101-32 CABIN CREEK K 35 
N55° 19 W130° 47 Previous No. 30 
KETCHIKAN, BEHM CANAL, SMEATON BAY, CABIN COVE, N. shore 4 miles E. of Carp Island 
MAJOR SPECIES Pink OTHER SPECIES Chum, coho, trout, red (few) 
ESCAPEMENT TIMING Late. Sep. -Oct. ESCAPEMENT MAGNITUDE  10-30,000 
SPAWNING FACILITIES Excellent. An extensive intertidal zone with excellent spawning facilities above half 
tide have been observed to contain over 50% of the spawning pink salmon present at the peak. Upstream spawning 
ateas are used extensively by both pink and chum salmon. 
STREAM TEMPERATURES Warm range. Cabin Creek has had a recording thermograph operating since 1949 
and complete records are available at the Fisheries Research Institute library. Thermograph records include both 
surface and subsurface gravel temperatures. 
VALLEY DESCRIPTION Stream cut glacial. Walley curves from N. toward E. behind high ridge bordering N. 
side of Smeaton Bay. The valley is about 7 miles long to the headwaters in the peaks (about 3, 000° elevation). 
A small cirque lake is about 2 air miles from high tide mark. A smaller hanging valley extends beyond with 
two small ponds. Timbered valley with muskeg and bare rock in the upper elevations. 
DRAINAGE 16 square miles (estimated). Precipitation fed through a small lake and several high ponds. Some 
muskeg areas. Shallow soil layer over rock allows quick run-off. 
STREAM MOUTH IDENTIFICATION Cabin Cove has a small gravel beach extending from the E. side one= 
quarter mile inside across to the low tide mouth near the W. side of the cove as a bar. A gravel flat lies beyond 
on the E. side with several pilings. The stream flows from the wooded head of the flats along the W. side, 
cutting across to the E. side, then to the W. again. 
ANCHORAGE Good anchorage just inside snag over-hanging the E. side of the cove. Rock bottom. 
TRAILS AND SURVEY ROUTES Trails have been cut several times, but brush covers them quickly. During 
normal water levels, walking along the creek is not difficult. 
AERIAL SURVEY NOTES Approach terminal marker falls above low ridge on E. side of creek. Turn on to the 
stream course where valley narrows and follow over W. bank. A slight slip or skid necessary for the nearly 
vertical vision necessary. Observer should be familiar with stream from ground survey experience. A similar 
approach for landing in Cabin Cove is recommended during strong southerly winds which make Smeaton Bay 
and outer cove too rough for landing. 
INTERTIDAL ZONE 
LENGTH .6 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH 30-40'/12-18" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES Less than 1° at 1.5-2.5! per second 
BOTTOM _ Sand and gravel, algae covered from half tide mark downstream. 
LOW TIDE LOCATION At W. end of gravel bar at lower end of gravel flats. 
HIGH TIDE LOCATION At the log jams where stream emerges from woods. Remnants of research markers 
still visible just above. 
SCHOOLING AREAS 1. In pool by W. bank where stream splits around a grass island. An instrument box is 
nailed to a tree by the pool on the W. bank. 2. Pool above the grass island, gravel bar on W. side and grass 
bank on E. 3. In small pools under log jams. Cabin Cove is a major schooling area for both Cabin Creek 
salmon and other streams in Smeaton Bay. 
SPAWNING AREAS [Entire upper intertidal zone, except for the above schooling areas, is utilized for spawning. 
The lower limits of spawning have been observed as far down as the riffle below the first contact the stream makes 
with the E. wooded bank. However, most spawn from the lower riffle below the grass island to high tide. 
GENERAL NOTES The intertidal area is unusually good for pink salmon spawning. Special studies of the relation- 
ship of the intertidal environment have been made here and are the basis for evaluating other pink salmon 
intertidal facilities. 
UPSTREAM 
LENGTH ACCESSIBLE  .8 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH 20-25'/12-18" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES 1° at 2' per second 
BOTTOM Sand, gravel, some rocks and boulders. 
MARKER DISTANCE .8 miles. 
MARKER IDENTIFICATION 9 foot falls, impassable to pink and chum salmon. 
BARRIERS Falls dropping 9 feet in 20 feet as a chute. This falls is a definite barrier to pink and chum salmon. 
No barriers above to lake. 
TRIBUTARIES Several small tributaries in upper stream are not accessible for salmon. One small tributary .5 
miles upstream on the W. side has some limited spawning. 
SCHOOLING AREAS Inall small pools and windfall areas. Salmon entering early in Sep. tend to school upstream 
as far as the falls. Salmon entering toward peak period at the end of Sep. school in the upper intertidal and lower 
stream pools. 
SPAWNING AREAS All riffles throughout accessible stream. Splits occur upstream that are utilized by both pink and 
chum. Chum salmon are found spawning most heavily in the upper stream areas. 
GENERAL NOTES A Fisheries Research Institute Special Study Stream. 
