36 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
would be an ideal place for the capture of trout with any kind of gear through 
the spring months. 
A good run of salmon was found in Kokhonak Creek, with the usual native 
family catching them on the spawning beds and drying them as food for the 
family and dogs. Here we captured a number of steelhead trout in nets, and 
great numbers were noticed on the beds with salmon, feeding on their eggs. 
No Dolly Vardens were taken or seen. A trip was made to the lake at the head 
of the stream, a distance of 6 miles, and it was observed that the stream was 
well seeded the entire way. The stomachs of the fish taken at this point were 
filled with decomposed salmon and spawn, and on account of the unlimited 
supply our bait traps did not appeal. 
All streams in Kokhonak Bay were visited, but no fish were noticed in any 
streams other than Kokhonak Creek and Kokhonak River. A fall 20 feet high 
in the mouth of Kokhonak River prevents the ascent of fish. From 400 to 500 
red salmon were observed endeavoring to pass over this obstruction, but they 
could not proceed over halfway. It was believed that after being unsuccessful 
in negotiating the falls they would drop back and spawn. After careful search 
they were located spawning about 100 feet from the falls, close to a straight 
rock bluff, in 9 feet of water, and between large bowlders where there were 
suitable gravel spots. Some lingcod and steelhead trout were observed working 
in the beds for eggs, and each specimen taken had salmon eggs in its stomach. 
An efficient fishway can be installed at small expense, providing it is undertaken 
in the spring, when the water is low. Its installation would open miles of 
perfect spawning area in the river, and would also permit the fish to pass up as 
far as Kokhonak Lake. This river is one of the best streams for salmon tribu- 
tary to Iliamna Lake. 
On the Tliamna River trips of observation were made about 12 miles up- 
stream, the first on August 14, when not over 1,000 salmon were seen on the 
beds; on the second trip, September 17, no salmon were noticed in localities 
visited in August, but about 500 were found spawning 4 miles from camp. 
These represented the entire run in Iliamna River for the season. There was 
always a sprinkling of Dolly Vardens with the salmon, some of them spawning, 
but they were so scattered as to render capture in any numbers impossible. 
Pile River was not visited, but the natives reported no fish there. 
A fair run of fish entered Chekok River, from which the majority of the 
natives in the Iliamna River district obtained most of their fish supply. 
The last few days in the field were spent at Iliamna, where we set bait traps 
and caught several hundred Dolly Vardens, thereby again clearing the pools. 
SUMMARY. 
Our work was severely handicapped owing to late arrival, the impossibility of 
securing suitable help, and the necessity of familiarizing ourselves with condi- 
tions, each locality having a distinct problem to solve in the capture of trout. 
We were compelled to pay top wages for native help, and most of the natives 
were worthless, necessitating their discharge at the earliest moment possible 
without embarrassment to the work. At no time was suitable help available, 
except at Iliamna late in the season after the canneries had closed. Our equip- 
ment, too, was inadequate; while we expected that gill nets of 3-inch and 
34-inch mesh would be suitable, we found the trout usually too large to gill. 
Our experience this year will enable us to wage an extensive and aggressive 
campaign another season, At Naknek the work can be best accomplished in 
the early spring months, or up to the time salmon enter the stream. After 
this, if desirable, some of the operators could be used as stream watchmen 
through the cannery season. In the Aleknagik Lake section excellent results 
could be obtained throughout the entire season, or until the canneries close, 
necessitating departure. Good work can be accomplished in the Iliamna dis- 
trict up to the period of spawning, or the middle of August. 
The salmon run was spasmodic in all but the Wood River section, but at no 
time were there indications of an abundance of salmon in any portion of the 
districts operated. While the escapement into Wood and Naknek Rivers was 
greater than that of the previous year, a greatly insufficient number reached 
the spawning grounds to insure a normal pack and allow sufficient escapement 
for the future. Our judgment would indicate a totally inadequate supply for 
even a small year, to say nothing of normal. 
In the Kvichak and Iliamna sections the spawning beds were nearly destitute 
of spawning salmon. I am positive that the storms, which interfered some- 
