18 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



UNUSUAL MORTALITY OF SALMON 



A most unusual occurrence of the season, and one heretofore un- 

 recorded in the salmon fishery of the Territory, was an alarming 

 mortality among salmon and other species caught in traps along the 

 west coast of Tuxekan Island from July 22 to July 28. So great was 

 the mortality during this period that the operators in this restricted 

 locality kept their traps closed and brailed no fish from them. Obser- 

 vations were made of the behavior of salmon held in the traps on 

 several days. The first symptom of distress was the rising of the 

 fish to the surface, after which they began gasping and weaving from 

 side to side and then suddenly died. Samples of water and of dead 

 salmon were collected for examination but did not reveal the cause 

 of mortality. In addition to salmon, such diverse species as flounders, 

 dogfish, and pollock were similarly affected. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE ESCAPEMENT OF SALMON 



The progress of the runs of salmon in each district in Alaska is 

 observed closely by field emploj'^ees in order that appropriate regula- 

 tory measures may be issued promptly to meet unexpected occur- 

 rences. After the close of fishing operations, representative spawning 

 streams in all parts of the Territory are examined to determine the 

 adequacy of the escapement. 



Southeast Alaska.- — ^Pink salmon in all parts of southeastern Alaska 

 were of unusually large size and, except in the southern district, the 

 runs were late. In the southern district this species appeared early 

 and the run continued good to witliin a few days of the end of the 

 season. Although the run was numerically weaker than that of 1934, 

 a larger pack was realized in tliis district as a result of the large size 

 of the individual fish. Red and chum salmon were much more 

 plentiful than in 1934, and the run of cohos was of about the same 

 magnitude as in that year. There was a sufficient escapement of all 

 species to seed the spawning gravels properly in nearly all parts of the 

 district. Conditions on the spawning grounds were good during the 

 early part of the season, but the lack of rain in September and early 

 October caused the stream flow to drop to a low level. This situa- 

 tion was relieved by late fall rains. 



The salmon runs in the southern part of the Clarence Strait dis- 

 trict were much the same as in the southern district. Particularly 

 good escapements were noted in Karta River, Skowl Arm, and in the 

 west arm of Cholmondeley Sound. In the northern part of the dis- 

 trict the escapement was derived from late runs and was only fair. 



The pink salmon run on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island was 

 late, irregular, and much smaller than in 1934. The escapement of 

 this species was generally poor, and especially small spawning colonies 

 were observed in the important streams in the northern part of the 

 district; although below average, the escapement was somewhat 

 better in the southern part. The runs of reds and cohos were better 

 than in the preceding year, and large runs of chums were observed 

 throughout the district. Good escapements of these species were 

 reported. 



In the Sumner Strait district the runs were above average. The 

 pink salmon run reached its peak about August 1, after which it 

 steadily declined. The escapement, except in Anan Creek and Olive 



