ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1922. 33 



SPAWNING GROUNDS. 



When work was completed in Bristol Bay and arrangements made for the 

 return of the different crews to the States tlie writer proceeded to Iliamna 

 Lake to view the spawning grounds in this section before departure for the 

 States, in accordance with the custom of the two preceding years. All the 

 spawning territory was visited and observations indicated a sufficient escape- 

 ment to seed all availa!)le grounds. The tributary streams along tbe south- 

 east, east, and north sliore of Iliamna Lake contained surplus spawners to 

 the extent, in many cases, of being wasteful from an economic standpoint. 

 On the trip to and through the Lake Clark section great numbers of salmon, 

 either spawning or spent, were noted along the entire Newhalen River, and 

 extensive spawning was in progress along the shore of Lake Clark to Tarnalia. 

 Fish seemed to be everywhere, and in localities where none were seen the two 

 preceding years. 



Visits were made in turn to Tarnalia River, Current Creek, and Big River; 

 thence to the head of Little Lake Clark. Return was made along the opposite 

 lake shore to Kegik Creek. Tazimina River was visited last. Trips were made 

 upstream at each creek and river visited, but the discoloration of the streams 

 caused by glacial water and floods precluded all possibility of intelligent 

 observation, with the exception of Kegik Lake and Tazimina River. The trip 

 was somewhat early for the run in the upper reaches of the lake, but red 

 salmon were observed jumping at the entrance to Little Lake Clark. 



From information obtained from reliable residents relative to last .vear's 

 run in this section it was learned that " very few fish reached the upper 

 portion of Little Lake Clark, and the only fish of consequence were noted in 

 Kegik Lake, where fair numbers were seen earlier in the season. Signs of 

 a few thousand fish were seen in the sloughs of Current Creek about 10 miles 

 upriver, but the brown bears had cleared off every fish from their spawning 

 beds." and it is felt that the results from spawning here were negligible. At 

 Tarnalia. where great numbers were noted the present season and are numer- 

 ous in all good years, " there were no dead fish found along the lake shore, 

 where previously many were picked up for garden fertilizer." On arrival at 

 Kegik on August 23 a trip was made to the lake, where several thousand 

 red salmon were noted milling along the upper shores near the mouths of 

 several small streams. All fisli noted were silvery and fresh, as though they 

 had just arrived, and no spawning was in progress. The same resident 

 observers will report next spring on the extent of this j-ear's run in Upper 

 Lake Clark. 



A survey was made of Tazimina River to the falls, and salmon were found 

 in its entire length of about 8 miles. This fall is impassable, has a perpen- 

 dicular drop of about 75 feet, and is about 50 feet wide. And on the date visited 

 the stream was low, about 2 feet of water passing over. The rush upstream 

 was under way in the river, and some spawning at various points was in prog- 

 ress. An unbroken line of fish from 1 to 3 feet wide was passing near the 

 river mouth, with seemingly no limit to the numbers. 



The natives had their winter's supply cured, and it is estimated that about 

 fiO.OOO fish, divided between 30 families, was tlieir Lake Clark quota. About 

 50.000 fish would be required for the local families around Iliamna Lake. 



On the return to Iliamna on August 2S supplies were taken aboard prepara- 

 tory to an inspection around the lake. Each stream of consequence was visited 

 and examined upriver several miles. The Upper Tularic was visited late in the 

 season, but is not considered of importance as a salmon-spawning stream, al- 

 though it had the appearance of being thoroughly suitable for the purpose. It 

 was estimated that not over 10,000 fish spawned in its waters. An abundance 

 of spawners was noted along the lake shore in every direction, and the lake 

 surface was generously dotted with the dead fish after spawning. 



"Visits were made to Ciiekok Creek and tributaries, and many thousand salmon 

 were seen on the spawning beds and schooling preparatory to spawning. In 

 one spring pond. 350 feet long by 40 feet wide and 6 to 8 inches deep, it was 

 estimated that there were about 5,600 fish in course of spawning and fully as 

 many more in pools outside in the creek scliooling and ready to enter. This 

 pool is fed by springs and never freezes. The bottom was pure, coarse, clear 

 gravel down as far as dug. The fish were not working as actively as in a 

 flowing stream. In the course of digging it was noted that about 25 per cent 

 of the eggs among the gravel were dead, due to the activities of the late 



