the average number of fingerling per observation, was the lovest of the past three years, 

 with only 518 as compared to l,l8l in 1955 and 796 in I956. For the first two years the 

 fingerling index provided consistent results. "Bie large fingerling appearance in 1955 

 produced a case pack of 5^4,221 and a good spawning ground escapement in I956. The con- 

 siderably smaller showing of fingerlings in I956 produced 40^,250 cases and a smaller 

 spawning escapement in 1957 • 



At the little Port Walter field station the complete counts of pink salmon spawners 

 and emerging fry continued. Die survival of fry from 1956 was the lowest on record — only 

 0.2 percent. In addition, specieil pens are being designed to hold spawners and eggs under 

 controlled conditions in order to determine more precisely their temperature, oxygen, and 

 other requirements. 



No proven method of forecasting has been developed for pink salmon in Southeastern 

 Alaska smd the evidence at this time is conflicting. If survival from the 1956 spawning 

 is normal, a run that will produce a million or more cases may occur. If, however, the 

 evidence of scarce fingerlings in 1957 is reliable (and we have had too little experience 

 with this to know), then a much lower production may occur in 1958. 



Ihe study of the effects of logging on salmon In Southeastern Alaska was continued. 

 This is a contract study being performed at Hollis by the Fisheries Research Institute in 

 close cooperation with the U. S. Forest Service. Data were obtained on salmon spawning, 

 bottom fauna, silting, flow, oxygen, and other factors affecting the siurvlval in three 

 streams. One of these streams has been logged, one is about to be lagged, and one will 

 not be logged. Much of the work by the Fisheries Reseeirch Institute to date has been to 

 devise and test experimental methods, and no conclusions are possible. However, a report 

 by the U. S. Forest Service indicates that the logging In the Hollis area has had very 

 little effect on stream flow, temperature, or silting to date. 



A new project on the tagging of pink and sockeye salmon was begun off the west 

 coast of Prince of Wales Island under contract with the Fisheries Research Institute. Of 

 the 17,025 salmon tagged, 16,525 were pinks. By October 15, 36 percent had been recovered 

 — one- fourth of them from Canadian waters. The recoveries in Alaska were mostly frcan the 

 fishery and streams on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island. 



A second new project for the year was to compile a comprehensive catalogue of all 

 salmon streams In Southeastern Alaska. Dils project Is Intended to bring together all 

 data on the physical characteristics of the streams and the history of the salmon escape- 

 ments. 



YAKUTAT 



The major fishery of the area, sockeyes of the Situk River, is well stabilized with 

 both catch and escapement holding up well. The situation is not so fortimate on some of 

 the lesser, outlying streams ^ere runs seem to be suffering from overfishing. As an 

 initial corrective measure, closure markers will be moved downstream to enlarge the area 

 of sanctuary in such streams. 



Cohos are normally an important species in all Gulf of Alaska coastal streams but 

 were in short supply throughout the district in 1957 despite unusually favorable weather. 



PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND 



Prince William Sound reopened in 1957 after a complete closure of the parent pink 

 satoon year in 1955. D^e pink run was very poor throughout the season, producing a pack 

 of 35,000 cases (fig. 12). Individual fish were of fair size, averaging 18 to the case. 

 The largest portion of the pink pack was obtained from the eastern part of the district. 



