ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1924 101 



Becharof Lake. — The past season at Becharof Lake was the most successful yet 

 conducted in the Bristol Bay district, which was primarily due to the longer 

 period of operations and greater familiarity with ecjuipment and the habits of the 

 fish. 



Henry Looff and an assistant, with necessary equipment and supplies, pro- 

 ceeded on a commercial steamer from Seattle April 5 and arrived at Kanatak 

 April 17. Freight was transferred to the lake on pack horses, and work began 

 immediately on arrival at Crooked Creek, this being the only place where fishing 

 was possible at the time because of severe weather conditions and ice. Hand lines 

 were used with but fair results pending the arrival of a creek seine from Kanatak. 

 Seine fishing was conducted the entire length of the creek and very good catches 

 made. Gill nets were also effective during this period in a small open stretch of 

 water at the mouth of the creek. Other creeks in the vicinity that were open 

 were prospected for trout before the ice left the lake, but almost no trout were 

 seen except in Point Creek, where several fair catches were made. 



The ice began to break up in the lake May 14, and warm weather, assisted by 

 heavy rains, brought all of the creeks to flood stage, making fishing extreinely 

 difficult owing to the debris. As soon as weather conditions permitted traps were 

 installed in the streams and produced fair results for a short period. All catches, 

 however, fell off rapidly when the ice left the lake, the schools of trout breaking up 

 and scattering. 



Camp was then moved to various locations that had produced good catches in 

 former seasons. No trout were in evidence at any of these points, and the 

 operators returned to the base camp at Fish Village on June 4. The results here 

 also were meager. On June 11 camp was establisj^ied on Camp Creek. While 

 the returns were small there, some large specimens were captured in 4-inch mesh 

 gill nets. Dolly Varden trout 30 inches in length and weighing 15 pounds were 

 taken, and none weighed less than 5 pounds. 



After visiting all the important locations of former years, the operators returned 

 to Crooked Creek on June 15. The water was yet too high for seining, but trout 

 were noted schooling in considerable numbers. Gill nets produced fair results 

 until salmon made their appearance on June 26. As salmon eggs were then 

 available for bait, hand lines were operated thereafter with excellent results. 

 After this date, also, record catches were made with beach seines along the lake 

 shore, using salmon eggs as lure. The eggs were obtained from the natives at the 

 village, and the trout caught were given in exchange. 



No accurate check was possible on the outgoing migration of young salmon, as 

 fishing activities were conducted near the head of the lake. However, through 

 the latter part of May and early June enormous schools of fingerling salmon 

 were noticed along the lake shore having every appearance of being prepared to 

 pass out to the ocean. 



Various trips were made during the season to prospect the different streams 

 for trout, but the scarcity noted at each point visited compelled the centering 

 of attention on Crooked Creek and vicinity. The season's catch was 40,307 

 Dolly Varden trout averaging IJ^ pounds in weight, or a total of 60,460 pounds. 



Ugashik. — As soon as weather permitted the Ugashik crew proceeded up the 

 lake to the rapids between the two lakes, where camp was established June 22. 

 It was too late to establish a trap in the stream, as the salmon were nearly due, 

 so set nets were placed to block the passage and beach seines were used below the 

 nets. Fair results were obtained. Drifting after dark also produced good re- 

 sults. Visits were made to the different creeks tributary to both lakes and trout 

 fishing was conducted weil up each stream with fair results. It was necessary 

 for the crew to discontinue operations and proceed to the Red Salmon cannery 

 July 28, where equipment was overhauled and stored for the winter. 



The trout in general were in poor condition and all averaged much smaller 

 than formerly. Some of them resembled an eel in shape. Specimens were taken 

 measuring 15 inches in length and less than three-fourths of an inch through the 

 thickest part of the body, and weighing less than three-fourths of a pound. 

 Other specimens 22 inches long and 1 inch through the body weighed 13^ pounds. 

 Drift nets, set and fyke nets were the most effective gear until the salmon arrived 

 in numbers, after which seines and hand lines produced the best results. The 

 seasbn's catch was 5,569 DoUv Varden trout averaging about 1^^ pounds, or a 

 total of 8,354 pounds. 



Very few migrating salmon were noticed, out they may have passed out 

 earlier. Small schools were seen passing out intermittently for a few days 

 after the arrival of the party. Fewer salmon fry were noted coming out of 

 the gravel than in previous years, due to the small escapement of last fall. 



