ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1926 263 
jong, with an opening about 4 feet wide. It had no effect on the ascent of the 
salmon and no action was taken at the time. It is probable that the beavers 
and also the barrier will be entirely removed in the spring, when it will be 
permissible to take beaver for tur. The large spring pond about 3 miles up 
Chekok Creek contained about 300 red salmon, and about 200 more were 
schooling at the entrance. The main stream was very sparsely seeded. It is 
thought that not over 5,000 red salmon entered this stream, including its 
tributaries. 
All of the streams along this northwest shore, including Pedro Bay, Knutson 
Bay, Kinney Creek, and the small streams in the vicinity of Roadhouse Portage 
and Eagle Bay, received their quota of spawning salmon. These streams, with 
the exception of Kinney Creek, are small but important, with from 1,000 to 2,000 
red salmon each. Mr. Kinney reported the greatest run in his district since 
1915, but observations did not bear this out. The run in this locality was 
comparable with 1923. : 
A trip was made to Newhalen River to arrange for packers over the portage 
to Lake Clark. Arrangements were also made for a boat on the Newhalen side 
of the portage for a trip upriver. The trip over the portage was made on 
August 31 in heavy rain, and camp was established on the Newhalen side with 
everything wet and disagreeable. 
On September 1 the trip was continued to Tarnalia Point. On the way 
upriver salmon were noted in good numbers breaking water for a few miles in 
the lower and upper reaches of the river, and on the return trip, on September 
6, red salmon were appearing over the entire stream. Some good schools were 
noticed in the river, but the water was too badly discolored for an intelligent 
estimate of their number. 
Many new fish villages had been established along the river, but all were 
deserted at the time of this visit. The heavy early run permitted the natives to 
get their supply of salmon cured for home use and dog feed near the beginning 
of the season, after which they moved back to their winter quarters at 
Nondalton. All reported the heaviest run since 1922, and possibly even larger 
than that year. On the trip up the lake some salmon were noted schooling at 
various points along the south shore, and large schools were in the vicinity of 
Tarnalia Point. Tarnalia Creek had broken into the lake over the flats through 
several channels, which seemed to hold more attraction for the salmon, as there 
were large schools at each channel mouth. Before breaking into channels, this 
stream was not suitabie for spawning salmon. No spawning was noted in the 
east or upper portion of the lake, although in the west or lower end it was 
nearly over. Ali local families on the lake had discontinued fishing and removed 
their nets from the water, having obtained sufficient salmon for their own use. 
Locals along the west end of the lake had dried 140 bundles (5,600 salmon) for 
home use, and at the lower end of the lake they had 708 bundles (28,320 
salmon). 
Continuing the trip to the head of Little Lake Clark, a stop was made at 
Current Creek. This stream has changed its bed many times over the flat 
valley extending back several miles from its outlet and enters the lake through 
several small channels along about % mile of shore line. No salmon were seen 
in the vicinity, but spawning here is not extensive, and only near the head- 
waters several miles back is any spawning possible. The salmon had not 
reached here yet. 
The streams at the head of Little Lake Clark and Big River, at the entrance 
to Lake Clark, were in flood, but no salmon had as yet made their appearance 
this far up the lake. Along the north shore and beginning a few miles from 
Little Lake Clark, salmon were breaking occasionally. Brown Carlson, at 
whose home the night was spent, Stated that the fish had reached his place 
only about two weeks before, and they were only then en route to the head of 
the lake. Observations bore out this statement. Mr. Carlson had obtained 
all the fish needed for home use and dog feed in a few days. He regarded 
the run as the best since 1918. 
The north shore was inspected as far as Kegik Creek on September 3, and 
salmon were noted breaking in numerous places along the lake shore. Kegik 
Creek was also in flood and discolored. Salmon were seen outside, but none in 
the stream, though possibly they had passed up to Kegik Lake. Two beaver 
dams, one partly and the other entirely complete, were found about 2 miles 
above the outlet. They were about 300 feet long and backed the water over 
about half a mile of flat, but the height of the water offered no barrier to the 
salmon. However, as the water spilled evenly over the entire length of the 
48765—27_—_4 
