28 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



All creeks in the vicinity were visited with good results, the fishing appli- 

 ances used being seines, spears, hand and set lines, bait traps, and set nets. 

 Seines were used with considerable success along the lake shore near the 

 mouths of the different streams. 



The trout averaged much larger than those taken in previous years and 

 were fat and bright, with every appearance of being sea-run fish. Specimens 

 weighing 8 pounds were common. Those of last year were for the most part 

 thin and emaciated. 



The north shore of the main lake was investigated, but conditions were not 

 found to be conducive to extensive spawning. Some salmon were noted near 

 the mouth of several sti'eams, but in much smaller numbers than in the Little 

 Becharoff section. All trout taken were given to the local natives, who dried 

 them for food. 



In Salmon Creek 386 trout, all weighing from 6 to 8 pounds, were taken 

 July 3, and red salmon were noted schooling at the ci'eek mouth. The high 

 water of July 7 brought the salmon into many of the creeks in such numbers 

 as to compel the discontinuance of set-net operations in certain streams. 

 Aggressive fishing was conducted in the different streams with movable equip- 

 ment until the salmon made their appearance in each, after which hand lines, 

 bait traps, and spears were used exclusively. 



A most successful method of capture consisted in baiting the lake shores 

 in the vicinity of the streams with trout offal and seining the baited terri- 

 tory. For several successive days an average of 200 trout was taken in this 

 manner, amounting to nearly half a ton, and on July 26, 1,139 Dolly Vardens 

 were caught. Most of this catch were large fish, one specimen weighing 14 

 pounds, but several were small, measuring from 4 to 8 inches. The total catch 

 for the season aggregated 10,063 fish, all Dolly Vardens, averaging 4 pounds 

 each, or 40,252 pounds weight. 



All equipment was overhauled and stored at the Alaska Packers Association 

 cannery, Egegik, and the return trip to the States was made on the Alaska 

 Packers Association ship Star of Zealand. 



TJgasMk. — The Ugashik crew> in charge of William Tanner, were trans- 

 ported on the Alaska Packers Association ship Star of Lapland from Semiah- 

 moo. Wash., with the Egegik party. Upon arriving in Bristol Bay there was 

 some delay in starting operations because of engine trouble on the Scoter. 

 but the crew was located as soon as possible and base headquarters were 

 established on May 24 at Red Salmon cannery, Ugashik River. A start 

 upstream was made immediately after arrival. Camp was established at the 

 rapids near the foot of the lower lake, where fishing was conducted for several 

 days with meager results. 



A barrier with trap was installed across the entire stream to take both 

 ascending and descending fish, in the belief that some migration of trout was 

 possible either way. The results being unsatisfactory, camp was moved to 

 last year's location on the stream between the two lakes. Here the barrier 

 was installed across the stream with trap on one end, wliere the fish were in 

 the habit of passing, and expectations were more than justified, as trout were 

 intercepted passing up and down stream. Those passing up were bright, 

 having the appearance of sea-run fish, and those caught from the other direc- 

 tion were thin, evidently " spawnouts." 



Observations proved that it was late for the early ingress of sea-run trout 

 at the first location, as they had passed into the first lake. They were the 

 fish taken in the trap while attempting to ascend to the second lake, and 

 those captured descending were possibly en route to salt water. At the l)egin- 

 ning of operations very large trout were taken, but toward the end their size 

 kept decreasing to very small fish, making the average weight '2i pounds. 



Migrating salmon passed out of the lake in enormous numbers en route to 

 the ocean from June 5 to 14, but small schools were noted at times before and 

 after those dates. Terns were in attendance in great numbers. 



Catches were light until July 1, when the trout became active, continuing so 

 until early August. The trap did excellent service, althougli the heavy rains of 

 early July interfered materially with fishing, as refuse drifted against the wire 

 netting, making it impossible at times to hold the netting across the stream at 

 the bottom. Fair success was experienced with drift nets in the evenings dur- 

 ing darkness. Trips were made also to all tributary streams and fish were 

 driven down into fyke or gill nets near the stream mouths. These results were 

 satisfactory. 



