8 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUE INDUSTRIES, 1911. 



3. What is the normal age of each species and what period is spent 

 in fresh water ? 



4. What percentage of fry under normal conditions is produced 

 from eggs deposited naturally? 



5. Are any disadvantages suffered by fish artificially hatched ? 

 In support of the proposition that salmon do return to the parent 



stream there still stands the admitted fact that given streams, at 

 least in many instances, produce an average fish of a size different 

 from that of neighboring streams. There are two ways to account 

 for this fact. One, that these fish are a particular breed produced 

 by the special environment; the other, that fish of a given size elect 

 certain streams. The only positive solution lies in the marking of a 

 sufficient number of fingerlings so that they may be recognized on 

 return as adults. The marking done at Loring in 1903 was on too 

 small a scale to be conclusive. It is believed, however, that it is 

 safe to assume that some of the Loring marked fish were taken at 

 Yes Bay about 30 miles distant. The runs at those two streams are 

 of the same character and their adjacency makes it reasonable to 

 doubt any sharp line of demarcation between them. The straggling 

 "marked" fish turning up from time to time can hardly be regarded 

 as of the marked lot. Fins may occasionally be lost by natural 

 causes, that is by disease, and the advertising wliich the discussion 

 has brought about leads to a much closer scrutiny now than formerly. 



It is held, particularly in Bristol Bay, that winds have a very con- 

 troUing influence on the run of salmon. ^Vliether under any condi- 

 tions runs headed for Nushagak Bay could be so deflected as to send 

 them, for example, to the Kvichak or Naknek is not known. 



Even the most careful comparison for a large number of years of 

 the catches in these adjacent streams would not be conclusive, since 

 the escape may vary greatly. But such a comparison would, if 

 taken in connection with the gear op?rated and the weather, help 

 greatly toward a solution. In this connection attention is called to 

 the desirability of keeping accurate data of the fish caught and the 

 gear used so that such compilations may ultimately be made. These 

 figures would necessarily come from the various persons and com- 

 panies fisliing, and as it is precisely for their advantage that the 

 facts should be known, self-interest would require the most con- 

 scientious effort to assist in their compilation. 



The question of building up the run of salmon in a given stream by 

 establishing a close season has had some light thrown on it by the 

 results at the Afognak Reservation, and at the Naha Stream in 

 southeast Alaska. The stream at Litnik, Afognak Island, has been 

 legally closed since 1892, nearly 20 years, yet in 1911 only about 

 26,000 fish could be secured for the hatchery. The experience at 

 Callbr«ath's plant on Etolin Island, where an accurate census of 



