100 V. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



Bristol Bay to supervise the Kvichak patrol, and later returned with an assistant 

 to an advantageous point near the head of the lake on Youngs Creek. From winter 

 quarters at this place they will conduct operations as late in the fall as weather 

 conditions permit, and will also make a survey of spawning areas, improve 

 spawning grounds, and gather data relative to the streams and lakes in that 

 Aacinity and their connection with spawning salmon and trout. They will also 

 be on the ground for the earliest possible operations during the coming spring. 



The season's work at Iliamna Lake resulted in the taking of 20,591 Dolly 

 Varden trout averaging 2}^ pounds each, or 51,477 pounds. During the early 

 part of the fishing the natives at the village utilized nearly all the trout taken, 

 but their anxiety to secure the fish gradually lessened as their appetites became 

 satisfied, and toward the end of our fishing they were so well fed as to refuse 

 trout. 



Naknek. — The Naknek party started upriver on May 25. Some floating ice 

 was encountered and the banks on both sides of the rapids, for several feet out in 

 the stream, were covered with ice, making the ascent very difficult. Camp was 

 established at the outlet of the lake and fishing began May 27. A severe southerly 

 storm v/ith high wind and drifting ice forced the removal of the nets for a time. 

 The hills and mountains were covered with snow and the weather continued cold 

 and very disagreeable. The storm abated somewhat on the 30th and nets were 

 reset. The first of the outgoing young salmon were noticed on this date. Trout 

 appeared very scarce, and the stomachs of all those taken contained young 

 migrating salmon. 



On June 3 camp was moved to Kidawik Creek and work continued in the creek 

 mouth. Here considerable floating ice was encountered but did not prevent 

 operations. On the 8th large schools of migrating young salmon were noticed 

 passing from Lake Brooks down Kidawik Creek to the main lake, and the catch 

 of trout increased perceptibly at this point. On the following day severe storms 

 set in and the water rose rapidly, bringing down quantities of drift and debris, 

 which necessitated the removal of our nets for safety. Great schools of young 

 salmon just out of the gravel completely lined both banks of the creek and were 

 gradually working their way down into the lake. Trout appeared very scarce 

 at every point in comparison with previous years, and natives reported extremely 

 poor catches last winter and early spring in their traps around the lake. 



On June 10 camp was moved to Grosvenor and Coviile Lakes. 'Supplies were 

 portaged across, and the following day fishing was begun in the narrows between 

 the two lakes. The greater portion of the catch was taken here, and consisted 

 mainly of lake trout, with about 10 per cent pike. Trout were extremely large 

 during the early operations, Dolly Vardens measuring 29 inches in length being 

 not uncommon. Lake trout measuring 39 inches in length and 20 inches in girth 

 also were taken, as were pike 43 inches long. As the season advanced pike be- 

 came more numerous, until at times they nearly equalled the take of trout, 

 although in the total they averaged about 10 per cent. Few Dolly Vardens were 

 caught, but all taken were verj^ large. 



The first salmon of the season reached Grosvenor Lake June 19. The trout 

 and pike taken at this time were feeding on young whitefish and salmon fry, the 

 migrating salmon apparently having passed out. On June 23 salmon began 

 increasing in numbers and were noticed jumping in various places around the lake. 

 The number increased so rapidly that the operators were compelled to remove the 

 set nets. 



As the interference from salmon was so great, camp was moved back to Kidawik 

 Creek. A heavy storm prevented setting out the nets here for two days. No 

 salmon were noticed in the creek or near its mouth, although some may have 

 passed up while the operators were at Grosvenor Lake. The storm caused the 

 streams to rise rapidly, which brought in the run of salmon with a rush, and great 

 numbers ascended and passed over the falls to Lake Brooks. Nets could not 

 again be used. Baited set lines were then resorted to, but results were meager, 

 partly due to the extremely rough, dark weather. On bright, quiet days fair 

 catches were made, but during the greater portion of the time the weather was 

 bad. 



The results of work in this locality show the trout are decreasing rapidly. 

 Another year attention may be centered wholly on Grosvenor and Coviile Lakes. 



The total catch for the season was 2,192 fish, of which 85 per cent were lake 

 trout, 10 per cent pike, and 5 per cent miscellaneous species. The average weight 

 was 10 pounds, or a total of 21,920 pounds. The average weight of the pike was 

 14 pounds, but the trout ran much smaller than in previous years, bringing the 

 total average to 10 pounds. 



