10 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



ALASKA FISHERY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE 



For a number of years the bureau telegraphed Ketchikan fish 

 prices to various leading ports in Alaska. This service, which was 

 of value to the fishermen and buyers alike, has been supplanted by 

 the broadcasting each day through the Ketchikan radio station 

 (KGBU) of prices of salmon and halibut. Practically all fishing 

 boats operated in Alaskan waters have radio receiving sets and are 

 thus kept in close touch with market conditions. 



STREAM IMPROVEMENT 



Continuing the work undertaken in recent years and in accordance 

 with plans outlined the preceding season, an intensive program of 

 stream-improvement work was carried out in 1930, particularly in the 

 spring, payment therefor being taken care of in part by funds appro- 

 priated by the Territorial Legislature at its 1929 session. 



Log jams and other obstructions that hindered the ascent of salmon 

 to the spawning grounds were removed from 74 streams in south- 

 eastern Alaska during the year. In this district also a fishway of 

 reinforced concrete was constructed at Ketchikan Creek Falls. A 

 temporary wing dam was made at the head of the falls to increase 

 the flow of water sufficiently to fill all of the ladder compartments. 

 This" dam served its purpose during the steelhead run but was 

 washed out by an unprecedented rise of water late in June. 

 About the middle of August, when the pink-salmon run was under 

 way, it again became necessary to build a dam, as the water in the 

 creek was extremely low. A structure 2 feet high was built of timbers 

 and heavy planking, banked with sand and gravel on the upstream 

 side, and as soon as it was completed the salmon began to ascend in 

 large numbers, sometimes as many as 100 fish being in the compart- 

 ments at one time. Even the weaker fish were able to ascend the 

 stream with ease, and none was battered to death on the rocks, as 

 was the case formerly. 



Accomplishments in central Alaska included the blasting of a zig- 

 zag channel through a portion of the stream bed between the two 

 lakes tributary to Kaflia Bay, making the stream follow one channel, 

 which greatly assisted the ascent of salmon during low water. A 

 creek tributary to Halferty Bay was cleared of bowlders. In the 

 Cook Inlet region considerable progress was made in clearing import- 

 ant red-salmon streams and lakes along the watershed of the Susitna 

 and Little Susitna Rivers and streams emptying into Knik Arm. At 

 the falls in McNeil Creek a temporary fish ladder about 30 feet in 

 length was installed, with wing dams made of sacks filled with moss 

 and gravel to confine the water above the ladder, which greatly 

 facilitated the ascent of spawning salmon. Other stream improve- 

 ments were effected in various districts by bureau employees in con- 

 nection with their regular patrol duties and when checking up escape- 

 ments in the fall. 



STREAM MARKING 



The maintenance of markers to define the mouth of each salmon 

 stream and the limits of other waters closed to commercial fishing was 

 given the usual systematic attention, particularly during the spring, 

 when certain vessels of the bureau were assigned to this work. 



