ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1922, 23 



These two important facts have most vital bearing on the subject under 

 discussion. Tlie Kenai River is by far the most important salmon stream in 

 Cooii Inlet, and it is believed that the salmon industry of that region would 

 be irreparably ruined if, the run in the Kenai River were to be destroyed, 

 which would, T believe, be the practical effect of the proposed power projects. 

 If the run on the Kenai River were stopped, it would probably necessitate the 

 closing of several large salmon canneries, including those of Libby, ISIcNeill 

 & Libby, Northwestern Fisheries Co., Alaska Packers Association, and Fidalgo 

 Island Packing Co., and would also limit the operations of various smaller 

 canneries and salting stations perhaps to such an extent that they would 

 eventually be compelled to close. 



Flowing into Kenai River and Kenai Lake above the proposed dam site in 

 the canyon are six remarkably fine salmon streams, all of which carry good 

 runs of red salmon. They are as follows : Russian River, Trail Creek, Ptarmi- 

 gan Creek, Quartz Creek, Chain Lake Creek, and Snow River. Below the 

 proposed project and between Skilak Lake and the mouth of Kenai River there 

 are only three worth-while salmon streams, and they contain mixed runs with 

 few reds, the latter being the most valuable and sought-after species. These 

 streams are Killey River, Funny River, and Moose River. Although Skilak 

 Lake has valuable spawning areas on the north shore, it is, nevertheless, of 

 minor value, as the tributaries which flow into this lake are not red-salmon 

 streams. 



Kenai Lake shows that it has remarkable fitness for supporting fish life and 

 is the chief spawning lake of the Kenai River basin, being the lake where 

 the greater portion of the young red salmon spend the first year of their lives 

 before proceeding to salt water. 



The agent of the Bureau of Fisheries who investigated the matter states 

 that a 120-foot dam in the Kenai River would flood a tract averaging 1 mile in 

 width and 8 miles in length, and that this flooded area would cover Chain 

 Lake Creek and its first liead lake. Thus, a very valuable spawning area 

 would be lost even if the salmon could get over the dam, which seems to be 

 wholly out of the question. 



The report in question shows that there are documents on file in the Cordova 

 office of the Forest Service which indicate the intention to utilize Russian 

 River waters in connection with the Kenai River project. Russian River is 

 the chief red salmon tributary of the Kenai River, flowing into the larger stream 

 about 5 miles above the Kenai River Canyon. The construction of a high dam 

 on Russian River would be a most serious blow to the salmon industry. 



In the matter of possible hatchery operations above the dam in Kenai River 

 Canyon, the following is extracted from the report of the investigating agent; 



" In the letter from the Federal Power Commission, under date of May 22, 

 1922. the suggestion has been made to put in a hatchery above the dam'. It 

 would be absolutely impracticable to put in a hatchery either above the dam 

 or below the dam and to corral the red salmon until they are ripe. As it is 

 now, the mature salmon come into the lake to ripen. The young red salmon 

 must live a year in the lake — sometimes they stay longer — before going to the 

 ocean waters. It is impracticable and impossible to accommodate in a hatchery 

 the spawning adults and the young fry of the great Kenai River red-salmon 

 run. Therefore the project of the establishment of a hatchery either above 

 or below the dam is a forlorn hope and should not be entertained' at all." 



The matter of the proposed power project on the Kenai River, Alaska, was 

 rather recently referred to Dr. C. H. Gilbert, of Stanford University, who is 

 a noted authority on the salmons of the Pacific coast and Alaska. Dr. Gilbert's 

 reply is as follows : 



" I beg to expre.ss my conviction that the proposed dams between the Kenai 

 and Skilak Lakes would result in reducing the red-salmon run in the Kenai 

 River to such a point that it would cease to have any commercial significance. 

 I believe it would be wholly impracticable to construct a fishway over a dam 

 of the height proposed, and I regard it as equally impracticable to operate 

 successfully a hatchery below the dam. The red salmon on their ascent of the 

 river are far too green to spawn. It is their habit to remain in the deep waters 

 of the hilce for a month or more until their eggs are ripe. To impound them 

 for this purpose in the river below the dam would certainly result in the loss 

 of a large percentage of the spawning fish. The Kenai River is the most im- 

 portant red-salmon .stream of Cook Inlet. If the Kenai run is destroyed, the 

 Cook Inlet salmon fisheries will go with it. I recommend that the Bureau of 



