ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION OF THE SALMON IN ALASKAN RIVERS 



The observations of our party at Alexander's Creek, Uyak Bay, on the naturally 

 deposited eggs of the Humpback Salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, showed that they are 

 a little larger than those of the Red Salmon, 0. nerlca, and a little smaller than King 

 Salmon eggs, 0. chouicha. Their diameter is about one-fifth of an inch. Mr. Lewis 

 fertilized some of these eggs with the milt of the males and fouud no difficulty in 

 handling them. Eggs of Eed Salmon, 0. nerka, as already mentioned, were seen in 

 nests around Karluk Lake and the rivers connecting it with its two tributary lakes. 



There are no extraordinary difficulties in the way of establishing hatching stations 

 for Red Salmon and Silver Salmon in mauy of the bays of Kadiak. Alitak Bay and 

 Afognak Bay furnish localities entirely suitable for the undertaking, and I can not see 

 any reason why a hatchery at Karluk might not be practicable and desirable. The 

 canneries get their supply of fresh water with no other trouble than that of piping it 

 in surface pipes from hill-side reservoirs. Lumber, machinery, and workmen are 

 brought from San Francisco. Salmon are extremely abundant. There is no sheltered 

 harbor, but extensive loading and unloading go on with safety in good weather. Sup- 

 plies can be had the year around. The winter cold is not excessive. 



It would undoubtedly be difficult to sustain a hatchery on Karluk Lake, and it 

 may not be necessary to locate one there if the spawniug salmon are allowed to go up 

 the river in sufficient numbers. If, however, it should be desirable to occupy the lake 

 for this purpose a road must be constructed from the west end of Larsen's Cove, and 

 Mr. Booth advises that it follow along the foot-hills of the mountain range which 

 bounds the river valley on the east, the valley itself being unsuitable for a road on 

 account of its boggy nature. Lumber would have to be carried to the lake, as the 

 native timber is fit only for fuel. 



From what I have heard about Thin Point, on the peninsula of Aliaska, it appears 

 to me that the river at that place is well adapted for fish culture ; it is short, rapid, 

 constant, and has its source in a large lake. Nearly 20,000 cases of Red Salmon were 

 taken there in 1889. 



Alitak Bay has good harbors and several good salmon streams, with plenty of 

 pure water that can be obtained by gravitation. 



Messrs. Booth and Stone visited Afognak and were very favorably impressed 

 with the outlook for salmon hatching on the Litnik River. Mr. Booth's report contains 

 the following items of especial interest in this connection : 



" Afognak River, especially near the falls, would furnish a very convenient site 

 for hatching purposes. It is uear a harbor safe in all directions from storms, has an 

 abundant supply of fresh cold water at all seasons, and abundant timber, which, 



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