ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1930 31 



site, as the river was at very low stage in the spring. Little lumber 

 could be carried at a time, and each trip required two days. However, 

 a temporary rack was ready in time to count the first of the run, and 

 improvements were made to the structure as soon as conditions 

 permitted. Counting began on July 9 and ended on August 9, during 

 which period the total escapement was 37,376 reds, 1,288 chums, and 

 13 kings. C. R. Sullivan, under the direction of Capt. J. J. O'Don- 

 nell, was in charge of the construction and counting operations. 



NAKNEK RIVER 



On May 27 the erection of the weir in Naknek River was begun at 

 a point about 50 yards upstream from the site occupied in the previous 

 season. The tripod type of weir was again used, with the tripods 

 placed 14 feet apart and the fence entirely of pickets with no section 

 of Avdre netting, in order better to withstand the pressure of swift 

 water and floating debris. Low water in the river facilitated the 

 work and the structure was completed before the salmon began to 

 ascend to the spawning grounds, their passage being blocked on 

 June 20. The weir, which was 1,184 feet in length, had seven count- 

 ing gates and one large boat gate. 



The first red salmon were observed on June 26, when 143 were 

 counted through the weir. The bulk of the run passed upstream in 

 two 5-day periods, from July 3 to 7 and from July 11 to 15, inclusive, 

 the highest count for any one day being 40,020 on July 14. After 

 July 15 there was a gradual decline, and counting operations were 

 discontinued at the close of August 9, on which day but 6 red salmon, 

 together with 536 kings and 54 cohos, passed through the weir. The 

 total count for the season consisted of 287,208 reds, 1,999 kings, 255 

 cohos, 331 chums, and 28 pinks. 



It was observed that the red salmon were strikingly uneven in size, 

 some being very large, and many very small. Each day there were 

 seen below the weir many salmon that were not more than 12 inches 

 long. Rainbow trout were plentiful, apparently much more so than 

 in preceding years, and there were also a great many lake trout, but 

 very few Dolly Vardens were taken at the weir site. Schools of migrat- 

 ing salmon were observed going down the river during the early part 

 of June and again during the second week in July, but unless others 

 descended before work at the weir was started it is evident that the 

 migration this season was much smaller than in 1929. William E. 

 Sullivan, under the supervision of Agent Dennis Winn, was foreman 

 at this weir except for a short time at the beginning and end of the 

 season when he was engaged on the bureau's work in the Becharof 

 Lake district. 



UGASHIK RIVER 



Construction of the weir on the Ugashik River was started on 

 June 10 and completed on June 27. Red salmon began to appear 

 below the weir on June 24 and another school arrived on July 1, but 

 the first count through the rack was on July 2, when 15 reds passed 

 upstream. Not until July 12 did they ascend in any appreciable 

 numbers. The run at the weir reached its peak on July 22, with a 

 count of 57,614 for the day, after which there was a rapid decline. 

 Counting was discontinued at the close of August 10, when the total 



63315—31 3 



