28 IJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



INSPECTION OF SPAWNING AREAS 

 WOOD RIVER DISTRICT 



Observations made by Warden Eric D. Fenno showed that the 

 escapement of salmon to the spawning grounds in the Wood River 

 Lakes district was sufficient to seed these areas in fairly good quanti- 

 ties. There was less than even a fair number of salmon on the beds 

 of the first lake, but on the upper lakes they were fairly plentiful, 

 although somewhat fewer than in a good average year. It was 

 estimated that for the entire watershed the escapement was about 60 

 per cent of that for an average normal year. 



It was believed that the escapement was nearly sufficient for the 

 amount of spawning area, for the water level of the lakes was almost 

 as low as in the summer of 1926. This condition reduces to a great 

 extent the amount of spawning area. However, there was little 

 danger of a loss of spawn, as the fall rains had commenced raising the 

 water level of the lakes. 



There was a good escapement of red salmon into Igushik and 

 Snake Rivers. 



ILIAMNA AND LAKE CLARK DISTRICT 



The following report was made by C. M. Hatton covering his 

 investigation of the Iliamna and Lake Clark spawning areas in August 

 and September: 



Approximately 4,700 salmon were estimated in Tommy Point Creek on August 

 13, this total including both live and dead fish. Many trout were observed in 

 the stream. 



From August 14 to August 16 an examination was made of Iliamna River from 

 Japanese Point near its mouth to about 1 mile above the forks. The counts of 

 salmon made on the above dates totaled 70,600. There were 43 large schools 

 ranging in size from 150 to 3,800 fish. An estimate of 2,500 was made for the 

 number of salmon farther up the river. All tributary creeks and sloughs were 

 filled to capacity and particularly the Chinklegash and Old Williams Creek. 

 Numerous dead salmon were noted on the spawning areas. Only a very few 

 trout were seen. 



On August 24 another visit was made to Iliamna River. On this date salmon 

 were seen jumping and finning outside the river mouth, and in the river large 

 schools of bright salmon were observed. Information obtained from white and 

 native residents was to the effect that on August 21 this run of salmon arrived at 

 the mouth of the river. On August 24 the fish had ascended the river only as far 

 as the village. The estimated numl)er of salmon from the mouth of the river to 

 Iliamna village was placed at 25,000. The total estimated escapement for the 

 river was 95,600. The exceptionally low water-level of the river during this 

 period will probaVjlj^ insure better hatching conditions in the spring. It was the 

 current opinion of the residents that the run was the best since the seasons of 1917 

 and 1919. 



On August 25 an examination was made of the two creeks at the head of Pile 

 Bay. These creeks have their sources in small lakes. Ponds are formed by the 

 union of the creeks a short distance from the head of the bay. The creek to the 

 right of the ponds is short, sluggish, and of a swampy nature. The spawning 

 beds are not extensive; in fact, not over a quarter of a mile of the stream bed is 

 available for seeding, and the lake at the head of the creek is inaccessible to 

 salmon. Many trout were noted. There were counted 1,731 salmon spawning in 

 the creek and 150 dead and spent ones. The creek to the left of the ponds is 

 much larger than the other tributary, extending a distance of about 3 miles to the 

 lake at its source, and it affords splendid gravelly areas for seeding purposes. 

 The numloer of salmon counted in this stream was 14,100, and it was believed that 

 as many more were present that could not be counted. Trout were plentiful. 



Pile River also was examined on August 25. Considerable difficulty was en- 

 countered in estimating the number of spawning salmon, for the water of this 

 river is of glacial origin and laden with silt. The estimated escapement was 

 8,500, which is believed to be an average escapement here. 



