FISHERIES OF ALASKA, 1908. 49 



they reach the dear upper river, where the current almost constantly 

 sets down the river. In the muddy lower portion little can be seen 

 of the salmon save as they break the surface or swim with their 

 doi'sals in the air. Not much can be seen here of tlie general move- 

 ments of the schools, but in the upper clean water their migrations 

 can be plainly observed. 



The ascent of the salmon tlirough the clear water is an interesting 

 phenomenon to view. They do not occupy all portions of the stream. 

 Occasionally stragglers or small schools are encountered in mid- 

 stream, but the chief movement is confined to the edges and quite 

 close to the banks. Here there is a steady procession of fish, all 

 headed up and proceeding at a leisurely pace, perhaps rather less 

 than 3 miles an hour. They were first observed July 8, when they 

 were probably first forming as a continuous stream corresponding 

 with the head of the run. The column of fish was from 1 to 6 fish 

 wide on each bank of the river, with none or very few individuals 

 farther out in the river. On July 13 a great increase was observed. 

 The column was a dozen fish wide in places, and while there were 

 more individuals in midstream than before, the unbroken procession 

 was confined to a narrow strip of river immediately next shore. 

 They rounded all the points and bends in the river by keeping even 

 closer in toward the bank, where the current was somewhat slower. 

 There was only occasional opportunity to watch the edge of the river 

 during the launch trips up and down, but it is presumed that while 

 the heavy run is on in the river this procession of salmon, several 

 miles long, is continuous day and night, until broken up by the 

 dwindling of the numbers. Even toward the end of the season the 

 stragglers continued to hug the shore. How uniformly the fish in 

 the muddy tidal waters of the river cling to the shore in this for- 

 mation can not be said. It is probable that no procession exists, or 

 is at least much less well defined. The rate of progress in the upper 

 river, if maintained in the tidal portion, would bring them from the 

 river mouth to the lake in a few hours, whereas they probably spend 

 some days in the river. 



Red salmon in Nushagak River. — For the purpose of learning by 

 direct observation something of the abundance of red salmon in the 

 main river, a trip up this river to a distance of about 32 miles, was 

 made July 19 and 20. The river, though wide, is shallow and must 

 be navigated with care and with knowledge of the.channel. The 

 water is very muddy in the lower river, but gradually clears as one 

 goes upstream. Just beyond Black Point and above Angel Bay the 

 bottom of gravel and sand was plainly seen in 3 feet of water, but in 

 6 feet it could not be seen at all. Nowhere did the water become as 

 clear as in the upper reaches of Wood River. There was no proces- 



74811—09 4 



