ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1921. 23 



in depth, and many gulls were working on the eggs. Two small creeks near the 

 Iliamna-Lake Clark portage contained good numbers of fish. The season was well 

 advanced. On the northwest shore a visit was made to Upper and Lower Tularic 

 Creeks about the middle of July. Few fish were in the streams at that time, but good 

 numbers were observed near the stream mouths. As there are no harbors on that 

 shore for storm protection, a trip is not deemed safe during the fall mouths. 



Lake Clark. — ^All the streams in this section were \dsited, but very little spawning 

 was observed in the upper reaches of the lake. Spawning salmon were noticed in 

 good numbers along the entire length of Newhalen River, and each of the several 

 small tributaries contained some fish. Aleck C. Creek, a tributary near the head of 

 the river, contained fair numbers of fish. Early in the season a large run passed up 

 this stream to a lake at its head, and the natives seined about 8,000 fish at its mouth 

 in a few days and prepared them for dog feed. 



A small number of fish were seen in Tazimina River, beginning about 3 miles from 

 itfi mouth and extending to the falls 4 or 5 miles farther up. Fish became scarcer 

 advancing up the lake, and in the upper reaches the only specimens noticed were 

 on the spawning grounds along the south shore in the vicinity of Tarnalia River, 

 about halfway up the lake, and in Kegik Creek and Kegik Lake on the north shore. 

 Few fish were seen in the creek, for the water, like that of nearly all the sti'eams in 

 this system, was greatly discolored because of warm weather and because it was 

 glacier fed. Proceeding to Kegik Lake encouraging numbers were seen spawning 

 and schooling near the mouths of two excellent creeks at the head of the lake. None 

 had as yet entered the creeks, which presented ideal spawning possibilities. Accord- 

 ing to the natives late runs enter here and live fish are observed through the ice in 

 January. 



All other streams were visited but no fish were noticed, and none were observed 

 along the north shore of the lake, where pre\dously it had been stated the bulk of the 

 spawning in this field occurred. WTiile an estimate of 1,000,000 fish was made as to 

 the escapement into the Kvichak, the available spawning area could easily accommo- 

 date at least three times that number without detriment. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



It is recommended that powers be extended to the officer in charge to make arrests 

 in accordance with the sense of the foregoing report. This plan would necessitate the 

 use of a suitable seagoing launch for the officer in charge, somewhat larger than those 

 now in use, so trips could be made at any time between the different stations without 

 endangering lives or property. 



It is suggested that the bureau permit one or two men to winter in Bristol Bay, so 

 as to gather all information possible about the spawning grounds of both salmon and 

 trout in some special section, preferably Wood River. Available information indi- 

 cates that the trout drop downstream into the lakes after spawning, when the ice 

 begins forming in the creeks. If such could be proved to be a fact, the work could 

 be planned to better advantage in dealing with trout destruction. In order to deter- 

 mine this, it will be necessary to remain in that locality through the winter, as there 

 are no facilities for leaving after the information is obtained. A suitable launch 

 should be secured for the Ugashik work. 



In order to make the fishing regulations more efficient there should be a deputy 

 marshal and a commissioner in the vicinity of Naknek, as there is difficulty in getting 

 a marshal to serve warrants or a commissioner to have them executed in the absence 

 of a marshal, as was the case this last season. The commissioner is at Koggiung and 

 the marshal at Dillingham, making it extremely difficult to get action. 



Originally it was felt that the run of the year 1921 should be fair and 1922 good. 

 However, the former fell far below expectations, and it is only reasonable to assume 

 from the above basis that the coming year will be somewhat disappointing. As a 

 safeguard it is recommended that a curtailment be made in the pack for the year 

 1922 equal to that of the year 1921. 



COPPER RIVER FISHERY. 



The Copper River is the most important red-salmon stream on 

 the mainland of central Alaska. It produces a run of red salmon 

 that in quality is not excelled by that of any other section of Alaska. 

 The run is not large, however, and it has been impaired in recent 

 years through increased fishing operations, not only in the river 



