22 



FISHERY AND FUR INDUSTRIES OF ALASKA IN 1912. 



July 10; in 1911, about July 10, but merging closely into the later; 

 and in 1912, July 3. The second and highest maximum in 1908 was 

 reached July 14; in 1909, July 14; m 1910, July 15; in 1911, July 15; 

 and in 1912, July 8, but in this case it was much less distinct, the 

 curve showing a secondary rise July 16 and 17. On the whole, it 

 may be said that the run in 1912 was about a week earlier than in 

 the four years just preceding. 



As no temperature data are at hand, the relation of the run to 

 temperature can not be determined. It may be assumed that in the 

 absence of the ice fields the higher temperatures would have been 

 reached much earlier; that is, as much earlier as the time of disap- 

 pearance of the ice was earlier, but a consideration of the probable 

 amount of influence of the ice and the cold water of the streams upon 

 the lower waters of the bay or those of the sea in which the fish are 

 feeding readUy leads to the conclusion that the acceleration of the 

 run was quite equivalent to the effect produced by the absence of ice. 



The tally at the Lake Aleknagik rack was as follows : 



Salmon Entering Lake Aleknagik, Summer of 1912. 



The relation of the catch to the escapement into Wood River is 

 shown m a table below. In considermg these figures it must be kept 

 in mind that an unascertained number of redfish ascend the Nushagak 

 River to spawning beds. It is known that this number is small as 

 compared with the number ascending Wood River. This fact is well 

 recognized by the packers and was further substantiated m 1911 by 

 the operation of two gill nets in the Nushagak River throughout the 

 season. While the census at Lake Aleknagik thus does not show the 

 escape for the entire bay, nevertheless the figures for that factor of 

 the total escape show the relative escape year by year. 



Red Salmon Run in Nushagak Bay and Tributaries, 1908-1912. 



