24 



U. S, BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



proper and its several outlets, but in the contiguous waters of the 

 delta also. 



In 1921 seven canning companies and two mild-curing operators 

 took Salmon from Copper River waters. Of these the Alaska Sea 

 P'ood Co., Carlisle Pacldng Co., Eyak River Packing Co., Hayes 

 Graham Fish Co., Hillery-Scott Co., Pioneer Packing Co., A. Colussi, 

 and wS. S. Lee carried on fishing in the delta district, while all fishing 

 at Miles Lake and Abercrombie Canyon was done for the F. IL 

 Madden cannery at Abercrombie. The Hoonah Packing Co. and 

 the Canoe Pass Packing Co. did not operate. 



Gill nets, staked and drifting, were universally used in all Copper 

 River waters, except at Abercrombie Canyon, where dip nets were 

 used exclusively, in the delta region 34,125 fathoms of nets were 

 operated and in Miles Lake 2,275 fathoms were used, making a 

 total of 36,400 fathoms for the district. The number of dip netters 

 who fished in the canyon varied during the season, 55 being the 

 maximum number engaged at any time. As compared with similar 

 statistics in 1920, reports for 1921 show a decrease of 11,875 fathoms 

 in apparatus used in delta waters and 1,952 fathoms in Miles Lake, 

 or a total of 13,827 fathoms for the entire field. 



During the fishing season inquiry was made at Chitina, Copper 

 Center, and other up-river points regarding the escapement of salmon 

 and the supply secured by the Indians for domestic purposes. Later 

 observations were made by Assistant Agent Shirley A. Baker at 

 lOutina, Gulkana, and Summit Lakes as to the condition and use of 

 the spawning grounds, but no evidence was found to indicate that 

 the escapement was adequate to maintain the runs. More salmon 

 were observed in Gulkana Lake than in the other waters visited, and 

 the opinion was generally expressed by residents of the Copper River 

 valley that more salmon reached the upper river and the main trib- 

 utaries in 1921 than in either of the two seasons immediately pre- 

 ceding. 



Catch of salmon in Copper River from 1916 to 1921, inclusive, by locality and species-. 



Interesting observations were made at the Abercrombie cannery 

 in respect to the unequal proportion of male and female salmon taken 

 at the lake and canyon fisheries. In June three counts, aggregating 

 800 salmon, gave 701 females and 99 males. Between July 1 and 15 

 eight similar counts, totaling 1,200 salmon, gave 986 females and 214 



