106 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



lished in the document "Alaska Fishery and Fur-Seal Industries in 

 1922." The report on his inspection trip in January and February, 

 1923, apparently became lost in the mail and was not available for 

 inclusion in the corresponding publication for 1923. The report by 

 Mr. Looif on that trip is as follows: 



During the months of January and February, 1923, a trip was made with dog 

 teams to the lower Wood River lakes — Aleknagik and Nerka. It was the inten- 

 tion to go from Nerka Lake to the upper Wood River lakes, and from there across 

 country to the Tikchik lakes for a preliminary survey of that district, but on 

 account of deep snow this part of the plan could not be carried out. Streams 

 tributary to Aleknagik and Nerka Lakes were examined to determine the effect 

 of the winter cold on their flow. Air and water temperatures were taken and the 

 gauges placed last fall prior to the freeze-up were visited to determine t)ie change 

 in the lake level. Spawning areas marked last fall during the spawning period 

 were examined. Work on predatory fish, chiefly Dolly Varden trout, was carried 

 on, but with poor results. Heavy snowfalls that covered the ice of lakes and 

 streams with many feet of snow made the work difficult, and moving from place 

 to place was almost impossible. 



ITINERARY 



Supplies and equipment were assembled at Snag Point and dog teams were 

 engaged. Leaving Snag Point on Januarj^ 2, at 7 a.m., the party, consisting of 

 the writer, J. Paulsean, apprentice fish-culturist, and H. Henriksen and C. 

 Neilsen, drivers, with two dog teams, proceeded across countrj^ to the outlet 

 of Aleknagik Lake, thence over the ice of the lake to its head, and thence over 

 the portage to Nerka Lake, where on January 6 one load was cached and C. 

 Neilsen sent back to Snag Point with one of the teams. The party then proceeded 

 with one team and a light load along the west shore of Nerka Lake to the outlet 

 of Little Togiak River, reaching there January 6 at 4 p. m. At Little Togiak 

 River a permanent camp was established, from which trips were made to the 

 tributary streams in that vicinity and work on Dolly Varden trout was carried 

 on. The dog team was sent back to the portage between Nerka and Aleknagik 

 Lakes for sui^plies cached there. 



On January 18 camp was moved 5 miles farther up Nerka Lake and established 

 on the north shore, the team having carried one load forward on January 16. 

 Fishing for Dolly Vardens was carried on, but with poor results. 



On January 20 camp was moved to the south shore of Nerka Lake about 10 

 miles below its upper end. At this stage travel became very slow on account 

 of deep snow, it being necessary for two men to snowshoe their way ahead of 

 the dogs. From this camp trips were made to investigate spawning areas along 

 the south shore of the upper end of Nerka Lake and tributary streams that enter 

 along that shore. 



On February 7 rain followed by a quick frost formed a crust on the deep snow 

 that covered the ice of the lake and travel again became good, but the supply 

 of dog feed was now so low that the plan to continue the trip on to the upper 

 lakes was almndoned. On February 8 camp was moved 20 miles down Nerka 

 Lake and esta))lished near the mouth of Lynx Creek. From this camp trips 

 were made to the various tributaries in that vicinity, marked spawning areas 

 were examined, and work on predatory fish was carried on. 



On February 19 camp was moved over the portage to Aleknagik Lake and 

 established at the mouth of the river that enters that lake from Nerka Lake. 

 From this camp the river connecting the two lakes was examined, and fishing 

 for Dolly Varden trout was carried on at the mouth of the stream. On February 

 25 the supply of dog feed was exhausted and the party started for Snag Point, 

 reaching there the same day at 6 p. m. 



EFFECT OF ICE ON SALMON SPAWN 



To determine possible destruction of salmon spawn in lake-shore spawning 

 areas by the winter ice, the level of the lake water was recorded at different 

 times during the salmon spawning period last fall and until the freeze-up on 

 stakes driven near the shore in both Aleknagik and Nerka Lakes. Several 

 nests in shallow water were marked with poles, and such places were examined 

 on this trip. 



