22 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



with very shallow draft, Columbia Eiver type, with fi-horsepower l^nioa en.^ine 

 encased, the boat to be fitted with sail and tent cover like the regular fishing vesisels. 

 This would be thoroughly suitable for the work and would insure satisfactory li^'ing 

 conditions for the stream guard . 



SPAWNING GROUNDS. 



The spawning grounds were all visited throughout the Iliamna district, and although 

 the escapement was large the spawning area is so vast that while each tributary stream 

 contained fish none appeared crowded, the greater numbers occupying the streams 

 at the lower ends of both Iliamna and Clark Lakes. Some of the tributaries at the 

 upper ends of both lakes contained but small numbers. It was reported, however, 

 that the salmon arrive at the upper end of Lake Clark late in the season, which may 

 also be true of Iliamna. A reliable resident at each point will keep close watch and 

 make a record for future use. However, no salmon made their appearance last year 

 at the head of Lake Clark at the time of the inspection or later. The principal spawn- 

 ing streams of the Iliamna Lake district are along the southeast shore with consider- 

 able spawning at different points on the lake shore. These streams were visited when 

 the spawning was at its height for the purpose of inspecting the spawning area. Pass- 

 ing from Kvichak River, various streams Avere visited where the following observations 

 were made: 



Belinda Creek. — A fair run entered this stream but Avas drawn upon heavily by 

 natives for their winter supply. Several thousand dried fish were in caches, and 

 more were in the process of curing. A trip was made a few miles upstream, where 

 a fair number of fish were noted on the beds. This stream is small and therefore 

 limited in capacity. About 25,000 fish were seen on the beds. 



Prospect Creek. — There were a few fish around the inside of the mouth of this stream, 

 but no numViers were observed on the trip, and possibilities were meager. 



Kokhonak Creek. — This is one of the best salmon streams in the system. It is an 

 ideal stream, about 6 miles long by 65 feet wide, and is practically all used by spawn- 

 ing fish. A trip was made with a poling boat up the creek to Kokhonak Creek Lake 

 at its head. A peculiar circumstance in connection with this lake is that, although it 

 is a wonderful body of water 10 miles long by 3 miles in width, no fish ascend above 

 its outlet, and no spawning was observed along its shores. Fish in large numbers 

 ascend to a small creek close to the lake outlet, up which they pass in great hordes. 

 While the creek is well supplied, none of the fish seem at all interested in the lake. 

 An estimate was made of about 250,000 fish in this stream. 



Kokhonak River. — About 1,500 red salmon were observed endeavoring to negotiate 

 the falls, but althougR considerable work had been done in blasting out a fishway 

 few could make the passage, and more work will be necessary the coming season. 

 The opening of this passage will make available many miles of ideal spawning country. 

 The fish were spawning in about 9 feet of water near the foot of the falls. 



Copper River. — This is considered tke best salmon stream entering Lake Iliamna. 

 It is situated at the head of Intricate Bay, and finding the stream is indeed intricate, 

 owing to the numerous islands and passageways. Investigations covered 10 miles 

 in a poling boat upstream. Copper River is about 70 feet wide by 18 to 24 inches 

 deep, with a 3-mile current. The entire bottom is suitable for spawning, and the 

 fish were evenly distributed over its full length. Sloughs on each side of the river 

 contained fish and nearly doubled the spawning area of the stream. It was estimated 

 that there were about 300,000 red salmon in the stream. Many small creeks along 

 the shore of Iliamna Lake to Iliamna River were visited, but their possibilities were 

 eo meager as to be almost negligible. 



Iliamna River. — Investigations were undertaken upstream for a distance of about 

 14 miles. While the ratio was five to six times greater than last year at different 

 points, the number noticed did not exceed 6,000 salmon for the entire season. 



Pile River.- — This stream was investigated for several miles, but few fish were noted. 

 It has never possessed a reputation for numbers of fish. 



Knutson Creek. — Knutson Creek is at the head of Knutson Bay and is small, with 

 limited possibilities; the creek proper has none. Several small spring creeks and 

 Bloughs tributary to the creek contained fish, although in small numbers. About 

 1,000 fish were noted in this section. 



Chekok Creek. — A fair number of salmon were observed here and in the bay. A 

 trip was made upstream several miles to a point where there are numerous small 

 spring ponds tributary to the creek. Eight of these ponds, each being about 100 feet 

 in diameter and containing from 200 to 1,000 fish, have bottoms thoroughly suited 

 for spawning purposes. It is said that they seldom freeze and never contain more 

 than a thin coating of ice. Some, however, contained water not over 18 to 24 inches 



