32 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



shore of Iliamna Lake and into Newhalen River en route to Lake Clark and its 

 tributaries. Observations of prior years alwa3's showed that spawning was late 

 in Big and Little Lakes Clark. 



The bureau representative at Becharof, after a preliminary examination, re- 

 ported the best escapement in Becharof Lake that has occurred during the past 

 three years. The stream guard at Egegik reported a steady escapement during 

 the season in fair proportion to the commercial catch. A very heavy escapement 

 was noted about the middle of the commercial season when the writer made a 

 personal examination of the river as far as the lake. 



The escapement along the west shore was excellent in proportion to the extent 

 of the run. At Nushagak the escapement was better than in fair average years, 

 while the Igushik and Snake River Lakes received the best run that has occurred 

 for the past 11 years. The increase in escapement into these lakes each year is 

 one of the most gratifying conditions noted in the bureau's work in Bristol Bay. 



Considering the escapement for the district as a whole, a heavy increase is 

 shown over the corresponding cycles. It is felt that the predatory work that has 

 been carried on by the bureau in cooperation with the Territory and the Bristol 

 Bay canners has been an important factor in this increase. The movements of 

 fish in localities along the east shore correspond with the 1926 cycle, but the extent 

 of escapement this year was far greater than that of 1926, with the single excep- 

 tion of Egegik, which harbored an excess of spawners in that year. The escape- 

 ment at Egegik in 1931, although less than in 1926, was considered adequate for 

 efficient seeding. 



KUSKOKWIM RIVER 



From the early part of June to the end of August the Kuskokwim 

 River area was patrolled by Stream Guard Charles McGonagall with 

 a chartered launch. 



A limited amount of fishing for export was carried on in June and 

 July off the mouth of the river, one company putting up a quantity of 

 mild-cured king salmon, and two outfits preparing pickled kings and 

 reds. The sides and backs of the salmon used for pickling were used 

 by the natives camped near the salteries. 



Taking the season as a whole, the runs of reds, chums, and cohos 

 were the lightest that the Kuskokwim River has had for years. The 

 king run was fairly good, but little effort was made by the natives to 

 catch kings, as they prefer the smaller fish for dog feed. 



Three hundred and eighteen natives fished in the river for local 

 requirements, using 638 gill nets of 9,570 fathoms, 38 wheels, and a 

 number of small boats. The products consisted of 253 tons of dried 

 chums. 



YUKON RIVER 



Since 1925 commercial fishing in the Yukon area for export from 

 Alaska has been prohibited, the only operations being carried on for 

 local requirements and to supply the market for dried salmon through- 

 out the interior of Alaska. The demand for dried salmon, however, 

 has lessened greatly in recent years, since the dog teams have been 

 replaced by aircraft in the mail service. Therefore the regulations 

 issued in December, 1931, to be effective in the following year, have 

 been modified to permit limited commercial fishing off the mouth of 

 the Yukon. 



Inspector C. F. Townsend and one stream guard wxre again on duty 

 at the fishing grounds throughout the season, patrolling the district on 

 the Coot. Departure was made on May 21 from Nenana for the mouth 

 of the river. Spring was late, and snowstorms and blizzards were 

 encountered all the way to Holy Cross. In the lower river region 

 there was no rain through June, July, and part of August, an unusual 

 condition for that part of the country, and nearly all of the dog feed 



