22 



TJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



> No coimt made on dates omitted. 



The count was discontinued and the webbing removed from the 

 piling on June 10 because of the increasing numbers of fish that 

 " gilled " in the 4-inch mesh. This trouble was not anticipated, as 

 the webbing was of the same quality and mesh as that used at the 

 Baker Lake station for a long period of years with entire success, and 

 the 4-inch mesh is in general use for fish traps on Puget Sound. An 

 estimate of the fish entering the lake after the removal of the web- 

 bing placed the number at 8,000, or a total of approximately 20,000 

 for the season. Inasmuch as it was not possible to obtain a com- 

 plete and accurate record, it was decided to postpone the experiment 

 for another season and proceed with artificial propagation as usual. 

 With slight changes the weir constructed for the purpose described 

 will be of value in connection with fish-cultural work should it be 

 found desirable to continue such work after the conclusion of the 

 experiment. The number of sockeye salmon taken in the commercial 

 fisheries conducted by the Indians in Quinault River during this 

 period amounted to 28,608. 



SITLTAN (WASH.) STTRSTATION. 



At the Sultan substation, on Elwell Creek, there was a falling off 

 in the efi^ collections of all species as compared with those of the 

 preceding year. This creek is a tributary of the Skykoniish River, 

 which joins the Snohomish River at tidewater, some 20 miles from its 

 mouth. This 20-mile stretch of the Snohomish River is subjected to 

 intensive gill-net fishing operations each year, and it is extremely 

 doubtful if the fish which are able to escape the nets during the 

 fishing season, togetlier with those that are given free ascent of" the 

 stream during the closed season, are sufficient in number to maintain 

 the run in the watershed. 



