I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 13 14 15 

 SITE 



Figure 32.--Naknek River total 

 red salmon smolt catch 

 by fyke net site, 1957 



exjanded . Investigations at Brooks are de 

 affect the abundeince of red salmon during 

 tives of producing more red salmon. 



canpared to about six million in 1956. The 

 number of fingerling caught at a given site 

 appeared to be related to the volume of water 

 (fig. 32). Catches were made during every hour 

 of the day, but most fish migrated between 

 10:30 p.m. and k-.^O a.m.; and 7:30 a.m. and 

 10:30 a.m. On the Egegik, the duration of the 

 run was much shorter thaxi on the Naknek, with 

 peak numbers appearing May 30 and June 3- The 

 young fish were very large and vigorous. Smolt 

 age and size composition data were taken as well 

 as air and water temperatures, water transparency, 

 volume of flow, and other related data. 



Another new Fish and Wildlife study ob- 

 tained inforaiation on the fishery resources 

 north of Bristol Bay. From early July through 

 August, a five-man crew conducted aerial surveys 

 and interviewed local people between Cape Newen- 

 ham and Point Hope. Results of the surveys and 

 interviews , along with data obtained from past 

 records, indicate that the native population is 

 dependent upon salmon and other fishes for much 

 of their food. It is roughly estimated that 

 about 23 million pounds of salmon may be taken 

 and utilized annually by native residents. 



The long-term research program at Brooks 

 Lake (Naknek River ^stem) was continued and 

 signed to determine the basic factors which 

 their freshwater life, with the ultimate objec- 



In 1957, in addition to the collection of regular hydrological and climatological 

 data, two major projects were initiated as well as several minor ones. These projects 

 were, first, the development of a practical technique for measuring primary productivity 

 of red salmon lakes by means of radioactive Carbon l4 tracers, and second, intensive 

 detailed observations of spawning behavior in Brooks River, a major producer for the 

 NaJaaek River system. 



No final results on the primary productivity researx;h ai« yet available since the 

 final laboratory steps in the technique are still in progress. 



A Forecast of the I958 Bristol Bay Red Salmon Abundance 



Our present forecasts of Bristol Bay red salmon runs are at the best "educated 

 guesses" because data are not yet available upon which to base forecasts that have reli- 

 able mathematical limits. An interpretation of the history of parent escapements and 

 recent trends of abundance offers the best basis of predicting the strength of the I958 

 runs. 



For the Naknek-Kvichak our estimate is that the I958 run will be smaller than the 

 8 million of 1957- The Nushagak has declined since l^kS and the poor escapements of 1953 

 and 195^ cannot be expected to produce a bigger run than the 1957 one of slightly over a 

 million. For the Egegik, a greater than average run (1-5 million) is not to be expected. 

 On the Ugashik, the 1952 and 1953 escapements were average and 350 thousand above average 

 i^spectively; so an average (I.3 million), or above average run may be expected in 1958. 



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