94 KEPORT OP THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



The number of species of game fish in Alaska is unusually great. 

 Those of chief interest to the most experienced anglers are the rain- 

 bow trout, cutthroat trout, steelhead trout, Arctic grayling, Great 

 Lakes or Mackinaw trout, Dolly Varden trout, silver salmon, and 

 king salmon. Others of somewhat less interest, but whose capture 

 nevertheless affords more or less sport, are the common pike [Esox 

 lucius)^ Alaska cod {Gadiis iriacroceplialus)^ Alaska pollack [Theragra 

 chalcogi'ammus)^ California tomcod {Microgadus ■proximus)^ halibut 

 {Hippoglossus hippoglossus) , rock trout {Hexagratnmos decagrammfius)^ 

 the Sitka black bass {Sehastodes melanops)^ and several species of rock- 

 fish. The king and silver salmons can be taken by trolling almost any 

 month in the year, but especially in spring and early summer. One 

 of the best regions for this sport is that about Killisnoo. 



Steelheads may be taken in the spring — large ones by trolling in 

 salt water and smaller ones with the fly in the streams. Dolly Var- 

 den, rainbow, and cutthroat trout may be taken at any time with the 

 fl}^ in many of the streams of Alaska. They are plentiful at Ketchi- 

 kan, Loring, Killisnoo, Klawock, Shakan, Hunter Bay, and Sitka. 

 The Mackinaw trout, common pike, and Arctic grajding occur in the 

 headwaters of the Yukon, easilj" reached by rail from Skagway, and 

 the Arctic grayling is found in all the lakes and streams from White 

 Pass to White Horse. It is one of the finest game fishes. The other 

 less important species ma}- be found almost anywhere in southeast 

 Alaska, and may be taken in abundance at any time. 



Methods of the Alaska salmon fisheries. — The manner of taking 

 salmon in Alaska for commercial purposes varies with the locality". 

 In general it may be said that the great bulk of the catch is taken by 

 means of traps (or pound nets), haul seines, purse seines, and gill nets, 

 and that the fishing is done in salt water. 



In southeast Alaska purse seines, which are simply deep drag seines 

 so hung as to permit of pursing by gathering in the footrope, are 

 used in the more important streams, particularly at Karta Bay, 

 Wrangel, Hetta, and Quadra. The number of these seines seems to 

 be increasing, and they are regarded as a very effective means of cap- 

 ture, most used in narrow, deep channels and where rocky shores 

 preclude the use of haul seines. 



Haul seines, or drag seines, are used to some extent in southeast 

 Alaska and to a considerable extent at Alitak and Chignik Bay. At 

 Karluk they are the only nets used. They are effective wherever 

 there are clean sandy or gravelly shores. 



Gill nets are used in limited numbers in southeast Alaska at Quadra, 

 Chilkat, etc., and at Chignik. They are effective onlj- in or off the 

 mouths of the larger rivers, whose waters are more or less turbid. In 

 clear water the fish see the webbing and do not gill well. 



