FISHERY INDUSTRIES. 21 



Catch of Salmon in tue Afognak Reservation, Season of 1912. 



a The first day's fishing took 1,595, showing the run was not just beginning. 



This table does not show the complete figures for the silver sal- 

 mon, as, after the dates given, they were in some cases prepared for 

 liome use and not reported. Thus the Malena run of silvers ranks 

 third in size. It is estimated that about 20,000 fisn were used by 

 the inhabitants for food, 17,000 handled at the hatchery, making a 

 total of about 175,000 salmon of all species from the waters of Afog- 

 nak Island. 



The reds and silvers were sold by the fishermen for 3^ to 4 cents 

 each; the pinks for 2^ cents. The total catch is estimated to have 

 yielded to the licensees about $4,396. 



WOOD RIVER INVESTIGATION. 



The census of salmon entcrhig Lake Aleknagik was made in 1912 

 as in the previous four seasons. The number of redfish entering the 

 lake was 325,264, as against 354,000 in 1911. The winter of 1911-12 

 was exceptionally mild and the spring of 1912 early. At the time of 

 arrival of the cannery vessel, May 17, the bay and beaches were 

 entirely clear of ice, whereas in 1911 the last of the ice did not leave 

 untU late in June. 



It would seem, under these circumstances, that the run should 

 have begun and should have reached its maximum much earlier in 

 1912 than in 1911. Anticipating this possibility, the rack was got in 

 ])lace early in June. The first fish appeared at the rack June 22, 

 when 50 were passed through. In 1911 the first fish were noted 

 July 4, when 228 were passed through the gates. Since the beginning 

 of these investigations in 190S the runs have shown each season at 

 the rack two more or less distinct maxima. The first and less dis- 

 tinct maximum in 190S occurred July 11; m 1909, July 6; in 1910. 



