40 IT. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



tives, and pot^sibly the action of ice on the spawn. The predatory fish of this 

 district are lake trout, pike, and Dolly Varden trout, the last being by far the 

 most abundant and therefore the worst. 



Lake trout were found in small numbers with the salmon on the spawning 

 beds in Fourth Lake and in tJie river connecting Fourth Lake with Beverly 

 Lake, also around the outlet of Little Togiak River. The depredations of these 

 trout on young salmon in several of the salmon streams of Bristol Bay are 

 well known. Examination of the stomachs of several caught proved tliat they 

 are also egg eaters of no mean ability. However, their number is very small 

 here. 



Pike are not plentiful, but a few we> a found in each of the lakes. They do 

 not feed upon spawn, tlieir food consisting of live fish. It is certain that they 

 consume a large number of young salmon. 



Of the depredations of Dolly Varden trout on both the salmon spawn and 

 young the bureau has ample evidence. An effor was made to determine some- 

 thing as to their number, tlieir activities in connection with the ascent and 

 spawning of the salmon, where they congregate, and their spawning liabits. 

 While inspecting the spawning areas in the various lakes and their tribu- 

 taries, a trout gill net was used in places wliere it could be done witliout injury 

 to the salmon. Being egg eaters most of the trout would be found on the 

 salmon spawning grounds during the spawning period. As all of the salmon 

 spawning areas were examined, it is believed that a large part of the Dolly 

 Varden trout of this district were seen. During the latter part of September 

 and the first part of October, wlien the red-salmon spawning period was over, 

 attention was given almost entirely to work on trout. During this time six 

 trout gill nets, one fyke net, and one seine were operated. Young Dolly Varden 

 trout between 4 and 6 inches in length were found during early October com- 

 ing out of the small tributary lake that entei-s on the southwest shore of Alek- 

 nagik Lake. A fyke net was set in the stream below so as to catch all of them, 

 but was only partly successful on account of drifting leaves, with which the 

 streams are choked during this season of the year. 



A fence of spruce trees constructed above the net was not effective, due to 

 the great quantities of leaves. About 200 young trout were caught. During 

 the red-salmon spawning period and after, thousands of Dolly Varden trout 

 were found in the upper part of Wood River and in Aleknagik Lake. Ascend- 

 ing the system from Aleknagik Lake they were less and less numerous, until 

 in Kulik Lake tliey were so scarce that only three or four were seen in the 

 entire lake. Two places were found in the upper lakes that might be profitably 

 fished — namely, at the outlet of Nerka Lake and at the outlet of Little Togiak 

 River — where there were trout by hundreds but not by thousands as in the 

 lower lake. Altogether 1,018 trout were caught and destroyed, all of which 

 were examined. The following conclusions were noted in regard to trout : 



There are more Dolly Varden trout in the upper part of Wood River and in 

 Aleknagik Lake than in all the other lakes combined. During the salmon- 

 spawning period the trout congregate on the salmon-spawning beds and feed 

 on the spawn. After the salmon-spav.-ning period is over the trout gather 

 around tlie outlets of tributary streams where they feed on the bodies of spent 

 salmon. Until October 9 about -5 per cent of the trout were ripe and spawning 

 around the outlets of tributary streams, none of them having ascended the 

 streams. All tributaries of Aleknagik Lake were examined in October, and it 

 is certain that no trout had ascended any of them prior to October 9. The 

 condition of the others would indicate their spawHing period as ranging 

 from probably November to some time in the spring, with the bulk of them to 

 spawn during the winter months. From the i>resence of young trout in the 

 tributary lakes it would .seem that at least part of the trout ascend tributaries 

 to spawn. An attempt will be made during the winter to determine whether 

 trout ascend the tributaries later. 



In this district there are many gulls and terns. Although all terns had left 

 before the 1st of September great flocks of gulls remained around tiie spawn- 

 ing areas throughout the spawning period and after, until the " freeze up." 

 That the gulls were feeding on spawn, where tlie salmon were spawning in 

 shallow water, during tlie early part of the spawning period was plain. As 

 the season advanced, however, it was noticed that they were feeding for the 

 most part on the bodies of spent salmon. Of the menace of terns to young 

 salmon nothing need be said in this report. Their favorite nesting grounds. 



