ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1930 35 



of coinmeiTial fishing operations was a contribntinf!; ractor in assurino- 

 a licavy escapoincnt, particularlv^ of pitiks and cluuns. Final inspec- 

 tion of the spawning grounds showed that the hsii were more evenly 

 distribnted than in the preceding year, and that the escapement was 

 satisfactory in virtually all streams except in the Port Wells region. 



In the Copper River region king salmon began to arrive early in 

 May and the run was of about normal size. The run of red salmon 

 began about the middle of that month and reached its peak the first 

 week of June. The escapement of reds was not considered sufficient 

 for full seeding of the spawning beds. The fall run of cohos was heavy, 

 and although the catch was large there was a satisfactory escapement. 



Cook Inlet. — The salmon run in this district as a whole was abnormal 

 and irregular. To July 14, few fish except kings were found north of 

 Anchor Point, but beginning with that date a heavy run of cohos 

 began along the west shore of the inlet, reaching its greatest volume 

 north of Trading Bay. Both reds and pinks were far below normal 

 in this section. On the east shore the runs were of about normal 

 volume along Salamato Beach from East Foreland to the Kenai 

 River, but only small numbers appeared between the Kenai and 

 Kasilof Rivers. The run of pinks into Kachemak Bay and along 

 the coast to Point Gore was the heaviest recorded in several years, 

 and the escapement, both of pinks and chums, was ample, practically 

 all streams in this locality being seeded to capacity. Escapement 

 into the Kasilof River, Tustumena Lake, and tributary streams was 

 considered normal, although reds were not so numerous as in 1929, 

 while seeding of streams tributary to Kenai Lake was scarcely ade- 

 quate. Russian River had a fair early escapement of reds, and cohos 

 were found in good numbers on the spawning grounds toward the 

 close of the season. Fish Creek and the lakes drained by this stream 

 were well seeded with reds and cohos, while Cottonwood Creek and 

 lakes had light escapements. 



Kodiak-Afognak district. — The runs of red salmon were unusually 

 light throughout the district. In the early part of the season pinks 

 and chums also ran light, and the closed period from August 2 to 

 September 1, effective in almost the entire area, was accordingly 

 established to protect the future runs. As a result of the curtailment 

 of commercial operations, the escapement was much larger than the 

 catch, and a number of the important salmon streams were fairly 

 well seeded. Among those that had particularly good escapements 

 of pink salmon were Red River and streams tributary to Kiavak 

 Lagoon, Kaguyak Bay, Afognak Bay, Tonki Bay, Izhut Bay, Red 

 Fox Bay, and Blue Fox Bay. Along the mainland shore the runs of 

 pinks and chums were reported to be the best since 1926. During 

 the fall good runs of cohos appeared in Red River, Kiavak Lagoon, 

 Kaguyak Bay, Seal Bay, and Afognak Bay. 



Chignik. — The failure of the run of red salmon at Chignik was 

 wholly unexpected and inexplicable, as the escapements on which 

 this run was based were good. Although commercial operations 

 were sharply curtailed and but a small percentage of the run was 

 taken, the escapement was only about one-third the average at this 

 place. 



Alaska Peninsula. — On both the south and north sides of the 

 Alaska Peninsula the runs and escapements of red salmon were poor. 

 In Ikatan Bay and False Pass there was a good escapement of chums 

 and pinks. A very heavy run of pinks occurred in Belkofsky, 



