 April 13, 2004 Ketchikan, AK - An aerial survey Monday morning showed no active spawn or schools of herring in the shallows in the West Behm Canal area, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The aerial survey was done at 7:00 am. Sunday, the Fish and Game vessel R/V Kestrel, surveyed Clover Pass, Back Island, Betton Island, and the Cleveland Peninsula shoreline from Point Francis to Caamano Point using sonar and sound gear. Only a small amount of herring were seen along the Port Stewart/Helm Bay shoreline. The Kestrel has left the area to conduct spawn surveys in the Bradfield Canal and Sitka. Sunday night an industry vessel equipped to conduct sonar surveys and to sample herring with a small seine looked over the Port Stewart/Helm Bay area. The survey did not show any large concentrations of fish along that shore. ADF&G reported that a sample of fish was taken with the seine net. ADF&G planned to look at those samples Monday. An aerial survey is planned for 11:00 am Tuesday. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game noted that this is a later survey than has been done over the past several days. According to ADF&G, by flying later in the morning there should be better visibility and the tide will be at a lower stage.
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