96 1 T - S. BUREAU OF FISHEBIES 



winter to make a survey of the Snake and Igushik Lakes in connection with 

 salmon and spawning area possibilities. Mr. Looff will begin work on predatory 

 fish in Naknek Lake at the earliest possible date in the spring. The engineer 

 will have all floating equipment, especially the launches, painted and in perfect 

 running order, so that they can be put into service immediately upon arrival of 

 the regular force in the spring. 



A tally scow, fitted with suitable living quarters, has been placed on the ways 

 and another will be added the coming season. These will be the bureau's head- 

 quarters in Bristol Bay. It is intended to detail reliable operators here each 

 winter to keep the boats in good repair and make investigations of conditions at 

 each lake. Maps of the lake country will be made and its salmon possibilities 

 thoroughly studied. It is felt that in this way a record can be obtained as to 

 local conditions and the possible damage to the spawning grounds from floods or 

 other causes, which in a measure might impair the effects of a good seasonal 

 escapement. Henry Looff reports that the floods of early May in the upper 

 Becharof district washed many eyed eggs downstream, which he feels certain 

 could only be those of red salmon. The trout taken at that time also were 

 gorged with eggs. There was some previous information relative to fry in 

 gravel on the spawning beds late in the summer, which would be in line with the 

 above, but there has been no opportunity previously to make a full investiga- 

 tion. It is hoped that with present facilities it will be possible to secure reliable 

 investigators for year-round observations. 



RUN OF SALMON AND ESCAPEMENT 



During the past season the salmon run in Bristol Bay, with the exception of 

 the Nushagak area, was practically a failure. Throughout the season the 

 salmon were small, especially those along the entire east shore. The total pack 

 of the 28 canneries was 568,165 cases, on the basis of forty-eight 1-pound cans 

 to the case. Of this total 92 per cent was red salmon, 3 per cent kings, 4^ per 

 cent chums, and one-fourth of 1 per cent cohos. 



At Naknek the first salmon appeared early in June and reached Coville Lake 

 June 14. The escapement, as reported, was very light but quite steady during 

 the entire season and increased perceptibly after the close of commercial fishing. 



At Becharof the escapement was about half that of 1924, when A. T. Looff 

 reported that all available spawning areas were amply seeded. In 1925 

 a few salmon arrived at the lake early in June, but it was not until July 1 

 that any large numbers came. By far the larger numbers arrived after August 

 10. Bright salmon were noticed entering August 17. The average weight of 

 many specimens taken by the natives for food was 4J^ pounds. 



At no time was the run of salmon large at Ugashik and most of the ascending 

 fish were of a size small enough to easily pass through the meshes of the gill nets. 

 The complaints of the fishermen also bear out this observation. 



At Nushagak the first red salmon was noticed entering the Wood River Lakes 

 on June 12, but large numbers did not appear until July 2, when the inrush 

 began and it was necessary to remove the set nets. The escapement was good, 

 reaching its peak July 9 and continuing until July 13, after which there was a 

 perceptible lessening and only a few fish escaped after July 19. However, the 

 employee in charge of the district advised that owing to the heavy inrush from 

 July 9 to July 13 the escapement was good, though not on a par with that of 

 last year, which was considered adequate so far as could be judged from an 

 estimate of the number of ascending fish. This employee has been in the dis- 

 trict for the past four years. 



INSPECTION OP ILIAMNA AND LAKE CLARK SPAWNING AREAS 



On August 14 the writer left Juneau on the Admiral Watson for Kodiak en 

 route to the Bristol Bay district. After completing an inspection of operations 

 at Kodiak and Afognak Islands he went on board the Kittiwake, which had been 

 ordered to Kodiak, and reached Iliamna Bay August 24. A survey of the 

 spawning grounds in the immediate vicinity was begun the following day. 



The Iliamna River received practically no salmon this year and the natives 

 did not catch enough to eat at any time during the season. They prospected 

 every stream where a few salmon could be caught and found but a small pro- 

 portion of the number taken in average years. All were taken in the streams 

 along the north shore and away from Iliamna River. Visits were made to all 



