ALASKA l^ISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES, 1911. 73 



from a number of specimens. The largest produced 5,362 while the 

 smallest gave 3,203, the average being over 4,000. In view of the 

 small number of specimens examined, these figures are not particu- 

 larly significant as applied to an entire season's operations. In the 

 light of past records it is improbable that the average of the fish 

 actually stripped throughout an entire season will ever run much 

 over 3,000. 



That 1911 has been a very successful season is well set forth in a 

 report from the Alaska Packers Association as follows: 



From the results of our season's operations at our Fortmann hatchery it is evident 

 that the Naha Basin is responding to our hatchery's work, as the run of sockeye (red) 

 salmon was larger than ever known in this vicinity. The full capacity of the hatchery 

 was easily filled, and so numerous were the spawning salmon after the hatchery was 

 filled that all the entering streams and lake spawning beds had all the sockeyes that 

 could be massed over them. These spawning salmon even crowded into the flume 

 used for conveying power and entered the ditch carrying the overflow from the nursery 

 ponds. As an example of abundance, one small stream (Fence Creek) where we 

 usually place a fence to hold the spawning salmon and where we generally take about 

 3,000,000 eggs, this year yielded over 43,000,000 eggs, and after the fence was removed 

 such a large number of salmon entered that every foot of available spawning ground 

 was covered with spawning fish. 



The station is in operation throughout the year, the force varying 

 from about 5 to 20 men. It has been roughly estimated that for 

 several months of the season the crew will average one man to 

 4,000,000 eggs. 



KARLUK. 



From July 1 to September 15, 1910, the take of red-salmon eggs at 

 Karluk was 49,626,000. During 1910 and 1911 fry were liberated 

 therefrom in Karluk River to the number of 37,722,000, or with the 

 rather heavy loss of 24 per cent. Of this 17.65 per cent represents the 

 loss of eggs, due largely to a shortage of water caused by a break in 

 the supply ditch at a critical stage in the development of the eggs. 



From July 1 to October 11, 1911, the collection of eggs was 

 41,026,800. The number of females stripped was 14,516, and 14,770 

 males were used. The average number of eggs per female was 2,826. 



In the older section of the hatchery erected in 1896 there are 61 

 hatching troughs containing 292 baskets, which at the rate of 80,000 

 per basket, makes a capacity of 23,000,000 eggs. In the newer section 

 built in 1903 there are 52 troughs holding 249 baskets, which at the 

 rate of 103,000 makes room for 24,640,000 eggs, or a total capacity 

 of 48,000.000 red-salmon eggs. The troughs in the older section are 

 1 inch shallower than those in the newer; hence the baskets are ele- 

 vated about three-fourths of an inch from the bottom by putting 

 blocks at the corners. The dimensions of the baskets are 24 by 14 

 by 7 inches, the mesh of the wire being three-fourths by one-seventh 

 of an inch. 



