20th Annual Tyee Tour 2006 Photo Page 3

Whales are a common sighting on the Tyee Tour. This pod of about 12 Humpback whales were “bubble net” feeding in Estevan Sound over a several day period. Bubble netting involves one or more whales diving beneath a school of fish (Pilchard or Sardines in this case) and then swimming upward in a spiral, while releasing streams of air from their blowholes creating bubbles. The bubbles rise in a cylindrical curtain around the fish forming a barrier through which the fish will not pass. The whales then swim up through the school of fish lunging out of the water with mouths open, engulfing the food. We had observed whales in this identical place last year engaged in the same activity. Tyler and I were able to get within 150 feet to take this photo.

Tyler Smith with a nice Chinook salmon in the cleaning tray.

Beach tie up at Dunira Island. The strong southeasterly wind held the boat nicely off shore whilst we explored this site of an ancient Indian village.

Tyler left in Prince Rupert where Jeff Burdett and Leif Nelson came on board. Over the next several days we headed west to Stephens Island and then north to Dundas Island prospecting for salmon. Along the route we discovered an abandoned cabin on the site of which was an ancient Indian reserve on Dunira Island. The strong winds and rain made fishing next to impossible so we decided to go ashore to explore.