FISHERY INDUSTRIES. 85 
The number of red salmon taken from the Copper River in 1918 equaled 95.72 per 
cent of the total catch; kings equaled 1.26 per cent; and cohos 3.02 per cent. Out of 
the total catch of red salmon, 69.11 per cent was taken in the waters of the delta, 
while 30.89 per cent came from the up-river fishing grounds. Twenty-five per cent 
of the total catch of kings was taken from delta waters, as against 75 per cent from the 
river above the delta. 
At the close of the fishing season on the Copper River in 1917 it was conceded by those 
interested in the salmon fisheries of that region, and others who had intimate knowl- 
edge of conditions there, that alarming drains had been made on the supply of salmon 
and that unless greater protective measures were adopted than those afforded by the 
general fishery law a serious and permanent depletion was inevitable. This condition 
was the more acute for the reason that the season of 1916 also showed in proportion 
to the gear in use a falling off in catch from that of the two years immediately preceding. 
The fact that 10,000 fathoms of gill nets was sufficient to catch 400,000 salmon in the 
Copper River in 1914 and that in 1916 the use of 40,000 fathoms was required to take 
double that number, or 800,000, would seem to foreshadow depletion in direct ratio 
to the increase in gear. Thesimple logic of it all is that as the scale of one ascends the 
other naturally descends. Equilibrium could be restored only by a reduction in the 
amount of gear which automatically would make possible a greater escapement of 
salmon. This fact was brought out prominently at the hearing given in Seattle, 
Wash., December 14, 1917, when, as the record of that meeting seems to show, nota 
dissenting voice was heard in opposition to the well-founded opinion that the valuable 
salmon fisheries of the Copper River had suffered considerable depletion already and 
were then in danger of complete destruction by unrestrained commercialism. The 
time to act was therefore apparent to all. 
While there may have been some disagreement with regard to details, there was a 
unanimity of opinion in respect to essentials—the run of salmon was being depleted 
and something should be done tostopit. Fishing activities were rapidly approaching 
the danger point and serious consequences were in sight if they continued unchecked 
much longer. 
To understand thoroughly the peculiar conditions existing at the mouth’ of the 
river, and to know the extent of the delta, the entire region should be seen at low water. 
No published map or chart adequately portrays them. Ii observations are made at 
low water, it will be found that these several streams which are the outlets of the Copper 
River traverse the mud flats to the outer sand bars through channels having well- 
defined banks. Naturally, at high water, these streams are dispersed in all directions 
after they emerge irom the grass banks, but even so, that is no reason for saying that 
the mud flats and sand bars are not as much a part of the delta as the grass-covered 
marshlands which are overflowed only at extreme high tide. The delta of the Copper 
River is a physical fact, and it must necessarily lie within the mouth of the river. 
That being so, it would seem that under the law the Secretary of Commerce had ample 
authority to limit or prohibit fishing in at least all of the waters inside of and within 
500 yards outside of the several outlets through the sand bars. 
SALMON HATCHERIES. 
EXTENT OF OPERATIONS. 
In 1918 the propagation of salmon in Alaska was carried on at four 
fish-cultural stations, two of which were operated by the Government 
and two by private interests. The capacity of these hatcheries is 
approximately 280,000,000 red-salmon eggs, the two Government 
stations being able to take care of 150,000,000. 
In 1917 the total collection of red-salmon eggs in Alaska was 
115,964,000. The number of salmon liberated in Alaskan waters in 
the season of 1917-18 was 90,390,200, which was 65,250,800 less than 
in 1916-17. The take of red-salmon eggs in 1918 was 142,001,000, or 
26,037,000 more than in 1917. This increase was due to the fact that 
considerably larger takes were made at the McDonald Lake (formerly 
Yes Bay), Fortmann, and Quadra hatcheries. The collection of eggs 
at the Afognak station was also approximately 1,500,000 greater 
than in the previous year. Operations at the Uganik and Seal Bay 
substations of Afognak were not carried on in 1918. 
