ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1931 29 



An examination of Pedro Creek and Pedro Bay was made on August 16. 

 Many of the shallow s])ring ponds of the stream were filled with spawning salmon, 

 as was the case in practically the entire stream. Hundreds of sea gulls were 

 noted eating salmon eggs in the shallow ponds. The escapement to this stream 

 was estimated at 120,000. No trout were noted during the inspection. It is the 

 opinion of the residents at Pedro Bay that this season was on a par with 1918 and 

 1922 and better than any run since those years. 



Knudson Bay Creek was visited on August 26. Approximately 3,100 salmon 

 were in the stream and 16,000 in the bay at the stream mouth. No dead or spent 

 salmon were found in the creek. It is the belief of a local resident that the escape- 

 ment of salmon to Knudson Bay this season was the best ever experienced. 



The examination of Kinney Creek was made on August 28. Along the shore 

 from Kinney's cabin on Knudson Bay to the mouth of the creek there were approx- 

 imately 12,000 salmon. Just inside the stream mouth was a large school of fish 

 numbering about 9,000 that extended into a slough at the right of the mouth. 

 The stream was examined for an approximate distance of 6 miles. Schools of 

 salmon were not numerous, but the river bottom was amply covered with spawn- 

 ing salmon. The total number of salmon in the stream, including both spawning 

 and spent fish, was estimated at 112,200. 



Kokotano and Canyon Creeks were examined, and good escapements were 

 found in both creeks. It is believed that in the area from and including Kinney 

 Creek in Knudson Bay to and including -Eagle Bay Creek, there were well over a 

 million spawning salmon. The waters of all creeks and bays were unfit for 

 drinking purposes. Dead salmon lined the shores of lakes and the banks of 

 streams. Sea gulls and ducks were so full of feed that they were scarcely able to 

 fly. It is the general belief among the local inhabitants that the run of fish this 

 season was about on a par with the best years in the past. 



The examination of the Lake Clark system was begun on September 3. Several 

 hundred salmon were noted in the upper ponds of Roadhouse Creek. In the New- 

 halen River a continual school of fish was seen from the landing to Big Lake 

 Clark. The water was very discolored, and it was impossible to estimate the 

 number of salmon; but there appeared to be thousands on their journey to the 

 upper spawning grounds. Natives and white residents of Nondalton stated that 

 this has been the largest salmon escapement in the district to their knowledge, 

 not excepting 1917, 1918, or 1922. All the sloughs and tributary creeks were 

 filled with milling salmon. The portion of the lake that fronts Nondalton was 

 alive with salmon, and it was reported that this condition had existed since late 

 July. All the residents had prepared their supplies of dried fish. The water in 

 the river was unpleasant to the taste, and as fish were continually arriving it 

 would soon be unfit for drinking purposes. 



On the morning of September 4 departure was made from Nondalton to Tar- 

 nalia Point. Salmon were in evidence the entire distance. A trip was then made 

 over the portage to the falls below Brooks Lake. According to local residents it 

 has been observed that fish school below the falls in considerable numbers during 

 good years, but salmon have never been known to ascend the falls. No salmon 

 were observed below the falls or in the three forks of the river. At the mouth of 

 each branch, and extending for long distances on each side, large schools of salmon 

 were noted. The entire shore line from Nondalton to Little Lake Clark, with but 

 few exceptions, is a vast spawning area. 



The inspection was continued to Kijik Lake on the following day, via Kijik 

 Portage. Red salmon were schooled at the mouths of the three creeks at the head 

 of the lake. The estimated escapement to these streams was placed at 18,000. 

 The fish had not acquired the reddish tinge that is associated with spawning 

 activities. Although good numbers of salmon were seen at the entrances of these 

 creeks, only a very few were in evidence in their main courses. Approximately 

 50 salmon were seen at the mouth of Kijik River. The salmon had not ascended 

 into the river at the time of the inspection. On the same day the small creek 

 located about a mile below Kijik River was examined. Approximately 160 bright 

 salmon, with a few dead ones, were found in the creek. 



On the morning of September 6 observations were made at Big River, and as 

 no fish were found there the trip was continued to the stream at the head of Little 

 Lake Clark. Here, as at Big River, salmon had not yet arrived. The immediate 

 mouth of the stream is not very suitable for spawning, but the river proper affords 

 ideal seeding area. It was felt that this inspection was made approximately three 

 weeks too early, for on the morning of September 7 about 50 salmon were seen 

 leaping in the air at the lower end of Little Lake Clark, which appeared as bright 



121070—32 3 



