FISHERY BULLETIN: VOL. 86, NO. 2 



Figure 1. — Aerial photo of study site in the inner part of Steamer Bay, southeastern Alaska, 

 showing the Porcupine Creek estuary at low tide and location of smolt traps used by Thedinga 



(1985). 



basins (24-29%c) than in the outer basin (28- 

 30%c), but temperature does not differ between 

 basins in spring and summer (11°-13°C from May 

 to September 1981). Heavy tidal flushing, partic- 

 ularly during spring tides, results in a diverse 

 community within the estuary; e.g., eel grass, 



Zostera; Dungeness crabs, Cancer magister; bull 

 kelp, Nereocystis; and rock scallop, Hinnetes. A 

 detailed description of the study area is in Merrell 

 and Koski (1978) and Koski (1984). 



Porcupine Creek, upstream of tidal influence, is 

 4.5 km long and has an average discharge of 



214 



