ALASKA FISHERY AND FUE-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1923 81 



beds. In 1921 a good escapement was reported, wliieh was considered to he 

 nearly normal although there were some streams with negligible numl)ers 

 and none was crowded. This year the escapement fell below that of 1921 in 

 all streams with the exception of Iliamna River, in which fi.OOO red salmon 

 were estimated in 1921 and 15.000 the current year. The latter is about 15 

 per cent that of last year and about 20 per cent of capacity stream production. 



Ascending Copper River about 5 miles it was estimated that the spawners 

 were about one-sixth as numerous as last year, with no signs of school hig at 

 the river mouth or in the extensive lagoon beyond. When Kokhonalv Creek 

 was examined, more encouraging numbers M'ere noted, as the stream was par- 

 tially covered with spawners Numbers of fish were noticed in the deep water 

 along the shores and also in the mouth of the stream. Tliese two banner 

 streams of the district showed a smaller number of spawners than in 1921. 

 the first having an estimated maximum of 150,000 fish as against 300.(X)0 in 

 1921. with no schools outside or in the stream, while Kokhonak Creek contained 

 an estimated maximum of 200.000 salmon as against 250,000 in 1921. It may 

 be stated that Kokhonak is the only creek considered to contain sufficient seed- 

 ing for normal results. The spring pond near Chekok. where last year it was 

 estimated tliere were 5.000 salmon and in 1921 1,000, this year contained abciut 

 500. which, with the exception of Copper River, Kokhonak Creek, and Iliamnii 

 River, is representative of comparative numbers noted throughout the area. 



The Newhalen River was high and badly discolored with sediment on tlie 

 occasion of the party's visit, making it impossible to pass intelligently on the 

 numbers of fish in that stream. However, observations were sufficiently con- 

 clusive to Indicate that the escapement throughout the whole area was below 

 that of 1921 and only about 10 per cent of last year. 



The small number of fish came as a great surprise, as it had been felt 

 that when the canneries were on limit there must be a safe margin of escape- 

 ment. This season, however, proved the exception to the rule, and it is 

 attributed to the very favorable weather conditions and the movements of the 

 fish which permitted fishermen and packers to make the most of the available 

 supply. 



EECAPITULATION 



In closing attention is directed to certain practices which must be rectified, 

 mainly by agreement between the packers and their fishermen. 



1. Placing limit flags. — By the present agreement the limit flag can only be 

 officially placed and fishermen notified of the limit at 6 p. m., and it is not in 

 force before midnight of the same day. On occasions such as the present yeai', 

 when the fish strike in heavy in the early morning or soon after midnight, 

 there will be a period of about 18 hours or more before the limit is applicable. 

 During the last season one boat delivered over 6,000 fish within that period, 

 and this was not exceptional. Also, while the limit is in force a large per- 

 centage of the fishermen, after delivering their quota for the day, will im- 

 mediately lay out again for another limit, and fish must be held about 24 

 hours before delivery. This condition leads to waste or at best the canning of 

 stale fish, a supply of which accumulates through the heaviest period of the 

 run. 



2. Small mesh nets. — The fishermen either carry quantities of web to Alaska 

 in trunks or knit web en route on the ships. Many of the canneries then 

 supply them with lead and cork lines for this web. 



3. Nets thrown overboard at end of season. — At the close of the past season 

 a number of nets were noticed, mostly without lead and cork lines, drifting 

 back and forth with the tide. In many cases they drift around the piling 

 imdemeath the docks where they hang and fish during the flood period, and 

 many salmon are thus caught and wasted. Several of these nets containing 

 fish were noticed at low tide in the bay and rivers, and the patrol boat was 

 fouled many times by picking up quantities of web in the propeller. On 

 investigation it was found that some of the fishermen were cutting away tlie 

 web from the lead and cork lines and casting it adrift. 



It is not known what arrangement fishermen have with the canneries for 

 the return of nets after the season closes, and in most cases it would not be 

 profitable to carry over the web to the next season, but it should be destroyed 

 on shore; and canneries should hold the fishermen to a strict accounting for 

 all web issued, as this situation is most serious. 



