20 FISHERY AND FUR INDUSTRIES OF AJLASKA IN 1912. 



Little Afognak stream ranks fifth as a fishing stream. It drains 

 the largest lake of any except Letnik. The outlet stream is about 2 

 miles in length. This stream has been barricaded and, whether from 

 this cause or natural unproductiveness, the red salmon run is appa- 

 rently far below what it should be. 



The run of red salmon began about the first of June, but only at 

 Paramanof stream reached numbers enough to exceed the home 

 consumption. At this stream 2,500 were salted by June 6, when 

 the eruption of Katmai Volcano suspended all fishing in that region. 

 The ashes fell for three days, covering Afognak Island from 3 to 10 

 inches in depth, the heavier fall being on the south side of the island. 

 The waters of hitherto clear streams and lakes were converted into 

 mud. The streams were for the time choked and deposits several 

 feet in depth formed at their mouths. The salmon in the streams 

 were either driven back to the deep water or perished in ths streams. 

 Fortunately the run had only begun, and only in the Letnik stream 

 was there any considerable loss. It was noted that the fish in the 

 bays retreated to deep water, and it was some time before their 

 return was assured. 



After the third day, when the shower of ashes had so far ceased 

 as to make travel safe, the fishermen abandoned their work and 

 returned home; tnose at the most distant station. Seal Bay, were 

 brought back by a revenue cutter. It was not without much per- 

 suasion that they were induced to resume work, about July 1, a 

 rumor havmg been circulated that Congress had made a large appro- 

 priation for their relief. 



The number of fish reaching the lakes during the recess in the 

 fishing and at other times is not positively known, but so far as 

 observations go almost no successful spawning was accomplished in 

 any of the streams. Few fish were seen on any of the beds. As 

 late as the middle of August salmon were suffocated in the tribu- 

 tary streams by the volcanic mud washed in by rains. At times 

 salmon could be seen to enter a stream, ascend a short distance, 

 and then return to the sea. Many of the spawning grounds were 

 choked by the deposits. The young, so far as known, were not 

 kUled in the lakes. In some instances fish examined in August 

 appeared to be inadequately nourished, but in other cases they were 

 thrifty. 



Later the ash was largely washed from the streams, and there 

 should be no great obstruction to successful spawning of the 1913 

 run. It wiU be of much interest and value to note the effect of the 

 volcanic phenomena upon the runs of 1916 and 1917. 



The following table shows the catch reported from the various 

 streams with the date of tlie fishing: 



