INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 287 



stream to Nushagak and Aleknagik lakes, where they spawn. If the 

 season be an oi^en one, however, they frequently loiter on tlie way, 

 spending: considerable time on their upward passage. The latter con- 

 ditions are, of course, most favorable for the fishermen. During the 

 past spring the river was blockaded Avith ice until May 20, and the 

 run was a late one in consequence. 



The fishermen consider that the salmon spawn about a month after 

 entering the river. The superintendent of the Bristol Bay Canning 

 Company, who has had much exijerience in this part of Alaska, states 

 that from the first of August until October young salmon x>ass down 

 stream, and enter the sea daily by the million. It takes, on an average, 

 about 6 red salmon to make a case of the preserved product, and about 

 the same number of silver salmon. Two and one-half of the king salmon 

 are equivalent to about 6 of eitliei- of the other two si)ecies. 



Heretofore each cannery has had from one to five traps, but returns 

 from them have not compared favorably with the cost of keeping them 

 in repair. The original cost of a trap is $250. The main body is made 

 of twine, but the leaders are constructed of galvanized-iron wire netting, 

 which is superior to common twine netting, oflering more resistance to 

 the drift material which comes down the river in large quantities. 

 Notwithstanding, however, that every precaution is taken to make them 

 secure, they arc frequently torn from their fastenings and swept away. 

 The king salmon is said not to enter the traps like the other species. 



The Arctic Canning Compaiiy has this year built a trap in the Nak- 

 nek River, which it is expected will give good results. 



VICI>flTY OF UNALASKA ISLAND. 



Along the Aleutian group of islands the bottom differs materially in 

 character from that of Bristol Bay. Instead of large areas of sand, 

 intermixed with patches of mud and rocks, nearly one continuous rocky 

 bottom is found, upon which cod are fairly abundant. The investiga- 

 tions of the Albatross among the Aleutian Islands were mainly confined 

 to the continental platform along the Bering Sea side of Unalaska 

 Island as far as Umnak Island. However, a line of soundings was run 

 between Atka Island and Unalaska Island, nearlyijarallelwith the coast 

 trend, which indicated the existence of much bottom suited to cod and 

 halibut, and good fishing-grounds for those species Avill undoubtedly 

 be found in that region, as well as about the other islands lying to the 

 westward of Atka. Information to the same effect has been derived 

 from other sources, but the o(;currence of large fishing banks is pre- 

 cluded by the fact that deep water api:>roaches to within a very short 

 distance of the islands. 



Unalaska harbor and vicinity. — The fishing-grounds in tlie neighbor- 

 hood of Iliuliuk, Unalaska, extend only a short distance from thesliore, 

 3 to 6 miles being the width of area on which cod are likely to be found. 

 The bottom consists mainly of rocky and muddy patches, of small to 

 large extent, on which sand, gravel, and shells also occur in small quan- 



