1148 TJ. S. BUBEAU OF FISHERIES 



COMMERCIAL SPECIES 



The propagation of commercial species of fish is a contribution to 

 the pubhc good, the exact results and value of which can not be 

 accurately estimated. The intensive stocking of specific locations 

 for a period of years with commercial forms, such as the flounder, 

 whitefish, lake trout, or the Pacific salmon, has clearly demonstrated 

 by the increased catches of fish, that worthwhile results are obtain- 

 able. The general work of this nature, however, is more widespread 

 and divergent, and the results of the hatchery operations are ob- 

 scured by normal fluctuations in catch; traceable, in part, to other 

 factors such as weather conditions. 



The artificial propagation of commercial forms maybe considered 

 as supplementary to the natural reproduction arising from the vast 

 natural stock which must be existent to support a commercial fishery. 

 The comparatively limited cost per unit of production, however, 

 makes it highly desirable to assist nature by hatchery operations.' 

 As has been previously pointed out, the increased aggregate produc- 

 tion for the past year is due largely to the augmented distribution of 

 eggs and fry of the commercial species. One of the most noteworthy 

 features in connection with this work during 1930 was the virtual 

 failure of all shad operations, due to water conditions arising from 

 drought. 



PACIFIC SALMONS 



On the Pacific coast field, operation of the salmon hatcheries was 

 marked by a practically normal output at the Alaska stations, a 

 moderate increase in the California field, and sharp declines in the 

 output of the Puget Sound and Columbia River establishments. The 

 latter condition was due to prolonged dry weather which brought the 

 rivers to an extremely low level and deranged the normal spawninf^ 

 niigrations. The decline was particularly noticeable in the case 

 of Chinook and sockeye salmon ; while the only forms that registered 

 an increase were the humpback and steelhead trout. 



AFOGNAK (ALASKA) STATION 



fA. T. LooFF and Hakey F. Johnston, Superintendents] 



The escapement of sockeye salmon into Letnik Lake during the season of 

 ^•^M Too^^.Jx^ ^^'^28. Of these, 8,360 female fish were fpawned They 

 yielded 22,000,120 eggs of good quality, of which 4,553,200 were forwarded^ 

 when eyed to the bureau's headquarters at Seattle, Wash. All the young 

 SSl'*?,ho'' ; f • ""T /failed and fed, well into the month of June, before 

 P^^/tn thin^,l'h "'%^ioir.*^ "' tributaries. Early in May steelhead-salmon 

 hwhi .1 Ti'vfi'^ ^P'^^ '''^''^ collected at the outlet of Letnik Lake and 

 by the cloi5e of the fiscal year had attained the eyed stage. The migration of 

 »^ockeyes occurred during a high-water period in May ; and while schools of 

 owinftn^^?/^'r' ^^J?,.«bserved in tributaries of the lake, it was toSble! 

 Siting ^^^ condition of the water, to form any estimate of the numbed 



sal^l/*'w;r^."LSl'"^f*^^ "^1°*^^ l"" *^^ ^°^^^ ^"^ transferred to the station 

 fo7?uturrPonS?^^H-nn''i"^^''- .F<^^-ty thousand board feet of suitable sizes 

 ^\fh r^^L ^^^^"^ .^""u '■^P^''' ^^^^ ^^^e manufactured from 170 logs, 



was cfnSpftrn"'h^-f^ ^^ ""^-K ?," *^^ "^"^^^ ^^ the year a new woodshed 

 Sounds anrltpvpr.iJ^?f '^■''^ ^"'^^ ^^'"^'^ Hatchery Creek on the station 

 groundfe, and several other improvements of a minor character were made 



?he b?aTCS.f rS'^^-fr^ ^'^ ^^'^^ ^^ ^^"^'h, between the Ston and 

 the boat landing at Letnik Bay was started June 14 and the work was com- 



