24 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1918. 
WOOD RIVER CENSUS. 
The usual count of red salmon entering Lake Aleknagik on Wood 
River, Alaska, was made in 1918. The work was under the direction 
of Warden Shirley A. Baker, assisted by Fred R. Lucas, who was 
temporarily detached from the Afognak fish-cultural station. 
Continuing the custom of past seasons, a rack consisting of cotton 
trap webbing hung on piling and weighted with chains was placed 
across the lower end of the lake in the latter part of June. Counting 
of salmon began June 28 and was carried on daily until August 5, 
a period of 39 days. 
The run of salmon began somewhat later than usual. This was 
attributed to the late breaking of winter, there being an ice gorge in 
the Bristol Bay region which could not be penetrated until almost the 
end of May. During the season, however, the weather was extraor- 
dinarily fine with little or no rain or wind. It is said that these 
conditions caused the salmon to linger in the waters of the bays until 
nearly ready to spawn, when heavy rushes were made up the rivers. 
The run of red salmon appears to have been the largest of record 
although the count into Lake Aleknagik was less by 138,306 than in 
1917. 
The first considerable count of salmon passing through the rack 
was made on July 10, when 28,302 were admitted to the lake. On 
the following day, July 11, the count increased to 131,156, which 
number was exceeded but once during the season, on July 18, when 
235,700 passed into the lake. There were only six days which show 
a count of more than 50,000 salmon each, on four of which the count 
was in excess of 100,000. The tally for the season was 943,202, the 
details of which are given in the following table: 
Woop River SALMON CENSUS IN 1918. 







Date. Number. Date. || Number. | Date. Number, 
JUNG 28 oa eise se se ae ee 14> edly 12. smocisese ones 102;042,,||| Tully: 26.5. sous. < See ee 1, 258 
77 Bee tela Sas 9 1G Re eAaace sSsuee 55, 478 2h oak nis oc eee ee 646 
BOLGssee et Sees 33 A ees ane tosce 35, 159 28 wos wantdotoaeee 868 
JULY nae occ et roe 258 1G 2 fee a eee a 29,328 DOR ee ese As ee 324 
See) 6 Pea 462 Ge. 258.2 SAE AE eG 848 155 SO Ce 388 
Beane ee ane 568 i Cee ee ee Sree Os 1245038 sll. Ob-ssadeeseas- omen 596 
eS ence 1, 440 11 as A 235; 00d ATU lc Son.. eee cere 515 
Da bre sane ae 1, 223 dl! aA Se ease TSC OUR NL a esac ae ee 773 
Ge acces cae cme os yt | be ek et es A ae 36, 507 S SER eee Saas 2 308 
Tis Ge Rep ete 1, 821 Dates wate eee 7,321 (a eiRg  AI SO 417 
ES ee ee 3,370 Deawentciweetber ene 2,416 Hea eee Oot 208 
Oh cle eae 7,451 23 Wea Aue Elgar 4, 646 oe 
ODS ase tek sc aoe 28, 302 245 eRe aes 3,236 Total: eee 943, 202 
OAT OS ae AT | 131, 156 ieees eee hep s 1,355 



It was reported that less than 20 king salmon entered Lake 
Aleknagik. Humpback salmon were also scarce, but there was an 
appreciable run of chum salmon. 
Valuable assistance in the installation of the rack and in making 
the count of salmon was generously given by the Alaska Packers 
Association and the Alaska-Portland Packers’ Association. 
