24 SALMON AND TIlOtJT IN ALASKA. 



The Catch of Sockeyes from the Naha River, in Thousands. 



The large catch in 1891 was due to close fencing as well as abun- 

 dance of fish. It will be noted, as shown in the accompanying block 

 table, that the decline in numbers, while in general gradual, is most 

 marked in four-year periods after this date. It also will be remarked 

 that the heavy catches do not coincide in the different basins, point- 

 ing to a shifting of the general run under different circumstances. 

 Conclusions based on the commercial catches, however, require not 

 only accuracy in the statistics, but details as to the efforts made to 

 take all fish arriving in the given waters. These details, unfortu- 

 nately, we do not have. Yet these figures undoubtedly mdicate the 



