CPLJ mm P/FR/SK/49

No. 1

A FISHERIES SURVEY OF RICHMOND LAKE

by

G. C. Schultze

SK-49

British Columbia Ministry of Environment Fisheries Branch Smithers, B.C.

Skeena Fisheries Report No. 85-03

April 1985

INTRODUCTION

Richmond (Priestly) Lake is a small lake (31 ha) situated

approximately 35 km east of Burns Lake, B.C. The lake was originally

surveyed in 1968. The only fish species present at that time was lake

chub. Because it was aesthetically pleasing and access was fair, the

recreational potential of this lake was considered high. The lake was

subsequently stocked from 1969 to 1980 with rainbow trout (Table 1).

Table 1. Stocking history of Richmond Lake (rainbow trout).

Year

Number

Size (no/kg)

1969

10,000

220

1971 12,000 881 1973 7,900 936 1974 10,000 804 1976 10,000 714 1977 10,000 227 1978 10,000 333 1979 10,000 294 1980 10,000 357

The stocking was discontinued after 1980 because the access road

had degraded to the point that it was no longer passable for the

hatchery truck. Richmond Lake was netted in 1977 by a fisheries crew to

determine age distribution, size ranges and species composition.

Because the stocking was discontinued in 1980, a fisheries crew

was sent to the lake in June 1984 to assess the condition of the road,

determine if fish were still present in the lake, and if they were

present obtain age distribution and size range data. This would enable

the fisheries branch in deciding whether to resume stocking.

METHODS

A variable mesh gillnet was set for 2.5 hours and the lake was

angled for 2.5 hours.

RESULTS

The access road was in poor shape with a mud hole that was

marginal even for a four-wheel drive. Richmond Lake is a five minute

walk from this point. There was a forest service campsite and a boat at

the lake. There was also evidence that anglers are still utilizing

this lake.

Thirteen fish were angled and 14 fish were netted. Sixteen fish

were kept for sampling (Appendix 1). All fish captured appeared to be

about the same size. The average length was found to be larger than the

fish sampled in 1977 (Table 2). The average weight of the 1984 sample

was 533 g.

Table 2. A comparison of the average length of Richmond Lake

rainbows between 1977 and 1984 samples. 1977

1984

n=43 n=l6

33.0 cm

38.2 cm

The scale analysis showed that the fish sampled in 1984 were 4+

to 6+, older than the fish sampled in 1977 which were 2+ to 4+ (Table

3).

Table 3. A comparison of the ages of the rainbows in Richmond Lake between the 1977 and 1984 samples.

1977 1984

Age Class Number % Number % 0+

0

0

0

0

1+ 0 0 0 0 2+ 15 35 0 0 3+ 22 51 0 0 4+ 6 14 7 47 5+ 0 0 6 40 6+ 0 0 2 13

TOTAL

43 100 15 100

DISCUSSION

Since there doesn't appear to be any natural recruitment to

Richmond Lake, there should not have been any fish younger than 5+

found in the 1984 sample. After careful examination of the scale

samples it was decided that the fish sampled were all of hatchery

origin and that an annulus May have been lost possibly because of scale

erosion or lack of growth because of stress due to lack of spawning

opportunity. The fish sampled were all in spawning condition and the

females were all egg bound.

CONCLUSION

The fish in Richmond Lake provide angling opportunities, and it

is an aesthetically pleasing location. The road condition may have

reduced the sport angling on the lake but has not stopped it. Since the

lake is

still providing a sport fishery, stocking should be continued on the

lake though instead of stocking 6,000 at 220/kg (the calculated

stocking) put in 2,000 at 220/kg. The access road could be left the way

it is until public pressure demands it to be upgraded.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Resume stocking at 2,000 fry at 220/kg. 2. Leave access as it is. 3. Monitor the lake in 5 years to evaluate if any adverse changes are

taking place. 4. See if there is any possibility for providing spawning habitat.

APPENDDIX 1

Lake: Richmond Lake Survey Date: June 28/84

Fish

Species

Length

Weight

Sex

Comments

Age Reading

No. cm. in. g. oz. 1st 2nd 1

RBT

34.0

425

M

R

R

2 RBT 35.5 450 F eggbound 3+ 4+ 3 RBT 35.5 400 M 3+ 4+ 4 RBT 36.0 500 M 3+ 5+ 5 RBT 37.0 450 M 3+ 4+ 6 RBT 37.5 500 M 4+ 4+ 7 RBT 37.5 500 M 3+ 4+ 8 RBT 37.5 500 M 3+ 4+ 9 10

RBT RBT

38.0 38.2

550 450

F M

eggbound 4+ 4+

5+

5+ 11 RBT 38.5 525 M 4+ 4+ 12 13 14

RBT RBT RBT

39.5 40.5 41.0

675 600 600

F F M

eggbound eggbound

4+ 4+ 4+

5+ 5+ 5+

15 16

RBT RBT

42.0 43.5

700 700

M M

bright fish skinny

4+ 5+

6+ 6+

Ave. 382 Ave. 533 H20 temperature - 16°C Angled 2.5 hours — caught 13 fish Netted 2.5 hours — caught 14 fish

APPENDIX 2

Richmond Lake

Richmond Lake rainbows