ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1926 255 
The patrol boat Scoter, with Warden A. T. Looff on board, patrolled all 
waters of Bristol Bay. 
In conjunction with the patrol, data were collected in regard to the extent 
of fishing operations and the run of salmon in the various rivers. In all, 909 
fishing boats were operated by the canneries and 86 by independent fishermen, 
local whites, and natives, who owned the boats and gear and sold their catch 
to the canneries. These local residents operated 100 stake nets, of which 20 
were for commercial purposes, the catch being sold to the canneries; the 
remaining nets were for local food and dog feed. 
The Nushagak section was the only one in which commercial fishing for 
king salmon was carried on before the beginning of the red season. A patrol 
was begun there June 1, while in other sections it was established shortly 
before the opening of the red-salmon season. The red salmon began to 
appear in all rivers on June 5, and native stake nets took fair numbers during 
the period preceding the opening of the commercial fishing season, but in no 
place did a real run occur before June 26. 
RUNS OF SALMON 
Kvichak River—At the opening of the season, at 6 a. m. on June 26, few fish 
were in evidence and catches were light. The escapement during the weekly 
closed period, from 6 p. m. June 26 to 6 a. m. June 28, was small, as few fish 
were running. On June 28 catches were small and few fish were in evidence. 
This condition continued until the beginning of the weekly closed period, at 
6 p. m. July 3. On July 4 a heavy run struck in, and a good escapement 
occurred during the closed period. 
When fishing was resumed on July 5, large catches were made, and the run 
continued heavy on July 6, when the canneries placed their boats on a limit. 
On July 7 and 8 the run fell off and the boat limit was removed. On July 9 the 
run increased again, but on July 10 it fell off, and it continued light during 
the weekly closed period, from 6 p. m. July 10 to6 a.m. July 12. A heavy run . 
again struck in on July 12 but fell off a little on July 14. From July 15 the 
run was light until the end of the season, at 6 p. m. July 238. 
During the heavy runs almost the entire catch consisted of red salmon, 
but from July 15 there was a steady increase in the percentage of chums, 
until by July 21 they constituted fully 40 per cent of the catch, the remainder 
being nearly all reds, with a few humpbacks and silvers. 
Naknek River—On the opening date catches were small for the most part, 
and few fish were noticed jumping in the river. A good run struck in on June 
27, and a good escapement occurred during the weekly closed period. On June 
28 good catches were made from the outer fishing grounds, in the vicinity of 
the mouth of the Egegik River, but few were in evidence around the mouth 
of the Naknek River. Fishing continued good on the outer grounds, and on 
July 3 a heavy run struck in and a heavy escapement occurred during the 
weekly closed period, from 6 p. m. July 3 to 6 a. m. July 5. 
When fishing was resumed on July 5 the heavy run was still on, and by 
July 6 the canneries began to fly limit flags. The run continued heavy until 
July 13, on which date few fish were in evidence around the mouth of the 
Naknek River, although good catches were reported by Naknek boats fishing 
in the upper Kvichak Bay waters. A heavy escapement took place during the 
weekly closed period from 6 p. m. July 10 to 6 a. m. July 12. On July 14 few 
fish were in evidence and catches were small, this condition continuing until 
July 19, when a small run of fish appeared. A fair escapement occurred during 
the weekly closed period, but when fishing was resumed on July 19 the last 
small run was over and very light catches were made to the end of the season. 
Egegik River.—A heavy run of fish appeared on the opening date (June 26), 
which continued until July 10, when a slight falling off was noticed. Few fish 
were in evidence until July 11, but on July 12 a heavy run came again, con- 
tinuing until July 20, after which the run fell off to almost nothing. The 
escapement of salmon up the Egegik River was enormous. 
Ugashik River——Very few fish were in evidence on the opening date, all 
fish in evidence in the river; but from June 30 to July 3 good catches were 
noted during the weekly closed period, and most of the fleet lay at anchor on 
June 28 because of rough weather. On June 29 catches were small, with no 
fish in evidence in the river; but from June 30 to July 3 good catches were 
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