ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1922. 57 



4 feet deep. The rack was of tripod and picket construction, stand- 

 ing 4 feet above low water, but because of high tides it was found 

 necessary to raise its height 5 feet by means of wire netting. A 

 phink walk extended along the top of the pickets, and four openings 

 were built in the rack for passage of fish, the counter to stand di- 

 rectly over an opening. A gate 6 feet wide was constructed for 

 the passage of small boats. 



The rack was practically completed by June 2, and on June 9 the 

 first salmon was seen below it. Counting was continued until fish 

 ceased running October 20. A total of 428,976 red, 58,300 coho, and 

 241 king salmon Avere counted during this period. Humpback and 

 chum salmon were not counted, but it was estimated that probably 

 15,000 humpback and 1,200 chum salmon ascended the river. These 

 two species spawn chiefly in the creeks that empty into Chignik Bay 

 and Lagoon. Reports of the three companies operating at Chig- 

 nik show a catch of 1,403,701 red salmon, indicating that the 

 escapement in the season of 1922 was only 23.4 per cent, or less 

 than one-fourth of the total run. The counting experiment will be 

 continued over a series of years with a view to determining a basis 

 for commercial operations in this district. 



KARLUK SALMON COUNTS. 



Ked salmon ascending the Karluk River for spawning purposes 

 were counted in 1922 as they passed through a rack 360 feet long 

 placed across the river about half a mile above the lagoon. Every- 

 thing was in readiness at the rack by May 12, and the first salmon 

 were counted on May 20. Considerable numbers of Dolly Varden 

 trout were captured by means of trap and seine, and large numbers 

 also were destroyed by dynamite before the appearance of salmon 

 necessitated stopping its use. Counting was in charge of Fred R. 

 Lucas, who was detailed from the bureau's hatchery at Afognak. It 

 was reported that considerable difficulty was experienced with hump- 

 back salmon, which spawned in large numbers above and below the 

 rack and in some instances undermined sections of it. Thousands 

 of the dead fish were carried down in a slight rise of water, and it 

 was necessary to open a section of the rack to let them pass through 

 in order to prevent the water damming up and carrjang out the rack. 



The ascent of salmon continued until October 22, a total of 384,683 

 reds and 9,752 kings passing through the rack during the season. 

 ^l'o count of other species was made. Upon the basis of reports of 

 the various companies securing salmon from Karluk it is computed 

 that approximately 700,000 red salmon were captured. The escape- 

 ment for spawning purposes was thus slightly over 35 per cent of 

 the total run. 



YUKON RIVER FISHERY. 



The general prohibition on commercial fishing for salmon on the 

 Yukon River for export from Alaska Avas in force in the season 

 of 1922. The floating cannery of the Carlisle Packing Co., which 

 was operated at Kwiguk Slough in 1921, was towed out at the end 

 of that season and found a new location on Bristol Bay, where it 

 was operated in 1922. 



The mild-curing plant of AVaechter Bros., which was located on 

 Leslies Island, outside of the protected zone, continued operations in 



