82 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



KUSKOKWIM RIVER 



Inspector C. F. Townsend. of the Yukon River district. Avas on 

 the Kiiskokwim from July 14 to July 25, 1923. for the purpose of 

 observing operations and making a general investigation of con- 

 ditions. During this period and for two weeks prior thereto the 

 run of salmon had been the lightest experienced in years, the low 

 and clear condition of the stream being given as the cause. Fishing- 

 is most successful when the water is high and muddy. Another 

 reason reported for the light catch is that when the river is low the 

 fish follow the middle of the stream instead of the banks and bars 

 as they would during high water. Apprehension was expressed as 

 to whether there might not be a shortage of salmon for dog feed 

 all along the river. Attempted purse-seine operations off the mouth 

 of the Kuskokwim River are said to have been wholly unsuccessful 

 on account of the swift tides. 



YUKON RIVER FISHERY 



Salmon fishing on the Yukon River was carried on in 1923 as in 

 the preceding year. Tavo mild-cure outfits were operated on Leslie 

 Island ofi' the mouth of the river by Waechter Bros, and Kern & 

 Colussi, of Seattle. The run of fish arrived later than in the pre- 

 vious season, which probably is accounted for by the fact that the 

 ice remained in the mouth of the river about a Aveek longer. Fish- 

 ing began June 8, but only small catches Avere made until June 21. 

 It was reported that 287 tierces of mild-cured kings and 10 barrels 

 of pickled chums were prepared and shipped out by the two com- 

 panies, and 900 chums and 478 kings were frozen for shipment. 



The catch of salmon by natives apparently Avas better than usual, 

 the run of both kings and chums being exceptionally good in the 

 low^er river. Data gathered by the bureau's representatiA^e on his 

 return from the Delta to Fairbanks, during the latter part of August, 

 indicated that the local fishermen took about 17,500 kings and 79,000 

 chums in addition to preparing 231 tons of dried chum salmon for 

 dog feed. 



ALITAK SALMON COUNT 



Through the courtesy of the Alitak Packing Co. Aveirs Avere con- 

 structed for the counting of red salmon ascending two small 

 streams in Olga Bay, one located about 100 yards from the cannery 

 of the Alaska Packers Association on the east shore of Olga Bay 

 and knoAvn as the Home Station or Cannery River, and the other 

 in the extreme nortliAvest corner of the bay, about 7i/2 miles from 

 the cannery, and knoAvn as the Upper Station or Red Salmon RiA-er. 

 These tAvo streams receive practically all the red salmon entering 

 Olga Bay. 



The Aveirs Avere installed early in June and counting began at 

 both places on June 6. The count at the Upper Station continued 

 until September 9, AA-hen the Aveir was washed out. The run Avas so 

 nearly over at the time that the Aveir Avas not rebuilt. The total 

 count at this place Avas 167,775 red salmon. Counting continued at 

 the Home Station until September 16. with a total of 15,855 reds 

 for the season. 



