ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1921. 19 



up the lake camp was transferred and fishing was conducted at the mouth of the river 

 connecting Aleknagik with Nerka Lake, at the same point where good success was had 

 last year. The small run of migrating salmon and the consequent scattering of trout 

 made the work discouraging through the early stages and the centralization of opera- 

 tions impossible. The fi.«h taken early were not as large as those captured last year, 

 Imt toward the latter part of June when the salmon began making their appearance 

 The migration increased, trout became more numerous, and better catches were made. 

 It also became necessary to remove the gill nets from the water, owing to the rush of 

 salmon. Fyke traps and hand lines were resorted to with, fair success. The trout 

 entered from the sea with the salmon, making it impossible to use other or more de- 

 structive gear. The trout destroyed numbered 12,702, averaging 3^ pounds each, or 

 44,457 pounds. Work was discontinued August 6, equipment stored at the Alaska- 

 Portland Packers Association cannery, and the St. Nicholas boarded August S for the 

 return trip. 



Iliamna sector. — In order to reach the streams tributary to the Upper Iliamna Lake, 

 J. W. Gardner, with an assistant, was instructed to proceed via regular steamer to 

 Anchorage, thence acro.ss Co )k Inlet by launch to Iliamna Bay, and from that point 

 to Iliamna A'illage over the portage. Supplies and equipment were taken OA^er the 

 portage by natives with dog teams. This party left Seattle April 13, amA-ing tat 

 Iliamna Village on April 28. All supplies were hauled across by the 30th. 



The lake was still frozen over on arrival, and work was begun on the Iliamna River, 

 which was open. Altbough the people lining in that vicinity always claimed great 

 numbers of trout were present in the spring, our party found almost none. The river 

 was thoroughly examined with little encouragement or result, f^everal trips were 

 made over the trail to Pile River at the head of the lake, and set nets were carried 

 over and placed in likely places near the river's mouth, but poor results attended 

 operations here also. Nor were there many trout noticed in investigations up river 

 for several miles. These rivers were fished continually, and as the ice began dis- 

 appearing in the upper end of the lake the operations were extended and transferred 

 from point to point wherever indications were faAorable, but the total results were 

 small. 



Travel became possible across the upper end of the lake about June 1, when a 

 launch was secured and supplies and equipment taken to the motith of Newhalen 

 River, where a permanent camp was established . Extensive operations were carried 

 on. Floating ice interfered uith the work for a few days, or until it all passed out 

 into the lake. Several of the nets were carried away, although all but one were re- 

 covered. The ice disappeared rapidly, and it now being safe to cross the lake, a trip 

 was made to Kokhonak Creek in hopes of establishing a station there, but conditions 

 were unsuitable. The lake was extremely low and the creek high, making it im- 

 possible to attempt any net work. Several streams that might present possibilities 

 were ^'isited, but by far the most promising one was Copper River at the head of 

 Intricate Bay, and a camp was established there on June 10. 



Most of the ice was out of the lake by this time, and a trip was made to Bristol Bay 

 for supplies. Some ice was encountered on the waj^ down the river, but no danger 

 was anticipated and the trip was made without incident. As soon as the Kvichak 

 River was open and passage was possible, Lemuel G. Wingard, with patrol boat No. 

 1, was dispatched to the lake with the necessary supplies for the party, and also to 

 make a survey of trout possibilities in the A'icinity of the flats in upper reaches of the 

 river. The boat arrived at the foot of the flats, but owing to the extreme low water 

 in the river was compelled to anchor. An ice floe passing down complicated matters 

 by turning over the dory in tow with a load of supplies and equipment, and endangered 

 the launch. Nearly all the equipment and supplies were salvaged, after which Mr. 

 Wingard returned to Koggiung to await the arrival of the smaller boat from the lake. 

 On the return of the small launch to the lake all streams were visited and fishing 

 attempted, but at no point were good numbers of trout encountered. A great draw- 

 back was the lateness of the season, which pre^'ented work being attempted at the 

 different streams before the trout were back in the lake after spawning. 



As few migrating salmon were noticed passing from Lake Clark through the New- 

 halen River, it is felt that the migration had practically passed by that point before 

 we M'ere able to establish camp there. Through the spring and summer months the 

 only time the Dolly Vardens and lake trout are to be encountered in large numbers 

 is when schools of salmon are migrating. Throughout the season the trout were scat- 

 tered and most difficult to locate and catch. The greatest success was had at points 

 where the natives were drying their winter's supply of fish and baiting the locality 

 with refuse and fish scraps from the cleaning. The total number of trout taken for 

 the season was 6,464, weighing 25,856 pounds. 



