COPPEK RIVER INVESTIGATION. 131 



It is difficult to accept seriously any statement that the lake was 

 visited under the best of conditions by a million fish. The total 

 available spawning area for all kinds of salmon would not accommo- 

 date 2,500 fish, and unless the habits of this particular run are dif- 

 ferent from those recorded for salmon elsewhere, there are no other 

 parts of the lake in which spawning could be carried out effectively. 

 It is, of cours-, possible that some fish (not red salmon) may drop 

 back into the outlet creek and spawn there, but the area available 

 for this purpose is also relatively insignificant. All in all it was 

 clear that Long Lake should not be considered as a significant spawn- 

 ing ground for salmon, and it seemed likely from the conditions indi- 

 cated that the fish wliicli spawned there were silver salmon rather 

 than sockeyes. 



For a srnall number of fish the lake would be a good spawning 

 ground. It has a drainage basin of limited extent. There is no 

 stream of any sort flowing into it, and at most the few rivulets that 

 come from melting snow banks would be the only sources by which 

 silt and debris could be introduced. Under these conditions the 

 water is clear and the level of the lake is undoubtedly very stable, 

 so that those eggs which are deposited have a good chance to develop 

 properly. On the other hand enemies arc common, as the lake is 

 reported to be the best fishing ground for grayling that can be found 

 in the entire region. As there are no considerable shallow areas and 

 no plant growths to afford protection, all young fish must be readily 

 subject to capture by the grayling, especially since the waters are 

 so clear. Tliis condition probably obtains throughout the entire 

 open season. 



CHITINA CREEK. 



The creek wliich empties into the Copper River just below Chitina 

 passes under the railn^ad track a few steps beyond the passenger 

 station at that town and just short of the roundhouse. It flows 

 down through the town of Chitina from two lakes in the valley a 

 short distance above the town. As the railroad approaches the 

 station it skirts a small lake into which the creek empties and from 

 which a continuation of the stream connects it with the Copp(M- 

 River a conple of n^.iles sonth. At that time (July 29) fish were 

 jumping actively in the lake south of the track, wJiere probably ;^0() 

 to 500 fisii were schooled. According to the statements of the 

 railroad employees the sahnon had been coming up for some time. 

 The creek is very small, being only from 4 to 8 feet wide with an aver- 

 age depth of G to 10 inches. The stream passes tlirough the town 

 and is nearly blocked at several points. Above it the bed was full 

 of drift and bowlders and the average drop in the stream, which was 

 about 1 foot in 10, made it evidently dillicult for the fish to work 

 their way up. Some fish Avere seen in almost every pool along the 

 course of the creek and they were working hard to get upstn^ain 

 despite the obstacles which the conditions presented. They were 

 on the whole well colored and would have been ready to spawn in 

 two weeks. Previous to this date there had been an abunclant run 

 of fish, for 200 were counted drying on racks at one point on the bank 

 and other empty racks bore evidence of having been recently filled 

 with fish that had been removed. Residents reported a good catch. 



