REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 133 



The red .salniou, according to Dr. Beau, is now the most important 

 species for canning and salting in Alaska, and its tlesh is so red as to 

 Avin for it a reputation not warranted by its edible qualities. The 

 hirgest and finest species is the king or quinnat salmou, which, while 

 it enters some of the smaller streams ^like the Karluk, occurs more 

 abundautlyin the larger rivers, sucli as the Yukon and the Nnshagak. 

 The humpback is the smallest, most abundant, and most widely dis- 

 tributed of the Alaskan salmon. It is not taken for canning jmrposes, 

 but being one of the most palatable species in the fresh-run condition 

 it is destined to become of great importance in that connection. The 

 sih^er salmou is used to some extent for canning, but far less than the 

 red salmon, while the dog sahuon is regarded l)y the whites as one 

 of the least important of the group. The steelhead or hardhead is 

 used only to a limited extent, while the dolly varden trout or malma 

 is not canned. 



It was imj)ossible to determine if a decrease had occurred among 

 any of these species in the regi(ui examined, owing to the lack of posi- 

 tive information regarding their previous abundance. In fact, it is to 

 be doubted if more than one species — the red salmon — is in imminent 

 danger in that regard, as it is the only species which is fished for to 

 excess. However, any injudicious methods which might be established 

 to increase the catch of this species would have its etfect upon all the 

 otliers entering the streams at the same time, or while the practices in 

 question were continued. An illustration is furnished by Dr. Bean with 

 respect to the dolly varden trout, of which, he says, great numbers are 

 taken in connection with the red salmon and left to die on the beaches. 



Dr. Bean states: 



The catcli of red salmou lins been increasing, owing to tlie increase in the nnmber 

 of persons engaged in the fishery and in the eflectiveness of the implements nsed in 

 its capture. Tlie size of seines has been greatly enlarged, and the numlier of lioats, 

 seines, aud men largely augmented. That there will be a falling off in the supply 

 very soon there can be no doubt. The number of spawning fish in Karlulc Lake and 

 its tributaries last year was unexpectedly small. There was, early in the season of 

 1X.S9 aud in previous seasons, injudicious obstruction of the ascent of spawning fish 

 in the Karluk River. At one tim» an impassable weir, similar to tlie Zapor of the 

 Russians, was placed in this river. At the time of our visit we saw the remains of 

 jionnd nets, made of wire netting, which interfered so seriously with the ascent of 

 the fisli that they were dismantled by unknowni parties and were not reestablished. 



The report of Dr. Bean was submitted to Congress by the Commis- 

 sioner on June G, 1800, with recommendations as to additional steps 

 necessary to insure the protection of the Alaskan salmon-fisheries. 



While engaged in the surveys of Bering Sea, during the summer 

 of 1890, the steamer Albatross was dispatched, at the request of the 

 Secretary of the Treasury, to investigate the nu'thods of salmon-fishing 

 practiced in connection with the canneries on the ISTushagak Iviver 

 at the head of Bristol Bay, as it liad been reported that a barrier 

 was in course of construction across the Wood liiver, a tributary of 



