ALASKA FISHERY AXD FrR-SEAL INDI'STRIES, 1923 75 



River district. While moi'e trout tliaii formerly were captured in Becliaroff 

 Lake, they were widely distributed, and continuous travel was necessary this 

 year in order to reach the different sources. Those creeks that were closely 

 lished in previous years showed greatfy reduced numbers of trout this year. 



Naktivk. — The writer, together with four men of the Naknek crew, in charge 

 of Gus Severson, proceeded on the North Kiufi from Portland, leaving that point 

 May 5 and arriving at Naknek May 17. The crew was immediately taken 

 ashore, and the different boats were painted and placed in the water. All 

 equipment was overhauled and nets tanned. Mr. Severs<:)n and crew left for 

 the lake on the 23d and made camp below the rapids for a short period. Set 

 nets were placed and fishing was conducted with fair success for five days, 

 during which time several trips were made over the rapids with equipment and 

 supplies. When all was in readiness and the fishing became poor, a start was 

 made for the outlet of the lake, arriving there on the 31st, when camp was es- 

 tablished, and fishing progressed with satisfactory results to .June 3. Strong 

 winds prevailed from June 2 to 9, accompanied by heavy rain during the last 

 two days. Extreme difficulty was experienced throughout the blow to keep 

 nets fishing owing to the amount of grass and drift, but fair catches of trout, 

 all containing young salmon in their stomachs, were made each day. Great 

 schools of young salmon just out of the gravel were noted around tiie shores 

 with the trout preying upon them. The stomach of one 10-pound lake trout 

 taken on a spinner on the 4th contained 343 of these young salmon with 8 still 

 alive. 



The first migrating sockeye was noted May 26. but no large schools were 

 seen at the lake outlet before .Tune 1. On that date an 18-pound lake trout, 

 which had 54 young migrating salmon in its stomach, all about 3 inches in 

 length, was taken. 



On the arrival of Warden LoofC on June 8 with a knockdown boat to be used 

 on Grosvenor Lake, it was decided to move to the head of Naknek Lake, and 

 while assistance was available the boat lumber was portaged across from 

 Naknek to Grosvenor Lake, where it was assembled. As the salmon are late 

 in arriving at this point, it was thought best to return to Kidawik Creek and 

 operate there as extensively as possible until they put in an appearance at 

 that point. During the pi'elimlnary investigation in Grosvenor Lake several 

 large pike and lake trout were taken. One of the latter measured 20 inches 

 in girth and weighed 24 pounds. 



Good results attended operations at Kidawik. While but few Dolly Vardens 

 were taken, most of them were extremely large and one specimen measured 

 28 inches in length. The first salmon noticed here was on June 19, and the 

 following day numbers appeared when nets were removed and the crew left 

 for Lake Grosvenor, Supplies and equipment were taken over the portage, 

 and camp was established on the Grosvenor side. Excellent results attended 

 efforts here until the 30th, when the salmon began arriving, thus necessitating 

 the removal of all gill nets from the water. Hand and set lines were then 

 resorted to. 



Lake Coville and the narrows between Coville and Grosvenor Lakes contain 

 tlie best spawning beaches in this section. Trout are fairly plentiful, and tiie 

 prospects for work there in the spring are excellent as there is now available 

 a suital)]e boat for beginning operations immediately upon arrival there an- 

 other year. Lake Grosvenor has very rocky shores with deep water close to 

 shore. iNIany places that appeared to be suitable spawning areas were noticed, 

 but it was too early U) note whether they Avere used for that purpose. Salmon 

 were noticed jumping all over the lake and passing up through the narrows 

 from Grosvenor to Coville in large schools. 



The escapement of fish was good, although not as large as last year (pos- 

 sibly 80 per cent of 1922), and was considered sufficient for the needs of this 

 district, Salmon in satisfactory numbers were entering the lake throughout 

 July. A small number of kings and chums was noticed in the river below 

 the rapids on July 28, and a few silvers made their appearance there August 1. 

 This is too far up the river for the occurrence of any number of these species, 

 although small numbers of each spawn in the vicinity. 



Before the departure of the crew l)oats were scraped and painted and, 

 together with all equipment, were stored in the Alaska-I'ortland Packers' As.so- 

 ciation cannery. 



The total number of trout destroyed for the season was 3,429, averaging from 

 10 to 12 pounds each, with a total weight of 37.719 pounds. All but about 

 2 per cent were lake trout, the remainder being Dolly Vardens, suckers, and 

 pike. 



