FISHEKIES OF ALASKA IN 1907. 17 



liiiies during the run of humpbacks for the purpose of observing the 

 fish. The most interesting point was at the village falls. Here 

 scarcely an instant of time elapsed that did not witness one or more 

 salmon attempting the leap to clear the falls. Apparently nearly 

 every salmon made many unsuccessfid attempts before finally over- 

 coming the obstacle, as they were constantly seen to fail and fall 

 back with the swift rush of water. Below the falls the congregation 

 of fish seemed to have reached its limit. They were packed in almost 

 solidly, their bodies in contact, evidently several fish deep in the 

 water, the upper ones wriggling over the bodies of those beneath as 

 they constantly headed upstream and breasted the current in their 

 endeavor to reach the falls. During August and early in September 

 this run is at its height. On October 7, after seven weeks, the creek 

 was again visited. A marked change in conditions had occurred. 

 Now many fish were dead and distributed along the banks of the 

 creek, in and out of the water, which was tinged with brown. The 

 creek still contained many living fish, but they were greatly changed 

 in appearance, many in a dying condition or in the frantic move- 

 ments of the death agony, and showing the usual characters of spent 

 salmon. Nearly all had deposited their eggs. On October 16 the 

 number of salmon still living had still further, and very greatly, 

 diminished. Many of the dead were completely enveloped in fun- 

 gus, and the bodies of some had been nearly consumed by it. Though 

 the spawning season had been practically over for some time, and 

 many millions of eggs must have been deposited, an inspection of the 

 bottom of the creek did not reveal many live eggs exposed to view. 

 Many dead eggs were to be seen, largely collected into heaps by the 

 eddies. Under the stones were found many eggs both living and 

 dead, and many of the living eggs were eyed (October 16), and the 

 movements of the embryo could be seen when the egg was broken. 

 The temperature of the creek was 47° F. Between the power house 

 and the dam no fish were seen and none were leaping at the dam. In 

 August they could be seen attempting to get over this inaccessible 

 fall. 



Notwithstanding the great run of salmon, apparently packing the 

 creek so sohdly that its full reproductive capacity must be reached, 

 the impression in October, resulting from a search for eggs, is that 

 the creek could sustain many more than appear to exist. 



An occasional redfish in spawning color may be seen during August 

 among the humpbacks, and in October a few cohos are taken with 

 the gaff. 



Yes Bay. — There was a very scant run of redfish in Yes Bay in the 

 earlier part of the season, and the superintendent of the Government 

 hatchery at Yes Lake, fearing for his supply of spawning fish, partly 

 closed the bay to fishing. The conditions not improving, early in 



