PROPAGATION AND DIRTBIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 192 i 383 



unobstinicted passage to the spawnino; grounds of their own selection 

 in Letnik Lake. The run began on June 6 and extended to Septem- 

 ber 8, the total escapement for the season numbering 8,025 fish. 

 While it is impossible to assign a definite cause for this material de- 

 cline from the large runs of recent years, it was ascertained that 

 many salmon were captured in the course of the spawning season 

 near the mouth of the river at Little Afognak, and as the captured 

 fish proved to be similar in size and character to those found in Let- 

 nik Bay it was concluded that at least part of the shortage in the run 

 might reasonably be ascribed to that fact. 



The annual runs of sockeyc salmon to spawning grounds in the 

 Afognak region within recent years have excited unusal interest 

 because of the extraodinary conditions involved. In the early summer 

 of 1912 all spawning fish in Letnik Lake were destroyed as a result of 

 the violent eruption of the Katmi volcano. For several years there- 

 after only a few salmon entered the lake, though runs of considerable 

 size were the rule prior to the eruption. However, there was a 

 noticeable increase with each succeeding year up to 1919, when a 

 very large run occurred, probably equal in numbers to the average run 

 before 1912. In accordance with the four-year cycle theory another 

 unusually large run was due to arrive in the summer of 1923 but, as 

 stated above, it failed to materialize. 



The more important items of repair work accomplished during the 

 vear included the laying of new foundation sills and flooring in the 

 large hatchery building. A large amount of construction work was 

 also done on the proposed wagon road, which is to take the place of 

 the tram road leading from the station grounds to tidewater. 



The first annual count of the salmon ascending theKarluk River, 

 undertaken in May of the preceding fiscal year, was concluded on 

 October 12, the tally showing the passage of 694,579 salmon upstream 

 in the course of the season. 



Dolly Varden trout entered Letnik Lake in the usual large numbers 

 and, following the practice of recent years, persistent efforts were 

 made to destroy them. Drag seines have been found to be the most 

 effective equipment for this purpose, and they were operated to good 

 advantage throughout the season. 



During the week beginning October 7, 1923, the station was sub- 

 jected to a violent wind and rain storm, which resulted in serious 

 damage. The bulkhead protecting the station grounds fronting on 

 Letnik Lake was destroyed throughout several hundred feet of its 

 length and the grounds were badly eroded. The boathouse was en- 

 tirely destroyed, the 100-foot wireless tower wi-ecked, and a number of 

 large trees on and adjacent to the reservation were uprooted. The 

 lake reached its highest recorded level during this period. 



YES BAY (ALASKA) STATION 

 [John W. Gardner, Superintendent] 



The results of the year's fish-cultural activities at this station were 

 fairly successful. Operations for the capture of sockeye salmon foi 

 propagation work were undertaken on September G and diligently 

 prosecuted during the next 15 days, in the course of which 25,550,000 

 eggs were taken. This figure does not represent all that might have 

 been secured, as, in pursuance of a recently adopted policy, spawn- 



