ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1931 33 



was siin-curod without any smoke. Above Anvik to the headwaters 

 of the Yukon and Tanana, however, it rained ahnost continuously 

 during the summer and both rivers were at flood stage most of the 

 time the salmon run was on. 



The first king salmon were caught at the mouth of the river on May 

 31. The big run started on June 10 and continued through July 15. 

 In the last few years the catch of kings has been made chiefly in the 

 south mouth of the river, but this season the main run came through 

 Kwiguk Slough. The run of chums started June 15 and continued in 

 very large numbers to July 25. Many beluga whales and hair seals 

 were observed in the river during this time. A second run of chum 

 salmon occurred from August 10 to the end of the month. There was 

 virtually no September run in any part of the river. 



Products of the Yukon and Tanana fisheries were as follows: 233 

 cases of kings canned; 12,940 pounds of kings and 4,510 pounds of 

 chums pickled; 576 pounds of beleke from kings; 700 pounds of 

 kippered kings; and 367 tons of dried chums. Apparatus consisted 

 of 221 wheels, 151 gill nets of 1,022 fathoms, 1 power dory, 4 gill-net 

 boats, and miscellaneous small boats. There were 12 whites and 300 

 natives engaged in the fishery. 



WEIRS FOR COUNTING SALMON ESCAPEMENT 



The counting of salmon that ascend particular streams to spawn has 

 long been recognized as an invaluable aid in the study of the life his- 

 tory of these fish, as well as providing a means of regulating the com- 

 mercial catch to insure an adequate escapement of brood fish to the 

 spa\niing grounds. Weirs for this purpose were operated in 27 of the 

 more important salmon streams of Alaska in 1931, an increase of one 

 over the number operated in the previous year. Of these, 9 were in 

 southeastern, 15 in central, and 3 in western Alaska. 



The weir work was extended to the Prince William Sound district 

 for the first time in 1931, two new racks being installed in tributaries 

 of Eshamy and Olsen Bays. A new weir also was established in Nut- 

 kwa Creek to take the place of that operated in 1930 in Keete Creek 

 near by. The Kvichak weir in the Bristol Bay region, which was 

 included among those maintained in 1930, was not operated in 1931, 

 although considerable work was done in assembling materials at a 

 new site in preparation for a weir count in the following season. 



Reports of operations of the various weirs and of the counts of 

 salmon in 1931 are as follows: 



ANAN CREEK 



The weir at Anan Creek was installed approximately a quarter of a 

 mile upstream from the old weir site, at a point about 200 yards above 

 the second or main falls. This change in location necessitated consid- 

 erable additional work in assembling and transporting supplies and 

 materials, clearing a trail and building a board walk from the salt- 

 water landing to the new weir site, and establishing a camp for weir 

 men. The weir was completed on June 5; and the first count was 

 made on June 7, when 23 steelheads were tallied. 



Pink salmon began to pass upstream on June 17. The main run 

 occurred in the period from July 6 to July 18, reaching its peak on 

 July 15, when 31,906 pinks passed through the weir. A second good 



