ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1927 99 



stated also that the run was considerably less than in 1926, with almost no early 

 fish. However, they had no difficulty in catching enough for their own needs. 

 A trader at the Portage in close touch with the situation advised that the salmon 

 had reached only the head of the Newhalen River, but were there in good numbers. 

 From reports of those who fish in the vicinity each year for home use it was 

 estimated that the numbers here were about 75 per cent of last year. As nothing 

 could be gained by an inspection of Newhalen River, inasmuch as the water was 

 so high and roily that the fish could not be seen, the examination was continued 

 along the north shore areas of Iliamna Lake. 



While the salmon this year did not appear in as great numbers in certain 

 localities, notably early spawning areas, as in former years, they were more 

 evenly distributed over the various spawning grounds, especially small streams 

 along the north shore of Iliamna Lake, including Iliamna River and to the west- 

 ward. All of these creeks and rivers, with the exception of Chekok Creek, had 

 better numbers than were shown last year. In Chekok Creek, about one-half 

 mile from the mouth, there was encountered a beaver dam, which prevented 

 the salmon from passing upstream. About 50 red salmon were spawning below 

 the dam and some 300 more were noticed in the stream. The dam was removed 

 and the salmon immediately passed up. This stream appeared to be diminishing 

 in size, the cause of which, it was learned, was a break back in the valley, which 

 diverts the greater part of the water into Kokotano Creek. The latter stream 

 was fairly well supplied with salmon and about 300 fish were seen milling near 

 its mouth. Virtually all of these small creeks carried salmon in excess of last 

 year, but in no case were sufficient numbers noted to represent 60 per cent of the 

 possible capacity. 



Youngs Creek, which contained very few fish in the last three years, showed a 

 fair run for its size this season, and local residents at the mouth of the stream 

 were putting up dog feed. At the time of the visit (August 17) they had about 

 200 fish in process of curing. They stated that they had caught from 50 to 75 

 red salmon each night for the past few nights in a set net about 100 feet long. 

 A fair school was milling near the mouth of the stream, but few fish had passed up. 



At Woody Island but one school of about 50 red salmon was seen, which 

 was along the outside island shore. 



A trip up Iliamna River for about 15 miles was made on August 20. There 

 were good numbers of salmon in the lower portion of the river, from a mile or so 

 above the mouth to a little beyond the Indian village, a distance of about 2 miles. 

 During the ascent, small schools of salmon were seen at various points for the 

 first 3 miles, then none for about 4 miles, after which small numbers were noticed 

 scattered over an excellent spawning bottom for about 5 miles. It was esti- 

 mated that the upper part of the river harbored about 2,500 red salmon scattered 

 over extensive beds and that approximately 15,000 were in the lower portion, 

 or about 57 per cent more than last year. This stream, like nearly all others 

 along the north shore (notably Pedro Bay, Knutson, Kenny, Kokotano, Eagle 

 Bay, and Portage Creeks) was better seeded this year than last, but the escape- 

 ment covering the Iliamna and Lake Clark district as a whole was about 25 per 

 cent less than the total escapement last year. 



KUSKOKWIM RIVER 



Commercial fishing for salmon for export from Alaska is prohibited 

 in the Kuskokwim River and the area off its mouth. From June 10 

 to September 10 Stream Guard Charles McGonagall was stationed 

 on the river to observe operations. No violations of the law or 

 regulations were reported. The run of salmon began about 10 days 

 later than in the preceding year and at no time did it attain any 

 great size. 



As a result of a "flu" epidemic in the spring, very few of the natives 

 did much fishing during the summer, and almost all of the white 

 fishermen wxnt to Nushagak to fish for the canneries, inasmuch as 

 there was no commercial market for fish on the Kuskokwim. Al- 

 though the catch of salmon was only about half that of 1926, it was 

 believed that no lack would be felt by the natives, as whitefish and 

 blackfish may be secured all winter from the lakes. 



