262 U.S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



The principal objective of the red-sahnon investigations is to 

 determine the number of fish that should be permitted to spawn in 

 order to produce the greatest surplus for the commercial fishery in 

 succeeding generations. To further this study additional marking 

 experiments were undertaken in which small seaward migrating 

 salmon were marked for future identification by removal of certain 

 fins. The investigation at Karluk was directed by Joseph T. 

 Barnaby, and that at Chignik by Harlan B. Holmes. 



Under the direction of Dr. Frederick A. Davidson, racial character- 

 istics of pink salmon have been studied in southeastern Alaska for a 

 period of 4 years, or two life cycles of this species. Preliminary 

 analysis of the data collected points to racially distinct populations 

 in each stream, and to distinct populations in the same stream in odd 

 and even years. In addition to this primary phase of the pink salmon 

 investigation, studies of the seasonal change in the quality of pink 

 salmon have been undertaken in cooperation with the National 

 Canners Association. Complete reports of these investigations are 

 published in another document. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE ESCAPEMENT OF SALMON 



Field employees kept in close touch with the progress of the 

 salmon runs throughout the season in all districts for the purpose 

 of regulating commercial fishing operations. At the close of the 

 fishing season some of the representative salmon streams were vis- 

 ited to observe conditions on the spawning beds. 



Southeast Alaska. — Throughout all southeastern Alaska the runs 

 of pink salmon were late, and the fish were of small size. In the 

 north Prince of Wales Island and southern districts the catch of this 

 species was negligible prior to July 15, but after that date and until 

 the end of the season the runs increased and some good catches were 

 made. There was little escapement of pink salmon in the southern 

 district until after the close of commercial fishing, and the late 

 runs resulted only in irregular seeding of the spawning beds. Some 

 streams appeared to be adequately seeded, while others received so 

 few spawning fish as to endanger the runs. In the north Prince 

 of Wales Island district the escapement was more satisfactory, 

 although not as large as in other recent years. The escapement in 

 this district was regarded as fair. 



The pink salmon runs in all parts of the south Prince of Wales 

 Island district were smaller than they have been for several years. 

 They improved somewhat toward the end of the season and pro- 

 vided an adequate supply of spawning fish in a number of streams, 

 but, as in the north Prince of Wales Island and southern districts, 

 the escapement was very irregular, and streams tributar}' to Sea 

 Otter Sound and Tuxekan Passage were found to have less than 

 half of the normal seeding. Conditions in the streams of this dis- 

 trict were particularly favorable this year, and it seems probable 

 that a good return may result from this comparatively poor escape- 

 ment. The red salmon run in this district was comparable to that 

 of the two previous years, in which satisfactory increases had been 

 noted. The chum and coho runs were also satisfactory. 



In the Icy Strait, western and eastern districts the pink salmon 

 did not appear in numbers until much later than usual. In the Icy 



