This project evaluates the effectiveness of releasing chinook during Upper Skagit and Sauk-Suiattle gillnet Baker Sockeye fisheries in the Skagit River. Skagit River fisheries for Baker Sockeye, conducted by the Upper Skagit and Sauk-Suiattle tribes, occur on about 4 days during July. All chinook encountered must be released. In this project, two 2-man crews will patrol the Skagit River by boat during these openings, monitoring effort levels, and the incidence and condition of chinook encountered. One boat will operate at the Spud House drift, and the other will operate near the Loretta Creek landing, which are the only fishing areas where effort was observed in 1998. A portion of the encountered chinook will be retained in broodstock tubes for up to 24 hours, in order to monitor post-release mortality rates. In the 1998 Baker sockeye fishery, 58 chinook were released to contribute to spawning escapement. A similar number will likely be encountered in 1999. Monitors insure compliance with the release requirement. The post-release mortality estimate will help to determine whether the gear or fishing methods need to be modified to minimize mortality. This will benefit fishermen, who can use the results to permit fishing with minimal effect on non-target species, and it will benefit the chinook run with an increased number of spawners.