ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1920. 129 



Fisheries, and from June 8 to 13, in company with C. F. Townsend, 

 inspector, Alaska Fisheries Service, the party proceeded by launch 

 to the mouth of the river, arriving June 13 at the entrance to Kwiguk 

 Channel, where was located the floating cannery of the Carlisle Pack- 

 ing Co. 



From this date until August 1 attention was given to the fishing 

 grounds located in the Kwikluak mouth of the river and in the off- 

 shore district beyond this mouth, and to the principal channels of the 

 delta which are closed to commercial fishing. From June 25 to July 

 1 the party proceeded by launch from Kwiguk to Holy Cross and 

 return, to inspect the fishing camps of the lower river during the 

 height of the ting-salmon run. From July 5 to 7 a trip was 

 made by launch from Kwiguk to the middle mouth of the Yukon, 

 traversing both the Kwikpak and the Kawanak Passes, returning by 

 way of Old Fort Hamilton, and inspecting en route the run of 

 salmon in these channels. From July 23 to 29 a trip was made 

 by steamer from Kwiguk to St. Michael and return, passing through 

 the Apoon mouth. I)uring the fishing season in the delta careful 

 scrutiny was given daily to the salmon runs, and scale data were 

 secured from extensive series of the different species of salmon which 

 comprise the run. 



From Au^rust 2 to 20 visits were made to fishing camps along the 

 river from Kwiguk to Rampart, an approximate census secured of 

 the amount of dried salmon, and fishermen interviewed concerning 

 the runs of 1919 and 1920. Having proceeded by steamer from 

 Rampart to Dawson, August 23 to 31, the return was made by 

 launch from Dawson to Tanana, September 1 to 5, visiting on the 

 way the fishing camps of the upper river. This phase of the inquiry 

 terminated at Fairbanks on September 11, after ascending the Ta- 

 nana River by launch as far as Nenana. 



IMPORTANT SPECIES OF SALMON WITH DATA CONCERNING RUNS. 



All five of tlie species of salmon known on the Pacific coast of 

 North America make their appearance at the mouth of the Yukon 

 and ascend that stream for a greater or less distance. Two of these 

 species, however, the humpback salmon and the red or sockeye 

 salmon, are present in such limited numbers as to have no practical 

 significance. The three other species, namely, coho or silver, king, 

 and chum or dog salmon, have substantial runs in the Yukon River, 

 the latter two being of real economic importance. 



RED OR SOCKEYE SALMON. 



During the entire fishing season of 1920 the Carlisle cannery 

 secured only 5 cases of sockeye salmon, in the neighborhood of 60 

 fish. As the majority of these were taken on the flats outside the 

 mouth of the river, there might seem warrant to consider them as 

 strays which had wandered from the Kuskokwim, or from some 

 other stream to the southward which possesses a well-marked run 

 of this species. In that case they might not even be entering the 

 river, but playing about for a time in brackish water before finally 

 resorting to their native streams for spawning purposes. In favor 

 54777°— 21 9 



