86 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



increase of nearly 200 per cent over the collections of the preceding 

 year. 



The take in 1922 was 6.195,000 red-salmon eggs, from which 

 6,007,000 fry were hatched and liberated in the headwaters of Sock- 

 eye Creek. The loss was 188,000, or 3.03 per cent. 



TERRITORIAL HATCHERIES 



Early in the year the Alaska Territorial Fish Commission dis- 

 continued fish-cultural work at Juneau and transferred its activities 

 in southeastern Alaska to Ketchikan. This resulted from the action 

 of the legislature in appropriating $80,000 in May, 1923, to be ex- 

 pended by the vice chairman of the commission for the exclusive 

 purpose of furthering the best interests of the Territory in the pro- 

 tection and propagation of salmon. Ketchikan, being in the center 

 of the most important fishing district, was selected as the place at 

 which to build a permanent hatcherj^ for the propagation of hump- 

 back salmon in southeastern Alaska. This plant w^as built and put 

 in operation in 1923. Two other hatcheries Avere constructed during 

 the year — one on Eyak Lake near Cordova for the propagation of 

 red salmon and one on Bear River near Seward for tlie propagation 

 of king salmon. The Ketchikan and Cordova plants were successful 

 in securing good takes of eggs, but the Seward hatcher}'' w^as not 

 completed in time for fish-cultural work in 1923. 



A rack was constructed at the outlet of Eyak Lake, and the salmon 

 that ascended to the spawning grounds were counted. The total 

 number of red salmon passing through in the period from June 24 

 to August 19 was 1,405. Trout of predatory species to the number 

 of 7,257 were captured and destroyed. Egg taking began June 30 

 and continued until August 10. The total number of ripe salmon 

 handled in connection with the Eyak Lake hatchery was 2,174, and 

 4,504,000 red-salmon eggs were secured. In addition, 80 pairs of 

 ripe salmon were pla<;€d in a protected area in the stream near the 

 hatchery. This area covers approximatel}' 2 acres of excellent 

 natural spawning ground. 



The legislature made a further appropriation of $6,500 to enable 

 the commission to carry" out the purposes of House Concurrent 

 Resolution No. 14, which directs it to prepare and submit to the 

 next legislature a report on the following points : 



1. The amount of salmon of each species taken from or near each stream, 

 as near as can be ascertained, for tlie years 1919 to 1924, inclusive. 



2. The number and location of the various fish traps and the distance of each 

 from the nearest salmon stream. 



3. The number of seines and nets used in the waters appurtenant to such 

 streams, as near as can be ascertained. 



4. The location of the cannery or canneries to which the salmon from the 

 various localities are taken. 



5. The streams in which salmon eggs in the eyed state have been deposited 

 or salmon fry released each year by the Territory and by Federal and private 

 hatcheries and the quantity thereof. 



GENERAL STATISTICS OF THE FISHERIES 



The total investment in the fisheries of Alaska in 1923 was $60,- 

 039,677, or $5,449,375 more than in 1922. The investment in the 

 salmon industry increased $5,629,774. The number of persons em- 



