36 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



deeper water would lessen the pressure of the current during rainy 

 periods. Here the stream is 210 feet wide and has an average depth 

 of 3 feet. Several times during the season heavy rains raised the water 

 to a depth of 9 feet. Unlike the condition in the majority of streams 

 in southeastern Alaska, the escapement into Staney Creek showed a 

 heavy decline from that of the previous year and was insufficient for 

 seeding the spawning beds. Counting of salmon was begun on July 

 10 and continued through September 17, when the total escapement 

 numbered 17,667 pinks, 8,328 chums, and 2,188 cohos. Counting 

 operations were in charge of Ed Nordlund, under supervision of 

 Warden C. L. Olson. 



WHALE PASSAGE 



Construction of the Whale Passage weir was begun on July 2 and 

 completed on July 9. The first count was made on July 10, when 54 

 cohos passed through the rack. Pink salmon began to ascend on 

 July 30, but no appreciable numbers appeared until August 11. The 

 main run of pink salmon was from August 22 to September 1, the 

 peak being reached on August 27, with a count of 51,827 for that day. 

 A second good showing occurred between September 9 and 14, after 

 which there was a gradual decline until counting was discontinued 

 on September 28. The total escapement consisted of 508,818 pink 

 salmon, 19,516 cohos, and 68,617 chums. It was estimated that 

 35,000 pinks, 1,000 cohos, and 500 chums were in the stream below 

 the weir at the time the structure was removed. The work at this 

 place was under the supervision of Assistant Agent S. A. Baker, ^\dth 

 Charles Nelson in charge of counting operations until August 22 and 

 Frank Reed thereafter until the end of the season. 



SITUK RIVER 



Installation of the weir at Situk River was completed on June 10. 

 Counting began on June 14 and was continued through August 15, 

 when the weir was put out of commission by high water. Several 

 times during the season it was necessary to extend the weeldy closed 

 period for 18 or 24 hours in order to permit an escapement of at least 

 50 per cent of the run to the spawning grounds. The total number of 

 salmon tallied during the season numbered 270,850 reds, 04,253 pinks, 

 2,967 Ivings, and 42 cohos. In addition, it was estimated that there 

 was an escapement of approximately 30,000 red salmon following the 

 suspension of weir operations. Warden Harry A. Pryde supervised 

 the work at this place. 



ESHAMY RIVER 



The counting of salmon at Eshamy River was begun in 1931 by the 

 establishment of a weir about 800 feet from the mouth of the river. 

 The structure was of the usual tripod type, with two counting gates. 

 Counting began on July 7 and continued through September 30, when 

 the total escapement numbered 78,980 reds, 4,741 cohos, 6,157 pinks, 

 and 16 kings. The work at this place was in charge of Jack Harris, 

 under the direction of Warden N. O. Hardy. 



OLSEN BAY 



A new 120-foot weir of the tripod type was put into operation for the 

 first time this year in the stream at the head of Olsen Bay. The rack 

 was completed on June 7, but it was not until June 28 that the salmon 



