There were 393 Yukon River chinook salmon harvested in this week's 48-hour commercial opening in the Dawson City area.

Biologist Pat Milligan of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans said today 11 gillnetters took part in the first commercial harvest of the year.

The greater part of the catch was taken closer to the Yukon-Alaska border, while those fishing closer to Dawson encountered a less concentrated run strength, he said.

'As far as the run goes, we still have four pulses of fish that we have tracked through the U.S. fishery and the sonar station and those fish are still below the border.'

Milligan said management personnel were to decide later today whether there'll be a second commercial opening beginning Sunday.

Earlier this week, the total number of fish expected to enter the Yukon was estimated at 170,000 to 175,000 chinook.

The estimate has been upgraded to 183,000.

Officials, however, remain concerned with ensuring the minimum 28,000 make it to the spawning beds on the Yukon side of the border.

Milligan said there are some early reports of chinook now entering the Stewart and Pelly rivers.