ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1920, 35 
21, where we were storm bound for several days. Supplies and equipment 
were packed over the portage mainly by myself and assistants, as the Indian 
packers who perform this kind of work are absolutely undependable, especially 
as they had considerable money from the summer’s work at the canneries, 
and most of their time was occupied in celebrating. We proceeded upriver 
en route to Lake Clark on August 28. We learned from natives and pros- 
pectors that no Dolly Varden trout are ever taken in Lake Clark, and that 
there is but one stream in that locality which is inhabited by this species, 
namely, Kegik Creek. 
A thorough survey was made of the entire lake and tributaries, our party 
passing up the east shore and returning on the opposite side. No trout in 
quantities were observed, and the possibilities of stream spawning were found 
to be very limited. It was noticed that the salmon spawn earliest near the 
outlet of the lake and later as they proceed up the lake. The prospectors and 
natives were fishing the mouths of the creeks and also directly on the 
spawning grounds preparing dog feed. Streams were visited in the following 
order : 
Tazimina River is an ideal salmon stream with suitable sloughs for spawning 
red salmon, but not more than 50 were noticed. A high waterfall about 5 miles 
from the mouth blocks the ascent of fish. 
Tarnalia River is a good stream but contained no salmon. We were advised 
by prospectors living at its mouth that few salmon ever enter, even in good 
years. There are falls about 4 miles up and no fish above. 
Current Creek is a good spawning stream for the first mile, but unsuitable 
farther up. It contained no fish. 
A small creek at the head of Little Lake Clark could accommodate fair num- 
bers, which are in evidence in good years, but none have appeared for the last 
two seasons. 
Big River, at the junction of Big and Little Lake Clark, is the largest stream 
tributary to the lake. It is glacial fed and few salmon ever enter. 
Portage Creek is small, with no possibilities. 
Kegik Creek is a fair-sized stream with good possibilities. It has a lake at 
its head and is recognized as the best salmon stream in that locality, the fish 
ascending into the lake. <A trip was made to the lake and but few salmon 
noticed, none being found in the small tributaries at its head which are thor- 
oughly suitable fer spawning. I was advised by prospectors in the vicinity that 
some spawning red salmon were noticed in the lake in December and spawned- 
out fish still active in January of some years, which would indicate an ex- 
tremely late run. 
Chulitna River has no salmon possibilities. It is a shallow river and heads 
in a marsh containing large numbers of pike. 
Practically all the salmon spawn along the shore of the lake and nearly the 
entire shore is suitable. Many miles of ideal spawning grounds were noticed 
along the lake shore. The Indian fish villages, now deserted, scattered along 
gave positive evidence as to the best spawning locations in former years. Lake 
trout, especially during the spring months, are numerous and easily taken; 
specimens reported weighing 40 pounds or more were common. Very little use 
is ever made of them by the natives, and only in emergency cases are they ever 
considered. As our time was limited and lake trout were not abundant, we con- 
tinued back to Iliamna and finished the season with a survey of that lake, with 
the exception of the west shore, which was too dangerous at that time of year 
to undertake in a small boat. 
The Newhalen River, which connects Tliamna Lake and Lake Clark, has a 
series of falis and rapids about 2 miles from its mouth, but these are not of 
sufficient size to hinder the ascent of the fish. The formation, however, renders 
it easy for the Indians to catch their supply with large hooks on the end of long 
poles, as the fish must of necessity pass through certain small channels between 
the rocks. The rapids are about 500 yards long, passing through narrow chan- 
nels at the upper end and widening to about 300 feet in rapids below, which end 
in a further widening of the river to about one-half mile. This portion of the 
river is shallow for about one-quarter of a mile, with ideal spawning bottom, 
on which some fish were spawning. The major portion of the fish taken by 
the natives in this locality were captured either in the rapids or on these 
spawning grounds. 
The channel between the river and Tliamna Lake is about 200 yards wide and 
broadens immediately on entering the river to about one-half mile. This channel 
