FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1907. 21 
king salmon was sent to the Alsek. After several futile efforts and 
much danger, with the loss of several weeks’ time, the party finally got 
inside on May 12, and by the 15th were ready to fish. The run of 
kings had been on for some time, however, and very few were taken 
after June 1. It was noticed by the fishermen that the fish did not 
linger long in the delta and lower reaches of the river proper, owing 
probably to the very rapid current of the river. The white-meated 
kings averaged fewer than 1in 10. The largest one taken weighed 52 
pounds, while the average was about 33 pounds. 
After June 1 the fishermen began catching sockeyes. The roe in 
these fish did not seem to be very far advanced, and it was thought 
that possibly the fish went up the river to where slack water may be 
found and there waited until ripe. Eulachons were found in the 
stomachs of some of the fish, showing that they were still feeding. 
There is quite a run of eulachons into the Alsek in May. 
The physical conditions in and around the Alsek River delta are 
very discouraging to the fisherman. This delta, or Dry Bay, as 
it is also called, is about 20 miles northwest of Cape Fairweather 
and about 60 miles southeast of the southern entrance to Yakutat 
Bay. Here the coast range of mountains lies back from the shore 
line from 6 to 14 miles, leaving low, wooded ground, which is drained 
by numerous streams. The Alsek River drains the great ice fields 
north of the St. Elias and Fairweather ranges, one branch dipping 
around to the westward and tapping the St. Elias region, and another 
branch extending more to the northward into the Chilkat country. 
The river breaks through the range back from Dry Bay, and after 
cutting a large glacier lying near the northern end of the bay, forms 
its delta of three separate channels and outlets to the sea, all of this 
bearing the name of Dry Bay. The river itself has a very rapid cur- 
rent, making the handling of nets and boats a difficult matter, while 
the three channels composing the delta are filled with bars and small 
islands with ramifying channels, all changing from day to day. 
About the best water for entering the delta is 6 feet at mean low 
tide. Storms are frequent along this stretch of coast, and the tre- 
mendous surf engendered, together with the quite narrow entrances 
to the delta, make it a very difficult matter to get in except when 
the weather is calm, while it is an impossibility in even moderately 
breezy weather. 
Yakutat.—The cannery of the Yakutat and Southern Railway 
Company, which is located at this place, was outfitted for 42,000 
cases. Red salmon ran small during the whole season, which the 
fishermen claim is a sign of a good run. King salmon were very 
scarce, averaging 2 or 3 a day, while in 1906 the average was from 
18 to 20 a day. 
