ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1922. 29 



The first red salmon i-e;\t'Iied the camp June 30, but they did not interfere with 

 operations before July 13, although they were in the lower lake in enormous 

 schools. On their arrival in numbers sufficient to olTer interference barrier and 

 trap were removed and fishing was conducted exclusively with bait trap and 

 set and hand lines. 



At the season's close the equipment was overhauled and stored at the cannery 

 of the Ked Salmon Canning Co., Ugashik, and the patrol launch at the Alaska 

 Packers Association cannery at the same point. The crew proceeded to the 

 States on the Alaska Packers Association ship Star of Zealand, after being 

 transferred to that vessel by the Margaret of the Naknek Packing Co. 



The number of fish taken aggregated 8,946 and weighed 22,365 pounds, an 

 average of 2i pounds each. About SO per cent were Dolly Vardens and the re- 

 mainder lake and rainbow trouts. Some whiteflsh and grayling were taken, 

 but in negligible numbers. 



Nu-'^hoffak. — This crew was in charge of Eric Fenno and embarked on the 

 Columbia River Packers' Association ship St. Nicholas, from Astoria, Oreg.. 

 April 19, arriving at Nushagak May 18. A small launch, which was transported 

 on the St. Nicholas, was used by the crew to make the trip to Snag Point. 



Until supplies were unloaded from the Buryess, the crew busied themselves 

 in overhauling equipment and boats. The latter were placed in the water so 

 that seams could be properly swollen to stop leakage. When this work was 

 completed and supplies were available, the crew started up river with two 

 loaded dories in tow by patrol boat No. 3. 



Camp was established June 3 at the head of the first lake, and fishing 

 progressed with but meager results to June 12, when catches began to improve. 

 The greatest success was experienced with set nets, which were transferred 

 from place to place, those on the side of the river toward the lake outlet making 

 the best catches. No large schools of trout were noted at any time. Numbers 

 were observed passing up stream with the salmon, however, and it was con- 

 cluded that they were going up immediately on arrival from salt water. 



About the time it became necessary to break camp trout were arriving in 

 greater numbers than at any other period. A run arrived from salt water 

 August 1, and several successful hauls were made with the seine. The sizes 

 show a decided decrease each year, from an average of 4 pounds in 1920 and 

 3^ pounds in 1921 to 2^ pounds the current year. A few specimens weighing 7 

 pounds were taken through the season. In former years this size was common, 



Schools of migrating salmon were seen passing down at intervals but never in 

 large numbers. The action of the terns gave positive evidence when a school 

 was passing. An intermission in the tern depredations was noticeable from 

 June 18 to 23, and no migrations were reported during that period. The last 

 migrations reported were on July 27. and all the terns disappeared from 

 the lake on July "29. Several trips were made to all islands in the lake for 

 the purpose of destroying tern eggs. On trips of observation to the second 

 lake, terns were seen working the entire river. 



Incoming salmon made their appearance at the operating point near the 

 river's outlet on July 2, necessitating the removal of nets at that point, after 

 which set and hand lines were used here. At other points the nets were fished 

 with success to July 9, when the salmon began scattering over the entire terri- 

 tory. For a few days during the early part of the run the salmon passed up 

 in continuous schools, which soon declined to small numbers of from 20 to 

 30 passing at intervals with long periods between. 



Gill-net marked fish, although noticeable all through the run, were not 

 seen in large numbers before the middle of July, when the ratio of fish badly 

 injured reached about 10 per cent, and a few days later, as the i*un slackened, 

 25 per cent. July 21 most of the salmon noted ascending and endeavoring to 

 ascend were injured and sick. IVIany of these, however, were fish that for 

 some time had endeavored to ascend, but without success, and would perish 

 in any case before spawning. 



Humpback-siilmon spawning was in progress near the outlet of the lower 

 lake when the crew departed on August 9, but not in large numbers. 



The total take of tnout for the season was 7,410 fish, weighing 18,525 

 pounds, an average of 2i pounds each. Ninety-five per cent were Dolly 

 Vardens. the remainder being pike with a few rainbow trout. 



Equipment with one small launch was stoi'ed at the Alaska-Portland 

 Packers' Association cannery at Snag Point, and the launch Scoter and patrol 

 boat No. 3 were placeil on the ways of the Alaska Packers Association cannery 



