102 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



The short season here seriously handicapped operations. It is planned another 

 year to have two operators for this district proceed on a commercial steamer 

 from Seattle via Kanatak with the Becharof Lake crew, thence proceeding to the 

 tributaries at the head of the second Ugashik so as to be prepared for intensive 

 work as soon as weather and ice conditions permit. 



NEW FISHER"^ REGULATIONS 



The new law effective June 6, imposing a 36-hour weekly closed period, was 

 at first resented by the fishermen, but as the season advanced many of them 

 expressed themselves as wholly in favor of this restriction. Throughout the 

 district every effort was made by most of the canneries and fishermen to conform 

 fully with the regulations. No violations of the closed period were reported, 

 with the exception of two fishermen, but there was insufficient evidence in their 

 cases to warrant arrest. Several boats of different companies were found using 

 illegal gear. The fishermen pleaded guilty on trial before the United States 

 commissioner and were fined. 



In the Nushagak section each cannery assigned a tug to tow all their fishing 

 boats home on Saturday night and return them to the fishing grounds Monday 

 morning. No attempt at illegal fishing was made in this section. 



All the canneries cooperated by raising flags on their ships for two hours 

 beginning at 6 p. m. Saturday night, and again for one hour beginning at 6 a. m. 

 the Monday following, as notice to the fishermen of the beginning and ending 

 of the closed period. A flag was displayed also from the M-ireless tower of Libby, 

 McNeill & Libby's Koggiuiig cannery, which could easily be seen from every 

 point in the Kvichak district. Many canneries displayed flags on their tally 

 scows through the closed periods. All of this was of great assistance in the 

 patroL 



The canneries were established and machinery assembled for operations 

 in accordance with reservation regulations, which had called for a 50 per cent 

 reduction in gear at Nushagak and 29 per cent reduction on the Kvichak side, 

 and their cannery crews were reduced accordingly. In consequence packs in 

 these districts were lessened and the escapement of spawning salmon facilitated. 



RUN OF SALMON 



The total pack of salmon in Bristol Bay for the season 1924 was about 818,000 

 full cases, of which 933^ per cent were red salmon. 



In the Nushagak section the run of red salmon was the heaviest since 1918, 

 and resulted in the most satisfactory escapement that has occurred for a number 

 of years. The salmon struck in June 29 and held strong and steady until July 

 14. The run appeared to be especially heavy during the closed periods, July 6 

 and 13. Fair numbers were in the bay until the heavy storms that occurred 

 during the closed period of July 20, after which the red salmon almost entirely 

 disappeared and some cohos and pinks made their appearance. Some salmon 

 were transferred to Naknek and Ugashik. As a result of the closed periods, 

 together with the transfer of salmon, it was not necessary for some of the com- 

 panies to place the fishermen on limit. 



At Igushik there was a small number of salmon in the stream when the season 

 opened and a fair number on the 29th, which increased satisfactorily the following 

 day. The run held steady until July 9, when a perceptible falling off" was notice- 

 able. A fair numljer entered up to the 14th, after which the run continued small 

 to theend of the season. 



The natives who live near the lakes at the head of the Igushik and Snake 

 Rivers reported that last fall the best salmon run for many years had entered 

 those waters. A trip was made to the Snake River ))y one of the bureau's em- 

 ployees during the early winter, but nothing could be learned other than to verify 

 the report by the natives. This, in view of the fact that a very meager escape- 

 ment entered the Nushagak and Wood Rivers in the same period, would indicate 

 that each stream supports an independent run. 



At Kvichak-Naknek operations began with only a small run of salmyn in 

 evidence, and fishermen made deliveries of from 300 to 600 fish per boat during 

 the first few days. On June 28 a fair run was reported near Egegik, but weather 

 conditions were severe and very few fishermen endeavored to take advantage of 

 it. The Scoter continued to cruise outside during the succeeding closed period. 

 The run held small but steady to July 7, when the number increased perceptibly, 

 and on the evening tide boats began to arrive at the tally scows with good catches. 



