The passage of jet boats through spawning areas can kill salmon eggs buried in the river bed. By using a jet boat on the Ashley River the pressure gradients created in a redd were determined. At the maximum boat speed investigated (11 m.s‐1) gradients up to 9.32 kPa.m‐1 were recorded. The induced water velocities through the gravel were then estimated from the equation of motion and reproduced in a gravel‐filled tube in the laboratory. For the test conditions discharge velocities ranged from 0.18–0.3 m.s‐1. Studies of the effect of these flows on salmon eggs revealed fatality rates of up to 40% at their most critical stage on the ninth day of development.