THE FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1906. 3] 



this number was still further reduced, and there are now 7 in use, of 

 w'nich each cannery owns 3, while the remaining one is owned jointly 

 and the fish divided. All of these traps were located in the lagoon 

 and practically what is Chignik River. To an observer at the lower 

 end of the lagoon, looking up, it seemed as though the lagoon were com- 

 pletely blocked, the end of one trap extending out beyond the end of 

 the next from the opposite shore. In sailing up the lagoon one was 

 compelled to steer a zigzag course in order to round the outer ends of 

 the various traps. Owing to the ambiguity of the old law as applied to 

 bays and lagoons, and the fact that the new law was passed at the 

 height of the fishing season, no legal move was made against the 

 offenders. It is recommended, however, that they be warned for 

 next season to conform to the new law, which is clearly violated by 

 the present conditions. All of the traps have ''corrals," or double 

 hearts. 



The trap nets were put in on June 6 or 7, and the first fish, a red 

 salmon, was secured on June 8. The run was rather light until about 

 July 5, but from that date imtil July 26 both canneries were pushed 

 to the utmost to handle the great quantity of fish pouring in. On 

 several occasions, according to the superintendent of the Northwest- 

 ern Fisheries cannery, all the fish could not be handled, and the 

 excess were turned out of the traps. From the 12th to the 18th of 

 Jul}^ was the height of the season. The superintendent stated also 

 that the fish were larger than usual this season, averaging about 10 

 to the case wliile the run was at its height. As the nui slackened 

 the fish decreased in size. The last fisliing day was August 14, after 

 which the traps were removed. Both canneries packed their full 

 outfits, and both received shipments from Kodiak Island. The 

 Northwestern Fisheries Company received from its Uyak cannery 

 85,799 red salmon, wliile the Alaska Packers' Association cannery 

 received 53,000 red salmon from sister canneries at Karluk. Early 

 in the season the mess house of the Alaska Packers' Association can- 

 nery burned down, and it was with much difficulty that the rest of 

 the buildings were saved. 



WESTERN ALASKA. 



In accordance with instructions for a more thorough inspection of 

 Bering Sea than any other region, the period from June 30 to August 

 10 was given to tliis portion of the work. The itinerary included 

 visits to every river in which salmon fishing was carried on, ascent of 

 the AVood and Kvichak rivers to the lakes at their head, and exam- 

 ination of these lakes as far as possible in order to find out where the 

 salmon spawning beds were located and the possibility of establish- 

 ing hatcheries if suitable sites could be found. 



31581—07 3 



