92 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



because of high water, and the weir structure was washed out that 

 night. It was estimated that about 2,000 sahnon were in the river 

 below the weir at that time. 



ORZENOI RIVER 



Construction of the weir in Orzenoi River was begun on June 2 and 

 completed on June 8. A flood took out part of the structure on June 

 11, and it was not until June 17 that the work of replacing pickets and 

 building an extra flood gate was completed. From June 19 to August 

 6, inclusive, there were counted through the weir 16,343 red salmon, 

 6,358 pinks, 1,316 chums, and 114 kings. Gordon Ash ton again car- 

 ried on the work at this place, under the supervison of Acting Warden 

 Ralph A. Ferrandini. 



RED RIVER 



The weir in Red River was completed on May 15, and the first 

 escapement was counted on May 23, when six king salmon passed 

 upstream. The red-salmon run began on the following day. Count- 

 ing was continued through August 28, at which time the total escape- 

 ment consisted of 253,994 red salmon, 1,671 kings, and 673 cohos. 



Although the catch exceeded the escapement at Red River in the 

 latter part of July, it was not necessary to close the area at that time, 

 as the difference was too small. However, this district was closed 

 through the remainder of the season after August 21. During the 

 season 95,795 Dolly Varden trout were taken in a trap and destroyed. 



Tom Frost, at the beginning of the season, and later Henry B. Looff, 

 had charge of operations at tliis weir, under the direction of Warden 

 J. Steele Culbertson. 



SITUK RIVER 



Construction of the weir in Situk River was completed on June 11, 

 and the first salmon passed through on the following day. Counting 

 was continued through July 21, after which high water prevented 

 accurate observations, and the structure was finally washed out on 

 July 27. The total count for the season was 1 18,777 red salmon, 2,750 

 pinks, and 1,290 kings. Axel W. Tveter was in charge of operations 

 at this place, under the direction of Warden William B. Berry. 



SALMON LIFE HISTORY STUDIES 



Studies of the life histories and fluctuations in the abundance of 

 the Pacific salmon in Alaska were continued in 1937 by the staff 

 of the Fisheries Biological Station at Seattle, Wash. The major 

 investigations of the red salmon at Karluk and the pink salmon at 

 Little Port Walter were carried on as formerly. Biological data on 

 the red salmon in the Bristol Bay, Chignik, and Copper River areas 

 were also collected. Daily catch records of the fishing boats operating 

 in Bristol Bay from the inception of the industry up to the present 

 time were compiled during the year. 



Studies carried on at Karluk River and Little Port Walter gave 

 further insight into the natural factors that influence the abundance 

 of the salmon. The biological work at Karluk during the past 

 year included studies of the influence of predatory trout on the 

 abundance of the red salmon spawning in the river system. The 



