ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1924 109 



The Nuyakuk River enters the Nushagak River about 148 miles above the village 

 of Snag Point, where the Nushagak widens into Nushagak Bay. 



Leaving Snag Point August 25, 1923, the party proceeded up the Nushagak 

 River to tlae mouth of the Nuyakuk River, thence up that river to First Nuyakuk, 

 Second Nuyakuk, and Chauiskuktuli Lakes. Patrol boat No. 4 was used as 

 far as the first rapid on Nuyakuk River, 198 miles above Snag Point, and an 

 18-foot codfish dory equipped with an Evinrude engine was used above that 

 point and for the work on the lakes. The entire shore line of these three main 

 lakes was examined, and trips were made to ascertain the relative position of and 

 secure information about the other three lakes. As salmon do not enter the stream 

 connecting Chikoominuk Lake with Chauiskuktuli Lake, and as reliable informa- 

 tion regarding Nishlik and Uppnuk was secured from another source, little was 

 to be gained by a visit to them and it was decided to spend all available time on 

 the examination of the main lakes. Work was completed and Snag Point reached 

 September 17. 



NUSHAGAK RIVER 



In traveling to and from the Tikchik district that portion of the Nushagak 

 River from its mouth at Snag Point to the mouth of the Nuyakuk River came 

 under observation. Sketches were made and its main channel is included in 

 Figure 4. From the mouth of the Nuyakuk River the general trend of the 

 Nushagak River is southeast for a distance of 45 miles, then south for 68 miles, 

 and then west to its mouth at Snag Point. This lower portion of the river 

 flows between low, rolling hills well timbered with spruce, birch, and cotton- 

 wood. In places it breaks up into many channels. The effect of the tides from 

 Bristol Bay are perceptible for a distance of 35 miles above Snag Point. The 

 current is fairly swift and it takes a good launch to make headway upstream. 

 Actual running time from Snag Point to the mouth of the Nuyakuk River with 

 patrol boat No. 4 was 49 hours. 



Two large tributaries enter the Nushagak below the Nuyakuk River — the 

 Kokwok River from the west, 80 miles above Snag Point, and the Mulchatna 

 River from the east, 115 miles above Snag Point. There are six native villages 

 on the Nushagak River, all of which were visited and inquiry made of the natives 

 regarding the run of salmon and the extent of their catch. These villages evi- 

 dently had a considerable population at one time, but they are nearly deserted 

 now. 



Kokwok village is located on the west bank of the Nushagak near the mouth of 

 the Kokwok River. It was at one time large, but at the time of our visit only 

 two families of natives lived there. They were reindeer herders and did no fishing, 

 but reported having seen several hundred red salmon ascending the Kokwok 

 River during the last days of July. 



Ekwok village, which is the largest native village on the river, is on the west 

 bank of the Nushagak, 5 miles above Kokwok village. Seven families lived 

 there, all of whom were fishing. About 7,000 salmon, a little over 1,000 of which 

 were red, the remainder being chum, king, and silver, had been caught during 

 the summer, most of which were dried for winter use. The natives reported that 

 the red-salmcn run was extremely light this season and that most of the fish 

 passed Ekwok during the last days of July. 



Unnukbak village, containing one native family, is on the west bank of the 

 Nushagak, 15 miles above Ekwok village and 100 miles above Snag Point. ' 

 The natives were fishing with two traps constructed of split spruce strips and 

 shaped much like a fyke net. With these traps they had taken about 800 salmon, 

 of which about 150 were reds. A red salmon bearing tag No. 6743 was taken 

 on the last day of July. 



Elilakok village, on the east bank of the Nushagak 103 miles above Snag 

 Point, was deserted. 



Agokpak village, on the west bank of the Nushagak 113 miles above Snag 

 Point, contained three native families. They had taken approximately 2,000 

 salmon, about 400 of which were reds. 



Koliganek village is on the west bank of the Nushagak River near the mouth 

 of the Nuyakuk, 148 miles above Snag Point. It is the farthest upriver of any 

 native village, and evidently at one time had a considerable population, but 

 there were now only two native families. They had been fishing during the 

 summer and caught about 300 salmon, approximately half of which were reds. 



