ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1925 99 



OPERATIONS ON PREDATORY FISH 



Upon returning from Snake River Lake to the camp on Aleknagik Lake (Sep- 

 tember 7), the destruction of predatory fish was taken up. Four trout gill nets, 

 with mesh 3J^ inches stretched measure, were set in eddies near the mouth of the 

 river entering Aleknagik Lake from Nerka Lake. At first a little trouble was expe- 

 rienced from spawning salmon entering the nets, but they were frequently picked 

 and the salmon released. Fair catches of Dolly Varden trout were made with 

 the gill nets until the 1st of October, when the water of the lake began to rise 

 rapidly. 



Trips were made to various sections of the lake to prospect for trout. Several 

 of the larger tributaries were examined but no concentration of trout was found, 

 and the center of operations at the mouth of the river entering from Nerka Lake 

 was never moved. Hand lines were tried at various times but with poor results. 

 During the first part of October practically all salmon had disappeared, and drifts 

 were made with one of the trout gill nets in the swift water where the river enters 

 from Nerka Lake, but without success. During the latter part of September the 

 water of the lake reached its lowest level for the season, but on the 1st of October 

 heavy rains set in and the lake began to rise rapidly. With the rise of the water 

 the catches of Dolly Varden trout fell off to almost nothing. On October 13 

 it had reached a level 6}4 feet above the low-water mark, and, the weather 

 having turned cold, operations were brought to a close. The writer returned to 

 Nushagak and secured winter quarters at Dillingham, where the bureau's equip- 

 ment was stored. As a result of fall work at Aleknagik Lake 1,325 Dolly Varden 

 trout were destroyed, practically all of which were taken by set gill nets. 



The stomachs of most of the Dolly Vardens taken were examined and their 

 contents noted. During September the trout were feeding largely on salmon 

 spawn, but toward the end of the month when the salmon-spawning season was 

 about over the trout were feeding chiefly on the bodies of dead salmon. Again, 

 during October the stomachs of trout taken contained salmon spawn. These 

 trout were taken at the mouth of the river entering Aleknagik Lake from Nerka 

 Lake when the river was at flood stage, and it is believed that they were feeding 

 on salmon spawn washed down the river from nests broken up by the action of 

 the water. The run of coho salmon on the lower river was reported to have been 

 very poor. Very few silver salmon made their appearance at Aleknagik Lake. 

 All terns disappeared from the lake about September 15, but great flocks of gulls 

 were still there on October 13. 



Five native families camped at the lake during the fall and fished for salmon, 

 whitefish, and Dolly Varden trout. It was estimated that they put up about 

 1,000 red salmon. 'A prospector located at the head of Aleknagik Lake put up 

 about 1,000 red salmon and 200 Dolly Varden trout for dog feed. Another 

 prospector located on Nerka Lake, the second Wood River Lake, also reported 

 putting up about 1,000 red salmon and 200 Dolly Varden trout for dog feed. 

 No other fishing was done on the spawning grounds of the Wood River Lakes. 



KUSKOKWIM RIVER 



During the greater part of June, July, and August, Stream Guard 

 Charles McGonagall was stationed on the Kuskokwim River to ob- 

 serve fishing operations. No violations of the fishery law and regu- 

 lations were reported. Only two concerns fished outside the pro- 

 tected zone, all fishing in the river being for local use and not for 

 export. Products of the salmon fishery were as follows: Kings, 32 

 tierces pickled and about 54,000 pounds ""dried ; reds, 130 barrels 

 pickled, 8,800 pounds of bellies pickled, and 263,000 pounds dried; 

 and about 300,000 pounds of chums dried for dog feed. There were 

 24 whites and 196 natives engaged in the fishery. Apparatus in use 

 consisted of 57 wheels, 202 gill nets of 3,050 fathoms, and miscella- 

 neous small boats. 



All commercial fishing for export from Alaska is prohibited after 

 the 1925 season in Kuskokwim River and the waters off its mouth. 



