140 TJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



importance the subsidiary channel known as the Kwiguk, which 

 branches off from the Kwikhiak Pass, a few miles above its mouth. 

 It may safely be inferred that the native fish camps are located at 

 the most favorable fishing sites. These are occupied 3'ear after year 

 and genera tion after generation by the same families and their de- 

 scendants. Where native fishing villages are most thickly grouped 

 will be found the largest and most unfailing supply of salmon. With 

 this as a basis, the writers are compelled to conclude that the south 

 mouth serves as the migration route for the greater part of the 

 Yukon run. While no data are available for an estimate, it is not 

 considered beyond the bounds of probability that nine-tenths of the 

 entire run enter by the Kwikluak Pass and its subsidiary channel, 

 the Kwiguk. About 100 families of natives were fishing in this 

 district in 1920, while not to exceed 10 families were seen in the 

 middle mouth below Dogfish Village. In no case did the latter 

 families have equal success with those camped on the Kwikluak 

 Pass. 



It is on the Kwiguk Channel, just below its emergence from the 

 Kwikluak, that the floating cannery of the Carlisle Packing Co. 

 has been located during the two seasons of its operation in the delta. 

 Protected from the heavy southerly winds which blow up the main 

 channel during the summer months, this site is within easy distance 

 of the main fishing grounds in the lower part of the Kwikluak Chan- 

 nel and among the offshore shoals and islands. Inasmuch as the 

 Yukon salmon appear largely to travel along the banks, in the eddies, 

 and along the margins of submerged banks, it is believed possible 

 during a favorable fishing season to secure from this location as a 

 base a very considerable proportion of the salmon of the Kwikluak 

 Channel. Fortunately, no commercial fishing for export is per- 

 mitted in the Kwiguk Channel. Several native families were lo- 

 cated on this channel in 1920, and one white trader maintained a 

 wheel. Good catches of Idng salmon and chums were secured at 

 all of these camps, but it was believed that the run of kings was 

 proportionally not as heavy as in the main channel. 



COMMERCIAL FISHERY OPERATIONS IN YUKON D^ELTA IN 1920. 



The fishery operations of the Carlisle Packing Co. in 1920 were 

 conducted principally in the south or Kwiklyak mouth of the river 

 and beyond that mouth among the seaward channels which diverge 

 from it. The mouth of the Kwikluak Channel was designated as 

 it was during the previous season by a stake set in the right or north- 

 ern bank on the projecting point of land at Ingrakaklak (see U. S. 

 C. & G. S. chart 9373) and by a stake set on the left or southern 

 bank of the channel at the entrance to the well-marked lagoon some 

 half mile below Nilak. 



A few fishing camps were established by the company as^ far up the 

 Kwikluak Channel as Dogfish Village, where the mam river makes 

 its first grand division into the Kwikluak Channel and a channel 

 which later divides to reach the middle and the Apoon mouths. 

 Above Dogfish Village no fishing camps were established by the 

 company, but they purchased limited numbers of salmon from a few 

 independent fishermen, who operated at points below the mouth of 

 Clear River near Andreaf ski. 



