SALMON AND TROUT TN ALASKA, 45 



between 36 and 40 — extremes 33 and 43 mm. A few fingerlings, less 

 than 1 per cent, were taken at the same time. The food at that time, 

 in the few that contained any, w^as insects. The main movement 

 was early in the evening, the lifting of the trap at 1.30 a*, m. and 

 9.30 a. m. of the same day showing a catch of 2,015 between 

 dusk (about 10 p. m.) and 1.30 a. m. and 50 during the morning 

 twilight. 



In the Karluk in 1903 the first specimens of coho fry were obtained 

 May 22. At that time salmon fry and small fingerlings were said to 

 be numerous in the little sloughs at the edge of grassy marshes where 

 the current was slight. Over 1,000 were taken in a single haul of the 

 seine. Of the 42 examples preserved from this haul only 2 were 

 cohos, about 38 mm. long, 1 with insect food. Of the 17 fingerlings 

 saved from the same haul 15 were cohos, 12 males averaging 68 mm. 

 and 3 females averaging 52 mm., all feeding on insects and larvae. It 

 should be noted that the small fingerling sockeyes taken in this haul 

 contained crustaceans, some also insects and insect larvae, while the 

 2 yearling sockeyes contained only insects and larvae. Small 

 fingerlings were taken in Karluk Lake July 27, 30, and 31, and 

 as late as August 22. In all but 2 examples examined, which con- 

 tained Crustacea, the food was insects and insect larvae. 



Coho yoimg may be found in almost every brook of Alaska through- 

 out the summer. They linger along the margins and in the pools, 

 with no apparent seaward movement. As the adults penetrate 

 all these small streams to spawn, the upstream movement of the 

 young, if there be any, does not excite attention. They are resident 

 in the lakes as well as in the tributary streams. With the fall rains 

 these residents are swept out of the streams into the lakes or the sea 

 in the same manner as the king. 



In the summer of 1905 many coho fingerlings were taken in Yes 

 Lake. August 22, 15, averaging 95 mm. in length (63-122 nnn.), 

 were taken in a night haul. Two of these (13 per cent) contained 

 sticklebacks, one having eaten 12, all less than 20 mm. in length; 

 66 per cent were feeding on flies, etc.; 13 per cent contained beetles, 

 and 26 per cent snails; 13 per cent had eaten caddis larvae, and a like 

 number other larvae. August 24, 55 were taken in night hauls of a 

 shore seine, average length 85.6 mm., extremes 53-130. Of these, 91 

 per cent contained winged insects, as flies and ants; 42 per cent 

 beetles; 14 per cent mites, eggs, etc.; 7 per cent sticklebacks; 7 per 

 cent snails; and 5 per cent caddis larvje. September 10, 88 were 

 secured in the same manner, average length 83 mm., extremes 

 51-120. Of these, 44 per cent contained winged insects and the same 

 number caddis larvae, 20 per cent beetles, 11 per cent mites, etc., 

 about 2 per cent sticklebacks, 5 per cent snails, and 7 per cent 

 other larvae than caddis. It %dll be noted that the average size of 



