Oct. 4; 12; 15; 17; 20; 21; Nov. 22; 23.  Coho arrived in stream Nov. 8.  Spawn start Nov. C. Estimated Coho on grounds 175.  Talcott Rd. - stream bank erosion.  The creek flooded three times: Nov. 8; 24 and Dec. 8/90.  The trap was washed out each time.  Fish sighted from Marler Drive, Highland Rd., 1st bridge to Prior Lake, Barker bridge and upstream to Pike Lake entrance.  In October fish unable to migrate 100 feet past Talcott Rd.  culvert due to low flows.  Brood capture was attempted by the Portage Inlet Salmonoid Society but was unsuccessful.  A survey was done for an improved site on the creek and better fence design.  No coho fry were released into Craigflower Creek in 1990.
1991
20
20

 

 

 
S. Bechmann
Inspection dates Oct. 22; 28; Nov. 12.  Coho arrived in stream Nov. A.  Spawn started Nov. C.  Estimated Coho on grounds 40.   Water flow was very high.  Unable to do creek walk enumerations.  The Portage Inlet Enhancement Society built a new brood stock collection fence upstream of the old site.  The volunteers trapped 28 Coho at the fence and obtained 25400 eggs.  A panel had been lifted at the fence by someone and coho migrated upstream uncounted.  The reach from Marler Drive to the mouth experienced severe oxygen depletion in September/91 resulting in high fry mortality.  The creek should be flushed several times in late summer to replenish oxygen levels.  No fry transplanted to Craigflower Cr. in 1991.
1992

 

 

 

 

 
S. Doyle

 
 

1993