PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES, 1937 35 



samples of pink salmon taken from the experimental trap in the bay 

 were weighed, measured, and a proportional cut from each fish was 

 canned. The canned samples have been turned over to the National 

 Canners' Association for tests to determine the chemical changes that 

 take place as' the season progresses and as the salmon near sexual 

 maturity. 



A cooperative observer's meteorological record was maintained at 

 Little Port Walter to secure information on a number of weather 

 conditions that are important elements in the salmon's environment. 

 A monthly average of 18.16 inches of rain fell at Little Port Walter 

 during 1937, making a total of 217.90 inches for the j^ear. Rain 

 was recorded on 248 days. It is not known whether this is an excess 

 as the weather station has only been in operation for the past year 

 and a half. The highest air temperature for the year was 72° F., and 

 the lowest was 16° F., with a yearly mean average of 42.73° F., 58 

 clear days, 91: partly cloudy, and 213 cloudy days were noted at ihe 

 station during the past year. 



A paper, "The Geographic Distribution and Environmental Limi- 

 tations of the Pacific Salmon,'' embodying discussions of factors coin- 

 cident with the native and foreign distribution of the Pacific salmon 

 was completed and submitted for publication. In every instance 

 where transplantations have been successful the conditions through- 

 out the new habitat have been similar to those in the native waters, 

 thus indicating that a thorough knowledge of the environmental con- 

 ditions of a proposed habitat is essential before transplantations of 

 the Pacific salmon into foreign waters are attempted. 



ALASKA SALMON STATISTICS 



Collection and compilation of daily catch records from the various 

 types of fishing gear operated by the salmon fishery in Alaska was con- 

 tinued in 1937 by L. S. Christey. With the continued assistance of a 

 W. P. A. project initiated in 1936, a complete collection of all avail- 

 able catch records for the remaining fishing districts in Alaska 

 has been accomplished. Along with past records all current records 

 are collected and the files will be kept up to date in the future. 



Compilation of these data consists mainly in determining average 

 daily catches for each type of gear throughout each fishing season. 

 This information gives an insight into the relative abundance of sal- 

 mon in each of the fishing districts and any change which occurs in 

 the date of appearance of the runs of salmon. During the past year 

 the trap-catch records in both Prince William Sound and southeast- 

 ern Alaska were compiled for all years on this basis. This informa- 

 tion as in the past was used as a basis for recommending changes in 

 the fishing regulations in Alaska in order to provide for the conserva- 

 tion of the salmon resources. 



HERRING 



Investigation of the herring fisheries of Alaska was continued in 

 1937 by E. H. Dahlgren. A temporary assistant was assigned to the 

 recently expanded Prince William Sound and Kodiak districts dur- 

 ing the fishing season to obtain data on the size and age composition 

 of the runs in these areas and to bring up to date the statistics of 

 these now important fisheries. 



