REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 133 
The red salmon, according to Dr. Bean, is now the most important 
species for canning and salting in Alaska, and its flesh is so red as to 
win for it a reputation not warranted by its edible qualities. The 
largest and finest species is the king or quinnat salmon, which, while 
it enters some of the smaller streams like the Karluk, occurs more 
abundantly in the larger rivers, such as the Yukon and the Nushagak. 
The humpback is the smallest, most abundant, and most widely dis- 
tributed of the Alaskan salmon. It is not taken for canning purposes, 
but being one of the most palatable species in the fresh-run condition 
it is destined to become of great importance in that connection. The 
silver salmon is used to some extent for canning, but far less than the 
red salmon, while the dog salmon is regarded by the whites as one 
of the least important of the group. The steelhead or hardhead is 
used only to a limited extent, while the dolly varden trout or malma 
is not canned. 
It was impossible to determine if a decrease had occurred among 
any of these species in the region examined, owing to the lack of posi- 
tive information regarding their previous abundance. In fact, it is to 
be doubted if more than one species—the red salmon—is in imminent 
danger in that regard, as it is the only species which is fished for to 
excess. However, any injudicious methods which might be established 
to inerease the catch of this species would have its effect upon all the 
others entering the streams at the same time, or while the practices in 
question were continued. An illustration is furnished by Dr. Bean with 
respect to the dolly varden trout, of which, he says, great numbers are 
taken in connection with the red salmon and left to die on the beaches. 
Dr. Bean states: 
The catch of red salmon has been increasing, owing to the increase in the number 
of persons engaged in the fishery and in the effectiveness of the implements used in 
its capture. The size of seines has been greatly enlarged, and the number of boats, 
seines, and men largely augmented. That there will be a falling off in the supply 
very soon there can beno doubt. The number of spawning fish in Karluk Lake and 
its tributaries last year was unexpectedly small. There was, early in the season of 
1889 and in previous seasons, injudicious obstruction of the ascent of spawning fish 
in the Karluk River. At one time an impassable weir, similar to the Zapor of the 
Russians, was placed in this river. At the time of our visit we saw the remains of 
pound nets, made of wire netting, which interfered so seriously with the ascent of 
the fish that they were dismantled by unknown parties and were not reéstablished. 
The report of Dr. Bean was submitted to Congress by the Commis- 
sioner on June 6, 1890, with recommendations as to additional steps 
necessary to insure the protection of the Alaskan salmon.-fisheries. 
While engaged in the surveys of Bering Sea, during the summer 
of 1890, the steamer Albatross was dispatched, at the request of the 
Secretary of the Treasury, to investigate the methods of salmon-fishing 
practiced in connection with the canneries on the Nushagak River. 
at the head of Bristol Bay, as it had been reported that a barrier 
was in course of construction across the Wood River, a tributary of 
