ALASKA FISHERY AXD FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1920. 35 



21, where we were storm bound for several days. Supplies and equipment 

 were packed over the portage mainly by myself and assistants, as the Indian 

 packers who perform this kind of work are absolutely undependable. especially 

 as they had considerable money from the summer's work at the canneries, 

 and most of their time was occupied in celebrating. We proceeded upriver 

 en route to Lake Clark on August 28. We learned from natives and pros- 

 pectors that no I>olly Vardeu trout are ever taken in Lake Clark, and that 

 there is but one stream in that locality which is inhabited by this species, 

 namely, Kegik Creek. 



A thorough survey was made of the entire lake and tributaries, oiu- party 

 passing up the east shore and returning on the opposite side. No trout in 

 quantities were observed, and the possibilities of stream spawning were found 

 to be very limited. It was noticed that the salmon spawn earliest near the 

 outlet of the lake and later as they proceed up the lake. The prospectors and 

 natives were fishing the mouths of the creeks and also directly on the 

 spawning grounds preparing dog feed. Streams were visited in the following 

 order : 



Tazimina River is an ideal salmon stream with suitable sloughs for spawning 

 red salmon, but not more than ~)0 were notii'ed. A high waterfall about 5 miles 

 from tiie mouth blocks the ascent of fish. 



Tarnalia Kiver is a good stream but contained no salmon. We were advised 

 by pro.s-pectors living at its mouth that few salmon ever enter, even in good 

 years. There are falls about 4 miles up and no tish above. 



Current Creek is a good spawning stream for the first mile, but unsuitable 

 farther up. It contained no fish. 



A small creek at tlie head of Little Lake Clark tould acconunodate fair num- 

 bers, which are in evidence in good years, but none have appeared for the last 

 two seasons. 



Big River, at the Junction of Big and Little Lake Clark, is the largest stream 

 tributary to the lake. It is glacial fed and few salmon ever enter. 



I'ortage Creek is small, with no po.s-sibilities. 



Kegik Creek is a fair-sized stream with good i)o.s.sibilities. It has a lake at 

 its head and is recognized as the best salmon stream in that locality, the fish 

 ascending into the lake. A trip was made to the lake and but few salmon 

 noticed, none i»eing found in tlie small tributaries at its head which are thor- 

 oughly suitable for si)awniug. 1 was advised by prospectors in the vicinity that 

 .some iN'pawning red salmon were noticed in tlie lake in l)eceiiil)er and spawned- 

 out fish still active in .lanuary of some years, which would indicate an ex- 

 tremely late rtui. 



Chulitna River has no salmon possii)ilities. It is a shallow river and iieads 

 in a marsh containing large numbers of pike. 



Practically all the salmon sjiawn along the shore of the lake and nearly the 

 entire shore is suitable. Many miles of ideal spawning grounds were notice<l 

 along the lake shore. The Indian fish villages, now deserted, scattered along 

 gave positive evidence as to the best si)awning locations in former years. Lake 

 trout, especially during tlie spring months, are numerous and easily taken; 

 specimens reported weighing 4<l jiounds or more were common. Very little u.se 

 is ever made of them ity tlie natives, and only in emergency cases are they ever 

 considered. As onr time was limite<l and lake trout were not abundant, we con- 

 tinued back to lliaimia ainl finished the .sea.son with a survey of that lake, with 

 the exception of the west shore, which was too dangerous at that time of year 

 to undertake in a small boat. 



The Newhalen River, which connects Ilianma Lake an<l Lake Clark, has a 

 series of falls and rapids about 2 miles from its mouth, but these are not of 

 sufiicient size to hind(,'r the ascent of the fish. The f(»rmalioii, however, renders 

 it easy for the Indians to catch their supply with large hooks on the end of long 

 poles, as the fish must of necessity jtass through certain small cliaiinels betwetMi 

 the rock'*. The rapids are about r)U() yards long, passing through narrow chan- 

 nels at the upi)er end an<l widening to about 3(K) feet in rapids below, which end 

 in a further widening r»f the river to about one-half niili'. This portion of the 

 river is shallow for aliout one-(pnirter of a nnle. with ideal sjtawning bottom, 

 on which some fish were spawning. The major portion of the fish taken by 

 the natives in this locality were capttired either in the rapids or on these 

 spawning gromids. 



The channel between the river and Ilininna Lake is about 2(M> yards wide and 

 broadens immediately ou entering the river t<t about one-half mile. This channel 



