272 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



Prince William Sound and Copper River region. — The salmon runs 

 in this district were generally good, all species except cohos showing 

 increases over the preceding year. The escapement of pinks along 

 the west shore of Prince William Sound was somewhat larger than in 

 1928, while on the east shore it was smaller, although an increase in 

 the number of chums largely made up for the shortage. Montague 

 Island streams were well supplied with spawning salmon. In the 

 Resurrection Bay area the run was about 15 per cent less than in the 

 previous year, but as the fish began to appear at the head of the bay 

 somewhat earlier than usual and about a week before the fishing 

 season opened and as unfavorable weather prevented operations 

 during part of the season, a fair escapement was assured. At Eyak 

 Lake, also, the run was estimated to be about 15 per cent below that of 

 last year. Spawning salmon in the Copper River were more abundant 

 in 1929 than in the preceding year, which was considered the best 

 since 1924. Good runs entered Bering River from June 14 to 22 and 

 from June 30 to July 4, and with the exception of comparatively small 

 numbers caught for local use all escaped to the spawning grounds. 



Cook Inlet. — While there were small numbers earlier in all parts of 

 the district, the main run of red salmon struck at Salamato Beach on 

 July 17 and continued for 5 days — 48 hours of which was in the 

 weekly closed period, permitting a satisfactory escapement into Kenai 

 and Kasilof Rivers. Later, an investigation of the spawning grounds 

 tributary to Tustemena Lake at the head of Kasilof River showed 

 that all streams had been bountifully seeded. The spawning beds 

 at the head of Bishop Creek and Swansons Creek were also visited 

 and were reported to be well seeded. Streams tributary to Kachemak 

 Bay, Seldovia Bay, and other lower Cook Inlet areas showed an 

 average escapement of pinks. 



Kodiak-Afognak district. — Throughout the district the run of red 

 salmon was very light, but the escapement was much greater than the 

 catch. The run of cohos was small during the fishing season, although 

 later a larger run than usual was noted, most of which entered the 

 streams. There was a heavy run of chum salmon and a good catch, 

 and examination of streams at the close of the season showed an 

 unusually large escapement. The run of pink salmon was large in 

 Alitak Bay and on the south shore of Kodiak Island, fair along the 

 north shore and Shelikof Strait, and rather light on the mainland 

 shore. Although catches of this species were large, the escapement 

 generally was satisfactory. King salmon appeared in about the usual 

 numbers. 



Alaska Peninsula.- — The runs of red salmon, both local and migra- 

 tory, in the Alaska Peninsula region were very irregular — in some 

 instances good, but generally poor. The escapement of the local runs 

 was satisfactory in most places, inasmuch as the fishermen devoted 

 attention to the catch of chums and pinks rather than the intermittent 

 runs of reds, but it is noted that certain areas which had poor escape- 

 ments in 1928, namely Middle Lagoon in Morzhovoi Bay, Thin Point 

 Lagoon, and Wosnesenski Creek, likewise had poor escapements this 

 year. The Port Moller region again had a good run and escapement 

 of red salmon. The number of chum salmon was average and pinks 

 were above normal for any off year. Although fishing was heavy, 

 an adequate spawning reserve entered the streams. The run of 

 cohos was probably the lightest in many years. 



