344 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



Afognak (Alaska) Station 

 [Frank L. Snipes, Superintendent] 



After a lapse of two years, for the purpose of making a tally of the run of 

 salmon into the waters of the Afognak region, preparations for the resumption 

 of active fish-cultural work in the propagation of sockeye salmon were under- 

 taken with the opening of the fiscal year 1926. The run of this species into 

 Letnik Lake during the season was again small, as compared with the large 

 runs in years past. Only 5,544 fish were counted. This does not represent the 

 total escapement, however, as during a period of high water a slight shifting 

 of the rack allowed a considerable number to pass underneath, and these, 

 together with the counted salmon, were estimated to amount to approximately 

 11,000. Egg collections began on August 3, and between that time and the 

 middle of September 4,400 female fish were spawned, yielding 11.000,000 eggs 

 of fine quality. Comparatively large numbers of silver and humpback salmon 

 were in evidence, but as the counting weir was closed on August 15 they 

 could not enter Letnik Lake and were forced to spawn in the river below. 



During the winter of 1925-26 the weather was so mild that, with the excep- 

 tion of a few days in early December, all of the lakes and streams of the 

 region remained open almost throughout the year. 



With the intention of transferring the resulting spawn to the Washington 

 stations, 2,060,000 steelhead-salmon eggs were taken during the last half of 

 April from brood fish that enter the lake. After 1,023,000 eyed eggs had been 

 forwarded to Seattle for distribution, such a marked rise occurred in the water 

 temperature that it was impossible to ship the remaining eggs. They were 

 therefore incubated and the resulting fry deposited on the native spawning 

 grounds. On May 20, 1926, the first sockeye salmon of the season entered the 

 lake, and by the end of June more than 18,000 had passed through the 

 counting weir. The indications for a successful season in 1927 were therefore 

 encouraging. 



Yes Bay (Alaska) Station 



[J. L. Gardner, Superintendent] 



With the opening of the fiscal year 1926 approximately 20,000.000 fingerling 

 sockeye salmon were on hand at this station. These were liberated during 

 the months of July, August, and October in Lake McDonald. In anticipation 

 of the fishing season the seining grounds were cleared of debris, the seining 

 beaches extended 80 feet, and on July 20 and 21 racks and traps were erected. 

 Shortly after this time a run of humpback salmon occurred, but no sockeyes 

 were in evidence until considerably later. Fishing for sockeye salmon began 

 on September 7 and was continued up to October 6, the season's collection of 

 eggs of this species amounting to 39,680,000. While their quality as a whole 

 appeared to be very good, the lateness of the run necessitated the handling of 

 large numbers of green fish, and this, together with a shortage of male fish, 

 resulted in a considerable number of unfertilized eggs. Some losses also were 

 experienced from uneven development of the eggs in the hatchery, the eggs 

 thus affected evidently being from diseased fish. The water during the eying 

 period was much warmer than usual and a considerable amount of fungus 

 developed on the eggs, involving much additional labor in caring for them. 

 The results of incubation were fairly good, notwithstanding these handicaps, 

 and more than 89 per cent of the entire collection hatched. The water was 

 very low during the entire fishing season, and toward the end it became 

 necessary to seine in the lake, the water in the river being too low to permit 

 the ascent of the fish. At least 5,000.000 eggs were deposited naturally between 

 the rack site and the lake in the course of the spawning period. 



The use of ponds in connection with the liberation of young salmon has 

 proved to be a decided success. The fingerling fish are placed in the ponds 

 and allowed to pass into the lake at will, being fed at regular intervals as long 

 as they remain in the ponds. By this means the fish gradually become accus- 

 tomed to their freedom and are in much better condition than vhen planted 

 direct from the troughs. 



