ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1924 



105 



On the trip to Lake Clark salmon were spawning along the entire river and the 

 lake. The number could not be estimated owing to water conditions, but they 

 were not as numerous as in previous years. 



The natives secured a sufficient number of fish for home use, their catch 

 amounting to about 50,000 red salmon. They all agree, however, that the run 

 this year was far smaller than .those of the last two years. Some of the white 

 men in the vicinity estimated the run as only 5 to 15 per cent as large as in 1922 

 or 1923. It is probable it was not over this latter figure, but might have been 

 about 10 per cent of last year and a much smaller percentage of 1922. 



The fish village near the outlet of the lake was visited on August 17, and it 

 was noticed that some fresh salmon were still being taken, but the natives had 

 nearly all the fish they needed and only a few very small pieces of web were in the 

 water. 



Taziminia River was visited, and 5 of its 6 miles of spawning area were ex- 

 amined. It was estimated that 40,000 red salmon had entered this stream, which 

 was fewer than in any of the previous five years with the exception of 1920. 



The escapement to this section was not wholly satisfactory, although in excess 

 of expectations based on observations in passing up and down the Kvichak River, 

 where few salmon were noticed ascending; the same report was made by others 

 who had occasion to travel in this locality, though early in the commercial 

 season parties traveling downstream from the lake had noticed salmon ascending. 



The number entering the lake was greath^ increased by the weekly closed 

 period and by moving the markers downstream about 2}/^ miles to a point just 

 above the Alaska Packers Association's Koggiung cannery. 



The patrol was effective at all points except Ugashik, where it is felt certain 

 an organized effort by fishermen to evade the law was aided and abetted by 

 certain cannery officials. The boats detailed for this work during the past season 

 were not suitable or sufficiently speedy to cope with the situation. The matter 

 has been laid before the Commissioner of Fisheries with the recommendation 

 that the Ugashik section be entirely closed if this situation arises again. 



A launch, with two men, was stationed at each of the following points : Kvichak, 

 Naknek, Nushagak, and Igushik. One man with a small boat was detailed to 

 Egegik for patrol through the open season, and with an assistant on a hired launch 

 or sailboat the district was covered during the closed period. Another launch, 

 with a warden and an assistant aboard, patrolled lower Nushagak Bay through 

 each closed period, while a local launch, engaged to cover the territory between 

 Kvichak and Naknek during the weekly closed period, patrolled the upper 

 Kvichak and transported the writer to the lakes at various times through the 

 commercial season. The bureau's boat Scoter covered the entire district, keeping 

 in touch with the different localities. As the result of an accident launch No. 4 

 was totally destroyed by fire in the Ugashik River after the commercial season 

 was over. 



Predatory fish taken in 1924 



WINTER INSPECTION OF SALMON SPAWNING GROUNDS OF WOOD RIVER 



LAKE SYSTEM, 1922-23 



A survey of the spawning grounds of the Wood River lake system 

 was made during tlie winter of 1922-23 by Warden A. T. Looff. A 

 report of his observations before the freeze-up in the fall was pub- 



