Bibliography Background About KRIS
Bear RiverNotes from California Department of Fish and Game Files, Eureka Office.
Compiled by Suzie Van Kirk, April 1998
Stocking Records
Stream Survey, 1934
Memo from Leo Shapovalov, Stanford, 20 Dec. 1948
Stream Surveys 1952-1954
Letter from Vern Moore
Stocking Records 1961-1964
Stream Survey, 17 Oct. 1980
Anadromous Fish Surveys 1996-1997
1) Stocking Records
| Year | Number of Steelhead |
| 1930 | 50,000 |
| 1931 | 50,000 |
| 1932 | 20,000 |
| 1933 | 45,000 |
| 1934 | 15,000 |
| 1935 | 30,000 |
| 1936 | 20,360 |
| 1939 | 25,000 |
| 1940 | 20,000 Snow Mt. eggs from Ft. Seward Hatchery |
| 1942 | 15,000 Ft. Seward Hatchery |
2) Stream Survey, 1934, performed by Scott Feeland, assisted by Jos. Bognuda of Ferndale. Feeland wrote:
"I consider this one of the best trout streams in my district. The watershed is all in large holdings with no merchantable timber thereon, consequently is likely to always maintain its present minimum flow. The upper section is difficult of approach so few anglers ever use it. The middle section, even though not too easily reached at most points, is quite heavily fished, especially in the early part of the season as it clears early on account of its length and because the angler is assured of a nice basket of fish and of a little larger size than those of the lower reaches. The fish from this stream, while not large, are always firm from the cold water and plump from the abundant feed. The natural spawn plus the additional plantings are maintaining the fish of this stream to an abundant level. These waters have been stocked for the past 4 years to my knowledge, principally steelhead. The past season this stream received 65,000 fingerlings in 4 different plants and it is in my opinion in no danger of overstocking. This stream is accessible for planting in middle section by several ranch roads running directly to the stream. In lower section, it is followed for 5 miles by a county road using at most points the stream bar for a road bed and fording the stream at least ten times in that distance. The upper section can be reached at one point by truck at a point called Happy Valley. The cans would have to be carried here a distance of about 100 yards..."
3) Memo from Leo Shapovalov, Stanford, 20 Dec. 1948:
"In a discussion with me on December 13, 1948, Warden Walter Grey of Eureka said that local residents on Bear River had told him that once it had possessed runs of King salmon but that these had largely died out, for unknown reasons."
4) Stream Surveys by E. Bailey:
6 June 1952: 4 boys, 12 years old, fishing at bridge at Capetown in 1.5 hours caught 10 steelhead, 4.5-5.5 inches.
1 July 1952: Three photos of mouth of Bear River, statement made that natural propagation was "Excellent," identified king salmon and steelhead. Eight seine hauls caught steelhead, king salmon, sculpin, sucker and stickleback. Bailey wrote: "Capetown resident, Mr. Genzoli, owns ranch around lagoon and estuary. He reports that many half pounders in river shortly after mouth opens, usually in October. Doesn't believe they go more than two miles upstream, then back to ocean. He believes these half pounders may be CT (Doc. Reeves, barber in Ferndale)."
20 Aug. 1952: Seine hauls caught 22 steelhead (1.4-2.3 inches); 67 suckers; and 26 sticklebacks.
3 Aug. 1953: Seining, Site #1, 12 SH (1.4-3.0 inches)
Site #2, 11 SH (1.4-2.0 inches)
Site #3, l KS (3.7 inches)
46 SH (1.5-4.7 inches)
20 Aug. 1954: Seining, Site #1, 7 SH (2.3-3.1 inches)
6 suckers
7 sticklebacks
Site #2, 16 SH (2.2-2.8 inches)
suckers and sticklebacks
Site #3, 12 SH (2.4-3.4 inches)
suckers and sticklebacks
5) Letter from Vern Moore, Box 672, Home Ave., Fortuna, no date, addressed to Earl Gibbs, Eureka:
"I own a ranch around ten miles from the beach and ocean on Bear river....At one time there were literally thousands of King and Silver salmon spawning near my place. I have owned the ranch for fifty-four years and there never failed to see the riffles filled with fish from 10 lb. silvers to 40 lb. kings. After the 1955 flood, there has not been a salmon seen on any of [the] spawning grounds. I am sure you will get the same story from all of the ranchers downstream from my place. I feel it is my duty to report this condition so the Fish and Game can get the run back in the river..."
6) Stocking Records
27 June 1961 52,416 SH from Cedar Creek Hatchery, Moore Ranch
28 June 1961 37,440 SH from Cedar Creek Hatchery, Moore Ranch
29 June 1961 52,224 SH from Cedar Creek Hatchery
15 Dec. 1964 10,000 SS from Mad River, Moore Ranch
7) Stream Survey, 17 Oct. 1980
Hollister Ck upstream quarter mile, RT/SH averaging
2 inches were estimated at 20/100 feet of stream.
8) Anadromous Fish Surveys
16 Nov. 1996: Hollister Ck from confluence with SFBR upstream 1.1 mile, no adult fish
13 Jan. 1997: SFBR upstream 2 miles, 12 SH
14 Jan. 1997: SFBR from Mt. View Ck upstream 2.3 miles
to Treasure Rock Road, 9 SH
15 Jan. 1997: SFBR from Treasure Rock Road upstream
1.5 miles, 4 SH
17 Jan. 1997: Mt. View Ck upstream .5 mile, 7 SH
11 Feb. 1997: SFBR upstream 2 miles, 7 SH
17 March 1997: BR from SFBR upstream 1.6 miles,
17 SH, 4 redds
18 March 1997: BR from upper BR road bridge upstream
.7 mile, 3 SH
