46 



REPORT OF ALASKA INVESTIGATIONS. 



killed by various enemies. For about $250 a portion of these steep falls could be blown out, which would 

 assure the fish ascending the stream to natural spawning grounds. 



Mill Creek. — In this creek, which empties into Eastern Passage opposite the north end of Wrangell 

 Island, there is great opportunity for a similar work. The fish congregate in multitudes at the foot of these 

 rapids every year. If the water happens to be low, none can get up, and they fall an easy prey to the 

 seines. With an expenditure of about $250 these falls could be lowered in such a way as to insure the 

 ascent of humpbacks and sockeyes to waters where the conditions can not be improved upon for breeding 

 grounds. This creek is the outlet of Virginia Lake, and its headwaters are ideal spawning grounds for 

 sockeye salmon. 



Hofstad Creek. — This creek empties into Vixen Bay, and I found many humpbacks and chums present. 

 At a point one mile from its mouth are step falls that present an obstruction to many salmon that start 

 to ascend the stream, which extends a number of miles above. Blowing out these falls with dynamite 

 is impracticable, but a fish ladder could no doubt be erected here at a cost of about $800. 



%?'% 



t 





Falls in Hofstad Creek where fish way is needed. 



Sweet Lake tributaries. — This lake lies on the north side of Prince of Wales Island, and the two upper 

 tributaries are Lyman Creek and Lester River, the first a sockeye stream and the second a humpback and 

 silver salmon stream. On each of these streams, 4 miles from their mouths, there are almost impassable 

 falls known as Sockeye Salmon and Silver Salmon Falls, which could be removed at a cost of about S250 

 each. In the early part of September, 1914, I stood at Silver Salmon Falls and watched the salmon try 

 to ascend at the rate of about 50 a minute, but very few of them ever worked up the stream, as was 

 clearly shown by observation below the falls and along the still waters, where hundreds of these fish lay 

 dead, bruised, and cut from their efforts. The investment of a few thousand dollars on all of these streams 

 would mean a great return in the future, as the result of opening up additional natural spawning grounds 

 as yet almost wholly untouched. 



