ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, l')3() 33 



The work at this place was in iniinediate charge of Warden Fred 

 R. Lucas under the general supervision of Agent Dennis Winn. 



SALMON TAGGING 



In continuation of studies of migration routes of salmon, tagging 

 experiments were again carried on in southeastern Alaska under the 

 direction of Dr. Willis H. Rich. The work was performed by Warden 

 Frank W. Hynes with the assistance of the crew of the Murre and was 

 carried on at intervals between July 13 and August 14, both dates in- 

 clusive. There were tagged and released approximately 2,000 salmon 

 taken from traps on Sitklan Island, Kanagunut Island, and near Cape 

 Fox, and about 1,500 in the vicinity of Kasaan Bay and Windfall 

 Harbor on the west shore of Clarence Strait. While some of all spe- 

 cies of salmon were tagged, the majority were pinks. Reports indi- 

 cate that approximately 1,000 of the tagged fish were recaptured. 

 Complete data on the experiments will be published in a separate 

 document. 



SALMON LIFE-HISTORY STUDIES 



A comprehensive program concerning biological studies of the Pa- 

 cific salmons was carried forward in Alaska in 1930 under the direction 

 of Dr. Willis H. Rich, chief investigator of salmon fisheries. This 

 work, which deals largely with the important red-salmon runs, was 

 conducted at Karluk by Doctor Rich and one assistant, Joseph T. 

 Barnaby; at Chignik by Harlan B. Holmes; at Bristol Bay by Alan 

 C. Taft; and in the Copper River region by Seton H. Thompson. 

 Dr. Frederick A. Davidson continued investigations in southeastern 

 Alaska which were begun the previous year to determine the applica- 

 tion of the parent stream theory to the life history of the pink salmon, 

 the principal species in that district. 



As heretofore, red-salmon fingerlings w^ere marked at Karluk and 

 Chignik as they were migrating seaward, some 50,000 being marked 

 at each place, and samples of scales of adult red salmon were collected 

 in various localities for study of the age of the fish at maturity. These 

 activities are covered fully in a separate document.^ 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE ESCAPEMENT OF SALMON 



In conformity with the bureau's established practice, most of the 

 important salmon streams in Alaska were visited during and subse- 

 quent to the closing of commercial fishery operations for the purpose 

 of estimating the escapement of salmon, which under the law must 

 at least equal the commercial catch in order to perpetuate the runs. 

 At the same time observations were made as to general conditions 

 such as the volume of w^ater on the beds, presence of barriers which 

 might impede the ascent of the fish, and other factors having to do 

 with the successful seeding of the streams. The reports received from 

 field employees intrusted with this important duty are of marked impor- 

 tance in connection with the revision of regulatory measures intended 

 to maintain the yield of the salmon fisheries at the highest possible 

 level. 



2 Progress in Biological Inquiries, 1930. Appendix III, Report, U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries, 1931. 

 In press. 



