ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES 89 



was a failure, and after an examination of the channels in the follow- 

 ing year the scarcity was attributed to the fact that the mouths had 

 filled with sand. 



Products of the Yukon and Tanana fisheries, including those shipped 

 to the outside market, were as follows: 60 cases of Idng salmon canned; 

 126 tierces of mild-cured kings; 1,000 pounds of kings and 2,900 pounds 

 of chums pickled; and 225 tons of chums dried. Apparatus consisted 

 of 210 wheels, 112 gill nets of 1,311 fathoms, 4 motor vessels of 36 

 tons, 7 gill-net boats, 1 scow, and miscellaneous small boats. There 

 were 10 wliites and 323 natives engaged in the fishery. 



WEIRS FOR COUNTING SALMON ESCAPEMENT 



As a means of determining the ratio of escape to catch and of pro- 

 viding data for use in connection with life-history studies of the salmon, 

 12 weirs for counting the escapement of salmon to the spawning 

 grounds were operated in Alaska in 1937. Tliis is one more than the 

 number operated in 1936, the upper station weir at Olga Bay having 

 been installed again after being discontinued for 4 years. In addition, 

 a count was made at Kalgin Island Creek without the use of a rack. 



Reports of the weir operations and the counts of salmon in 1937 

 are as follows: 



Alitak Bay 



The cannery station weir on Olga Bay, tributary to Alitak Bay, 

 was ready for operation on May 1 and the first red salmon were 

 counted tlii'ough on May 29. Counting was continued through 

 September 5, when the total escapement numbered 252,193 red 

 salmon, 5,788 pinks, and 353 cohos. 



The upper station weir was not installed before the nm began, and 

 the first count there was made on June 15. When the weir was re- 

 moved on August 16, the total count consisted of 120,828 red salmon 

 and 700 pmks. It was estimated that 25,000 red salmon had ascended 

 the upper station stream before the weir was in operation. 



Commercial fishing in the Alitak region was stopped for 3 days in 

 the second week of August in order to permit the escapement to equal 

 the catch. The run continued in good numbers after the commercial 

 fishing season ended, wliich assured an escapement well above 50 per- 

 cent of the run. During the season 40,803 predatory Dolly Varden 

 trout were taken in traps operated in connection with the weirs. 



At the begmning of the season the work was carried on by Henry B, 

 LoofF; later, A. Morris Eafn was in charge at the cannery station weir, 

 and Harold Greer at the upper station weir, under the supervision of 

 Warden J. Steele Culbertson. 



Chignik River 



The weir in Cliignik River was established about 150 feet below 

 the site used in the previous season, where the river is from 2 to 5K 

 feet deep and about 455 feet wide. Construction was of the usual 

 tripod type, permitting the use of the old material. The weir con- 

 tained 48 tripods, to the face of which were nailed 3 rows of 4- by 4-inch 

 stringers, about 30 inches apart. Pickets, 2 by 2 inches, spaced 1% 

 inches apart, were driven into the river bed and nailed to the stringers. 



