32 THE FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1906, 



A considerable part of the time was devoted to measuring and 

 weighing salmon of each species taken at each of the various fish- 

 eries in Bering Sea, in the course of which work several thousand 

 salmon were handled. In the resulting data the Bureau has com- 

 parative weights and measurements of salmon from every river and 

 bay in Bristol Bay. 



Kuskokwim River. — During a \\s\i to the Naknek River, in August, 

 information was received that a trader on the Kuskokwim River had 

 chartered the schooner ^V^ng and ^Ying, of San Francisco, and with 

 an outfit of 2,000 barrels was engaged in salting salmon on the river. 

 This was not verified by personal observation or inquiry on the part 

 of the assistant agent, owing to the lateness of the season and the 

 difficulty of making a special trip to the Kuskokwim in the revenue 

 cutter at that time. 



Nusliagak Bay. — This bay, in which the greater part of the fishing 

 is carried on, is about 35 miles long and from 5 to 15 miles in width. 

 Sand bars and mud flats, wliich are visible at low water, occupy the 

 greater part of its area. Four rivers debouch into it — the Nushagak, 

 Wood, Egashak, and Snake. 



NushagaJc Eiver. — With the exception of the lower 20 or 30 miles, 

 but little is known of this river. 



According to Captain Hemming, master of the cannery ship Elec- 

 tra, who a few years ago made a trip to the headwaters, the Nushagak 

 River is about 200 miles long to the fii'st lake — a large one; larger 

 than Aleknagik Lake, on Wood River, which is about 24 miles in 

 length. Beyond the first lake are three other smaller lakes, all con- 

 nected by short stretches of river. The largest tributary of the river 

 is the ISIalchatna, which enters it about 100 miles from the mouth. 

 There are also several smaller tributaries, two of these being Tik- 

 chik River and Portage Creek. Captain Hemming says that the 

 winter he was there the small tributaries did not freeze up completely, 

 there always being some running water in them. There are three 

 or four Indian villages on the Nushagak, Kakuak being the larg- 

 est. A launch drawing 3 to 3^ feet of water can navigate about 

 120 miles from the mouth; it is necessary to use a bidarka to go into 

 the upper reaches. There are four rapids, around two of which a 

 portage must be made. The Indians catch salmon in these rapids 

 with spears and dip nets. The season Captain Hemming was there 

 many salmon were to be seen in the section of river connecting the 

 first and second lakes and in the first lake and the main river. The 

 river on its lower course is large and carries a great quantity of water, 

 generally muddy, into the head of Nushagak Bay. 



SnaJce River.— This tributary is about 30 miles in length, very 

 crooked, and has its rise in a single lake close by Aleknagik Lake. 

 There is an Indian ^^llage on the river just below the lake, and the 

 natives catch large numbers of red salmon in the stream. 



