BUREAU OF FISHERIES 91 



FISIIKUY INVKSTKIATIOX OF THE PACIFIC COAST AND ALASKA 



The staff of the lUiroim's Soalllc (Wash.) laboratory has continued 

 its investitrations of the sahnon and herrinfij po|)ulations of Ahiska 

 and the Pacific coast. Those investijiations, altlioufrh confined to 

 definite localities, have as their j^oal the determination of the causes 

 lesponsible for the fluctuations in the abundance of the salmon and 

 herring so that ])rovisions may be made for permanent and pro- 

 ductive fisheries throughout the entire region. 



The red-salmon runs in Bristol Bay and the Karluk, C'hignik. and 

 Copper Rivers were observed and information concerning them col- 

 lected. The results from the studies of the red-salmon runs in the 

 ]iast indicate that the mortality of the young in the streams and lakes 

 is to a great extent responsible for the wide fluctuations in the 

 abundance of these salmon. In view of these findings an attempt 

 is being made to determine some of the causes responsible for this 

 mortality in the Karluk River system. 



The studies dealing with the homing instinct and age at maturity 

 of the pink salmon have been submitted in a report which is being 

 published by the Bureau. Observations of the pink-salmon runs in 

 southeastern Alaska were continued for the purpose of determining 

 the causal factors responsible for the fluctuations in the time of 

 appearance and abundance of these runs. 



A report has been submitted showing areas inhabited by each of 

 the principal herring races in southeastern Alaska. This informa- 

 tion will be of great value in segregating the catch statistics so that 

 the abundance of each race may be determined separately and the 

 intensity of the fishing regulated accordingly. 



The statistical study of the sockeye-salmon fishery in Puget Sound 

 has been continued and is demonstrating that severe overfishing 

 eventually will destroy the sockeye-salmon runs in the Fraser River 

 which virtually support this fishery. An attempt is being made to 

 compile a formal report of this study within the next year so as to 

 IH-ovide a basis for the regulation of this fisher}^ in order to restore 

 it to its former abundance. 



The coho salmon that frequent the waters of the Pacific Coast 

 States and Puget Sound })rovide the basis for a large sport fishery 

 as well as the commercial fishery in this region. During the past 

 year the Bureau has undertaken a study of the fluctuations in the 

 abundance of these fish for the purpose of recommending measures 

 that will provide for a permanent supply of the coho salmon, both 

 for commercial and recreational purposes. 



AQUICULTURAL INVESTIGATIONS 



The investigations in the interest of improved fish-cultural ]n'ac- 

 tices have recently been expanded to include field studies dealing 

 with problems which are of vital concern to any program of fisheries 

 management. Under an allotment from the Public Works Admin- 

 istration, stream survey and improvement work has been carried on 

 in the national forests and parks in 15 States. The pur])ose of the 

 survey is to supply information on the streams and lakes of the 

 public domain for the development of a scientific stocking program. 



