136 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1919. 



The guide reported that on August 19, 1917, when this region was 

 examined previously, the lower part of the inlet, which at the time 

 visited contained mixed water or at least milky water on the surface, 

 was then entirely filled up by clear water, and salmon were seen 

 spawning on the bottom. In paddling about in this region at one 

 time, through an eddy of clear water stirred up by the oars, a single 

 nest was seen on the bottom with ripe fish playing around it. 



A trip up the HaUet River along the bank for a considerable 

 distance showed that the water was very shallow and the channel 

 subject evidently to frequent shifting; little or no evidence of fish 

 was found. If the salmon ascend this stream, they must go for some 

 distance, since conditions are entirely unfavorable for spawning in 

 the region traversed, and also for a considerable distance farther — 

 in fact, as far as the stream could be followed with the binoculars 

 from the vantage point of a mountainside overhanging the vaUey. 



On August 14 the gill net was put out in the bay between camp 

 and the inlet just described. In an hour's fishing 24 female and 39 

 male red salmon were taken. The net was placed about 200 to 300 

 feet from the shore. The fish were mostly ripe, large, well nourished, 

 and free from mutilation. These fish were examined, as was also a 

 series picked up on the shore that represented salmon nearly or 

 entirely spawned out. Although dead, they were reasonably fresh 

 and in good condition. It is noteworthy that some of the dead 

 females were not spawned out, as they still contained from 50 to 200 



The bluntly rounded southern end of Lake Klutina is indented 

 by a considerable number of inlets or sloughs, some of which represent 

 river outlets and others of which are blind indentations in the broad 

 delta formed by the material brought down from the glaciers, in part 

 by the Hallet, but much more largely by the Upper Klutina. One of 

 these, lying farthest to the west and just at the point where the shore 

 turns snarply toward the north, has already been described. The 

 indentations were carefully examined, since they constitute most 

 important spawning gi-ounds for the salmon that visit this part of the 

 lake. Their significance will be apparent from a brief statement of 

 the conditions as found. The most westerly has already been 

 described. Next to tliis, and about 250 yards farther on, is a clear- 

 water inlet without visible inflow but apparently supplied by seepage 

 water from the sides or bottom. It is approximately 5 feet deep near 

 the mouth where it joins the lake. Large numbers of living and 

 dead salmon were seen in the inlet or lying on the bottom. 



This was, in fact, a most ideal spawning place, with good bottom, 

 weU protected by heavy timber on all sides. The irregular wedge- 

 shaped area, gradually contracting as it penetrated into the forest, 

 seemed to be not only thoroughly protected against storms but for 

 some reason free from the floating timber that, driven on shore, 

 formed a tangle just above the present lake level along most of its 

 shore line. The majority of the living fish seen here were ripe, and 

 fully as many lay aroimd that were dead and spawned out as were 

 living in the water. This inlet was about 50 feet wide at the mouth 

 and preserved a depth of 3 to 5 feet almost to its head. Possibly it 

 is an old river channel, but if so it has grown up so perfectly that no 

 indication of its connection with present channels of the river could 

 be detected. 



