They had ambitions for their river, and fears for the future of the wild Atlantic Salmon resource. They were certain only that they were embarking on a journey across uncharted waters.

The following men attended the meeting: Eldred Bailey and Tom Boyd, Miramichi outfitters; D. Malcolm Neill and Harold Dunphy, sporting goods merchants; Clayton Stewart, a guide and camp owner; J. Leonard O'Brien, W.L. Freeze and Dr. J.A.M. Bell, all Canadian camp owners on the Miramichi; and E.A. Crosby and Clement Ford, sportsmen and camp owners from the United States.

On October 8, 1953, the men registered the group under the name, Miramichi Salmon Association, Incorporated.

The association established an office in Boiestown, hired a manager named Preston Griffin and drafted a statement that declared as its mission the "propagation, protection and prepetuation of the Atlantic salmon in the Miramichi River system."

Meanwhile the members went to work, both lobbying the federal government for regulatory reforms and promoting conservation education throughout the Miramichi valley. They decided they needed a president, and in the early years passed the title among O' Brien, Stewart, Neill and Bailey.

Indirectly, it was Neill who had the greatest influence on the MSA's future for he brought a newsman from his family's radio station CFNB to be the group's public relations director. This fiery radio announcer named Jack Fenety took over as president in 1961 and remained in this position for the next 35 years.

For most of his years as president of the MSA, Jack Fenety had no financial interest in the river - he owned no water and belonged to no fihing clubs. He personified the association's consistent message that it was a conservation group, not a lobby group protecting vested interests on the river.

Fenety's plain spoken message raised the MSA's profile among both the public and governments. "Our conduct toward our God-given renewable, natural resourceshas been in plain words, disgraceful, " he said in a typical speech in the late 1960's. "Not only that, our rampage of desecration continues at an accelerated pace. Let all of us stand up for what is right and conservation in all its forms is right."

Many of the MSA's early campaigns became government policy.

* A 1954 appeal to create spawning reserve areas was adopted three years later. Many miles of the Miramichi headwaters became protected spawning areas.

* In 1954, the MSA asked the government to make the Main Southwest Miramichi a scheduled fly fishing only river. The government scheduled the river nine years later.

* In 1955, the association asked for a study of the effects of DDT spray on Atlantic Salmon. Scientists concluded that DDT spray killed young fish and birds throughout the watershed.

* In 1955, the MSA began its lobbying efforts for licencing of adult salmon anglers, a reform which was instituted a decade later.

* The association lobbied for the reduction in catch limit to six per day, then four four fish a day, then two fish a day.

* The MSA lobbied against fishing from bridges.

* The MSA first recommended tagging wild salmon.

* Fenety and his colleagues lobbied long and hard for the curtailment of the Newfoundland net fishery.

This year, the MSA celebrates its 50th anniversary on the river and continues to expand the scope of its ambitious conservation campaign. These kinds of celebrations allow us to look back and the achievements of the past decades and to reassess the challenges of the future. As Jack Fenety always reminded us, the river and the salmon needed our help in 1953 and still need it today.

In one of his last speeches before he retired, Fenety said: "We need all the help we can get. We. Together, all of us, must seek out the many hundreds, yes even thousands, who fish or at some time fished the Miramichi. I believe each of the thousands out there do in fact owe the Miramichi a debt for countless hours of enjoyment. Our struggle is far from over. We, as salmon conservationists, must continue to practice and and support our beliefs. We must continue to make the sacifice still required to fulfill our founding dream of 1953."

Philip Lee can be reached at phillee@nbnet.nb.ca. The SalmonLetter welcomes submissions from its readers.

March - Atlantic Salmon Museum Curling Bonspiel, Doaktown, NB

March 29 - Central NB Woodmen's Museum (CNBWM) Hootenany, Boiestown, NB

April 8 - Miramichi River Valley Tourism Agency Annual Dinner and Awards. Date Tentative

April 13 - Miramichi Headwaters Salmon Federation (MHSF) Dinner & Auction - Juniper, NB

April 25-26 - Atlantic Salmon Museum (ASM) Spring Fling & Trade Show - Atlantic Museum Doaktown, NB call Andrea at 365-7166 or mitchellad@canada.com

May - Oct 31 - MHSF Satellite Rearing Facilities, Juniper, NB

May 3 - MSA Ice-Breaker Dinner & AGM-CNBWM, Boiestown, NB

May 10 - MSA Moncton Dinner

May - Fiddlehead Saturday Night, ASM Doaktown date pending.

May 16-18 - Grand Opening Metepenagiag Outdoor Adventure Lodge & Spring 15th Annual Catch and Release Trout Derby, Red Bank, NB. For Red bank events call Pam 506.836.6111

May 17 - CNBWM Season Opening

May 29 - MSA - Bud Bird Roast, Fredericton, NB

June 7 - MHSF Youth Fishing Derby, Juniper, NB

June 21 - National Aboriginal Day, Red Bank, NB

June 22 - Strawberry Tea - ASM, Doaktown, NB

June 27-29 - Blue Grass Festival - Boiestown Fair Grounds Featuring Bands from Canada and the US.

June 27-29 - POW WOW Red Bank, NB

June 28 - July 1 - Canada Day Celebrations, Parade & Fireworks, Blackville, NB
For Blackville events call 506.843.6337

July 1 - Canada Day Celebrations Miramichi, Blackville, Doaktown, Boiestown

July 1-4 - MHSF Fly Fishing Camp, Juniper, NB

July 12 - Barn Dance

July 17-19 - Boiestown Fair & Parade

July 26 - St. Anne's Day Mass and Feast Red Bank, NB

August 4 - New Brunswick Day Celebrations, Blackville Park

August 1-4 - Doaktown Salmon and Fiddlehead Festival

August - Annual Victorian Tea Party: Darlene's Tea House. Entertainment & Dining. Barnettville, NB call 506.843.7873

Summer 2003 - Splash Down in Blackville, NB
Scottish Festival, Miramichi, NB
Irish Festival, Miramichi, NB
Highland Games
Musical Ride, Blackville, NB
MSA Halifax Dinner

September 16 - MSA Fredericton Dinner

October - MSA/ASF Saint John Dinner

As we enter our 50th year of conservation work on the Miramichi, the MSA’s conservation mission continues at the heart of our operations, the Miramichi Salmon Conservation Centre in South Esk.

The Centre located just above the confluence of the Main Southwest and Northwest Miramichi is becoming the major tool in promoting and achieving salmon conservation on our river, which was the vision of those who have fought so hard to preserve and promote it. The center was a beehive of activity over the past few years.

It was the site of two research projects, the important DFO nonylphenol study (see the Atlantic Salmon Journal, Autumn 2002, pages 37-40) and a study on growth of the male salmon kype by the University of Heidelberg.

We raised and released 650,000 fry, either through the satellite rearing program, or directly into areas where electrofishing indicated poor natural reproduction.

The center was open for public tours, and coupled with a small trout pond “pay to fish” operation, saw more than 6,000 visitors exposed to salmon conservation on the Miramichi. These included numerous school tours. The center was identified as a potential major tourist attraction in the Miramichi Valley area by the local tourism association.

In October, we hosted a tour for Canada’s Minister of Fisheries, and he observed the spawning process at its peak. We look forward to his increased support in the next federal budget.

When you are in the area fishing next season, I suggest you visit the Miramichi Salmon Conservation Centre. We would be pleased to show you what your membership and donation dollars are accomplishing.

From a project perspective, we believe we are making headway in understanding the issues around in- river and estuary survival of salmon, through the Miramichi Smolt Study and other projects now in progress on five tributaries and the Main Southwest and Northwest Miramichi stems. This co-operative effort between MSA, ASF, DFO and our two industry partners, JD Irving Ltd., International Paper and Bowater is yielding some interesting preliminary results.

We now can measure the smolt output of some important tributaries: Big Clearwater, Burnthill Stream, Cains River, Dungarvon River and the Northwest Miramichi. We would like to be able to measure all significant tributaries, so we have further investment to make. These measurements are showing us that the satellite rearing program is effective in complementing juvenile salmon production, as measured in Big Clearwater and Burnthill, in that we have measured 13 per cent to 30 per cent of the run as adipose-clipped smolt, from these streams during the last two years.

It’s also showing us where we have challenges. This year’s first work on the Cains and Dungarvon indicate that inadequate spawning is occurring in these tributaries. Our Conservation Planning Committee, chaired by Manley Price, will be working on a plan to address this, in consultation with DNRE and DFO. We have lots of capacity to augment natural spawning. The hatchery put 6,000,000 fry per year into the system as recently as the 1970s, but our philosophy now is to help where nature has failed.

The fall dinners were a resounding success this year. The Fredericton dinner, honoring the Thistle Fishing Club netted $72,000 for our cause. The Saint John Autumn Run Dinner, sponsored jointly by MSA, ASF and NB Council of ASF, with Jim Irving as Honorary Chairman, was a tremendous success. The proceeds, again $72,000, all went to the Smolt Study project on the Miramichi, split equally between the MSA and ASF portions of the project.

Dinners,donations from our industry partners and members, the support of federal-provincial manpower programs and the Provincial Wildlife Trust Fund continue to be our major sources of financial support. Of our total budget, expected to be $580,000 for 2003, membership dues will only approximate $20,000 to $25,000. Renewing your membership is important financially to us, but the real value of your membership is the leverage that members give us in the political process. To get things done, we need our government and non-government partners to know that the Miramichi River and its Atlantic Salmon are important to a lot of people.

Everyone who fishes the Miramichi should be a member of the MSA, so renew now if you are a member, become a member if you are not, and recruit those who you know should be a member. Applications are included with this SalmonLetter.

This year marks 50 years in salmon conservation for the Miramichi Salmon Association. Let’s honour those who have gone before by working together in 2003 to ensure the Miramichi remains the world’s most prolific producer of Atlantic Salmon.

Carl Ash is chairman of the Miramichi Salmon Association.

Scientists predict stronger large salmon run in 2003

Born and educated in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Doug MacDonald attended Dalhousie University in Halifax. Doug began his business career with GMAC, the finance arm of General Motors. After five years, he went into the retail automotive business in New Glasgow. In 1968, Doug moved to Moncton, N.B., to manage a large Ford dealership for the Casey group and in 1975, he purchased the Pontiac dealership and after 27 years still operates one of the most successful G.M. dealerships in Atlantic Canada, known as MacDonald Pontiac Buick G.M. Ltd.

Over the course of his business career, Doug has owned eight automobile dealerships, and during that time has helped many other young dealers to obtain their own automobile dealerships. Doug has owned or operated businesses in Moncton, Saint John and Bristol in New Brunswick and in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Cars certainly have been a passion of his, and he enjoys his Corvette collection of ten. He also operates real estate developments.

Apart from his business commitments, Doug is active on several boards. For four years he has been a Director of the Miramichi Salmon Association. He brings a great deal of expertise, experience and dedication to that role, and for two years has been involved with the organization of MSA’s Moncton Dinner, this past year chairing this very successful event.

He also is a member of the National Board of Directors of Ducks Unlimited and has been a long-time promoter of DU; he is also a member of the Atlantic Salmon Federation and has been a supporter of that organization for many years.

Doug certainly has an enthusiasm for salmon fishing, a sport he was introduced to as a youngster on the Margaree River in Cape Breton. Later, upon moving to Moncton, he was inaugurated into the great Miramichi River system. He is part-owner of three fishing camps on the Miramichi and, for the past ten years, a shareholder of the Eagle River Salmon Club in Labrador. Doug is presently President of the Aesculapius Fishing Club on the north branch of the Little Southwest Miramichi and President of the Cains River Road Fishing Club on the Main branch. He and his wife Gloria find time to spend at the Maple Leaf Lodge, especially in late September and early October.

A conservationist by nature probably explains the time spent on DU projects and protecting the great Atlantic salmon. Doug practices “hook and release” and explains it this way: “I have two wonderful grandsons and I want to be the one to teach them about the resource, and hopefully be at their side when they release their first Atlantic salmon.”

Bidders were jittery as they milled around the lobby of the Hugh John Flemming Forstry Centre, picking up their auction numbers, checking out the river maps that lined the walls and waiting for the floor to open.

Up for grabs were leases to 18 stretches of Crown-owned water on the Miramichi, the Tabusintac River and the Restigouche. Bidders were prepared to pay fees ranging from $10000 to nearly $70000 a year.

Bob Bryan travelled from Ipswich, Massachusetts to bid on a remote stretch of the Tabusintac River that his club has held for nearly a century. The province listed the so-called "upset price" for his club's water at $47000 a year. He said the salmon pools haven't produced many fish in recent years, in fact, he didn't catch a single salmon last season. But holding the lease is more about tradition and comradeship than how many salmon are landed.

"I'm a little nervous today," he said. "My job is to try and retain the lease and I feel quite a bit of pressure. This isn't my favorite day of the decade."

New Brunswick has a unique system of river management. Some Crown-owned water is open to New Brunswick residents for fishing through the annual public lottery, some is open to residents on a seasonal basis, but the rest is leased for tens of thousands of dollars a year to exclusive salmon clubs with members from around the world.

The province has been auctioning off leases to the highest bidders since 1883.

In addition to paying the yearly lease fees, the winners of the bids are required to provide warden protection and hire extra staff to keep the section of river clean.

In 2002, the province received nearly half a million dollars in lease land. Lessees reported spending $5 million collectively on the land, including the fees they paid to the province.

Fredericton resident George Yeamans represents the Thisle Club, which has held a lease on the Miramichi River for 50 years. He said whatever you think about the auction process, a passion for fishing is what everyone here seems to share.

"It's an awesome sport," he said. "Very tranquil and yet when that salmon strikes it's just out of this world. You have to be there to experience it."

This article was adapted from a story that first appeared on the www.nb.cbc.ca Internet publication. Reprinted with permission.

It’s a clear still morning. The warmth of the sun slowly creeps through the car windows onto Lady, my Golden Retriever, as she sleeps next to me. I thought about leaving her home. I simply didn’t have room in the car. Her pleading eyes and wagging tail just wouldn’t accept that option. After all, who would watch over me while I waded in the Miramichi, if she were not on the bank? The journey has begun. The road is mine, and so are the memories that flood over me like the morning sun.

Soon I am lost in the world of a four-year-old boy, anchored in a canoe at the mouth of the Cains River. My dad and uncle had left me alone as they waded further down the river. I was terrified that my boat would become free and I would be washed into the ocean. I kept a sharp eye on the anchor line, as I bobbed my fly rod up and down. Bang! I felt a pull. The line shot out from the reel and I screamed for help. I can’t remember the rest, only that I saw the fish in our net and remember my father carving my name, the day’s date, and the size of the fish into a timber in our boathouse. That was it - that was the moment the Atlantic salmon had hooked me. I would never escape. My initial fears and loneliness had been devoured by the majesty of that creature.

As we cross the railroad tracks into McAdam, I am back on the Canadian Pacific train Fredericton Junction. Sheets of fall rain fly by as I wave to the flagman. The chill of the passenger car is consumed by the ditties of the conductor, my Uncle Gilfred, a powerfully built lad with a contagious smile and open arms. I think he knew I had my usual bag of jellybeans tucked in my jacket. At least for a day or two, sugar-free candies served by my vigilant aunt would be history.

Soon we would be at camp and Unc would be standing on the porch, directing me further out into the river. At first, I listened. But then, when I felt the rush of cold water coming over my chest, I realized that once again he had “nailed me.” Oh yes, how he loved to maneuver each new angler into that same deep hole and then roar as each tip-toed back toward shore.

The reds, yellows, and orange hues of the fall foliage of the Miramichi valley magically appear as we coast down the slope into Boiestown. As the river’s mist drifts skyward, I can feel her waters filling my veins. I begin to picture my first few casts, and the time when I arrived at camp in the late afternoon comes flashing back. Our sports were sitting on the front porch. After a terse hello, I quickly waded into the home pool. On the second chuck of my Bomber, the reel started to whine. What could be better - a great fish, cheering spectators, and flashing cameras!

I am entering Doaktown and visiting with Mr. Wallace Doak in his tiny fly-tying shop. He was a polite man of few words. Yes, he would have this year’s edition of the old standards, the ones that have worked for years. It was a simpler time, when there were only one or two rods, reels, lines, or waders to choose from, when there were more fish in the river, when I could pitch hay onto the wagon and swat ground hornets at the same time. Now Doak’s store is much larger, with many more items and employees. There are more choices, many more decisions, less time to know each other and touch the harmony of nature.

It’s 7:30 in the morning when we turn onto the Howard Road. I'm sure Irving, my cousin and fishing buddy, will be waiting for me. I’ll hop out of the car and Irv will say they’re taking a little Green Machine, no matter how high or how dirty the river is. Then I’ll notice that he has a double, #4 Cosseboom on.

Before we head for the river, one of our relatives needs to be visited, Old Grand Dad. After a couple of shots, with health and family issues out of the way, we’re off. A good size salmon breaks just below us. The bets are on for first fish, the biggest fish, and the most fish. God help me, if he hooks the first one.

I’m reading the water - I’m paying attention to my cast and position in the pool. I just checked Irving out to see if he has changed flies. We’re moving slowly through the pool. More fish are showing. Splash. Sure enough, Irv has done his usual stupid trick of tossing a rock into the river just behind me. Zzzzzzzz, slam. Not again. There he is, smiling and laughing as he prances toward the beach. Oh yeah, I’m the one going for the net. How did he do it? Maybe it was the fly. Maybe he was covering fish that I couldn't reach. Okay, it was just his turn to get lucky. I wonder if he would be this happy if he were fishing alone.

Of course not, but so what? Isn't this the reason why we enjoy fishing with each other? As the trophy glides into the net and then is quickly released, I shake his hand and call him a few bad names. I’m a carefree kid again, not one thing to worry about. The Miramichi’s waters have cleansed me of the overwhelming pains of crushed, smoldering humanity.

The chemicals and microbes of inhumane souls can no longer cling to me. Peace in the midst of chaos. I’m home.

By Squirrel Tail Vickers

Friends of influential conservationist plan 'roasting' in May

J.W. Bud Bird has stepped down as chairman of the Miramichi Salmon Association but he has left his mark on the wild Atlantic salmon conservation movement.

On Saturday, February 1, 2003, the Boston Dinner Committee of the Miramichi Salmon Association will recognize J.W. Bud Bird at the association's annual gathering south of the border. ANd the association will sponsor a friendly "roasting" of Bud in his home province at the Sheraton Hotel, Fredericton, on May 29, 2003. Further details will be announced as the date of the "roast" approaches.

At the May 2002 Annual Board Meeting, Bud stepped down after six very active and productive years as Chairman of the Miramichi Salmon Association. He has a devoted history caring for this resource, particularly in the Miramichi River watershed.

As a former mayor of Fredericton, Minister of Natural Resources and a Member of Parliament, Bud brought unique talents and skills to the management of the Miramichi Salmon Association.

In 2001, Bud was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. This prestigious designation is the Governor General's highest honor bestowed on Canadian citizens for lifetime achievement and contribution to their country.

Bud played an active roll in all conservation work on the river and had significant influence in developing the MSA vision. He has also been a director of the Atlantic Salmon Federation since 1982. His accomplishments were many and his legacy will contribute to and hopefully nurture this valuable New Brunswick resource in the future.

During his term, Bud led the organization in sustaining and expanding existing programs such as the Satellite Rearing Program, as well as fostering new ones such as the acquisition of the Miramichi Salmon Conservation Center and the Miramichi Smolt Study. Using a proven approach to mark, release and recapture smolt through a series of counting stations at main tributaries, and especially in the estuary, this study will offer important information about the juvenile life cycle of the Atlantic salmon. The smolt study would not be underway without the commitment of Bud Bird and his orchestration of cooperation with the Atlantic Salmon Federation and gaining the significant support of several major corporations.

During his tenure, the MSA expanded its vision of what it could accomplish throughout the watershed, and the amount of money raised through fundraising increased and allowed the MSA to expand it programs. He brought fiscal stability to the association through creative endowment enhancement programs and broadened the direct involvement of Canadian membership through the concept of regional fundraising dinners.

As illustrated in the smolt study he foresaw a strengthened benefit in partnering with ASF and other organizations that shared similar values. And perhaps of greatest magnitude, he sought out allies in the corporate arena and fostered the engagement of corporate program sponsors.

The members of the Miramichi Salmon Association are grateful for his commitment, hard work and vision to protect and preserve wild Atlantic salmon.