26 nSHEEY AND FtJE rPmUSTRrES OP ALASKA IN 1912. 



prove that few young leave the streams as fry when the number of 

 spawners is small, whereas in heavy runs as in 1908 many do. This 

 may be one of nature's checks. And because of these various factors 

 it may well be that the supply of fish can be maintained by permit- 

 ting only a portion of the adults to reach the spawning grounds and 

 reproduce. Furthermore, since not all salmon mature at the same 

 age, and since exceptional years cause exceptional results from the 

 eggs deposited, it should not be anticipated that the fishery will 

 suddenly fail, nor that it will decrease gradually, but that it will 

 fluctuate with good and bad years for a considerable period. 



It can not be doubted that the heavy run of 1912 was in part, if not 

 largely, due to the large escape of 1908. The five-3^ear return from 

 that will help out the catch of 1913. The reports for 1909 indicate 

 a small run on the south side of the bay, but the catch was greater 

 in that section than in 1908. Tliis suggests a small escape, and in 

 the natural order of events the number of four-year fish taken in 1913 

 should be small. If no unusually favorable conditions for reproduc- 

 tion obtained in 1909 there should be a good run in 1913, due to the 

 number of five-year fish returning, and after that date there should 

 be a marked decrease in the runs ujitil 1916. 



The movement of yearling salmon was given somewhat less atten- 

 tion than in 1911. But one lot of 108 Lake Aleknagik fingerlings, 

 taken July 12, was preserved. These averaged only 92.3 mm. m total 

 length, or 8 per cent less than those of 1912. On the other hand, a 

 lot of 21 sockeyes, taken at Lewis Point on the Nushagak July 28, 

 averaged 66 mm. These examples, while still showing a marked 

 difference in size between the migrating fingerlings of the two streams, 

 somewhat reduce the disparity observed last season ; but the principal 

 fact, i. e., that there is thus a well-defined difference in size, is further 

 exemplified by these later collections. 



About the middle of June a number of small fingerling sockeyes, 

 fish of the spring hatch from 1911 spawn, were noted m Wood River 

 just below the lake. It is believed these small fish are the product 

 of eggs deposited in the lower portions of Lake Aleknagik at points 

 from which the fry would be carried down by the current. They were 

 seen for only a few daj^-s, June 11 to 14. 



STREAMS CLOSED TO COMMERCIAL FISHING. 



On October 18, 1912, a hearing was held in Seattle, Wash,, to con- 

 sider the closing of certain streams in Alaska under the authority 

 conferred upon the Secretary of Commerce and Labor by the law of 

 1906. After hearing all parties desiring to express their views, and 

 ascertaining that the consensus of opmion favored the closing pro- 

 posed, the following order was issued: 



