144 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
every factor that would modify the returns as we have them would increase the per- 
centage of fish captured and would indicate a greater intensity of fishing than appears 
from the figures as given. Bearing this in mind, it is quite clear from the figures 
given above that the drain on some of the salmon runs in southeastern Alaska must 
far exceed the limits set in certain other localities. In some of the streams of Alaska, 
notably the Karluk and Chignik Rivers, where weirs are maintained in order that an 
accurate census of the spawning escapement may be taken, a 50 per cent escapement 
is required. Of course it is not possible to determine, in as complex a situation as 
that which exists in southeastern Alaska, just what the percentage of escapement 
to the various spawning areas is, but w'hen 50 per cent of the released fish are again 
taken there can be no doubt that the actual drain on the resource is considerably 
greater than 50 per cent — so much greater as to menace the perpetuation of the 
supply. 
CONCLUSIONS 
It should be clearly understood that any general conclusions based on the data 
at present available are only tentative and must be considered as applying solely to 
those seasons of the year during which the t agging was done. It may very well be that 
the distribution at other times is quite different. Additional experiments have been 
planned and will be carried out in the future, which it is hoped will provide informa- 
tion on this subject. Based on the data presented above, the following tentative 
conclusions seem warranted : 
1. The main route of migration of the salmon entering southeastern Alaska 
through Icy Strait is south in Chatham Strait and into Frederick Sound. In addition 
a distinct migration of red salmon of relative importance takes place northward 
into Lynn Canal, where important spawning areas are located in the Chilkat and 
Chilkoot Rivers. The experiments conducted farther south indicate that some of the 
red salmon there come from the rivers of northern British Columbia. There is no 
evidence to show that the reds of Icy Strait do so, for apparently their spawning 
grounds are confined to the region north of Frederick Sound. 
2. Some of the fish found in Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait adjacent 
to Frederick Sound (Kingsmill Point) come from the north through Chatham Strait 
from Icy Strait, but it seems more than probable that many of them also enter 
through the southern entrance to Chatham Strait. These fish are distributed 
throughout Frederick Sound and Stephens Passage, and there is no evidence to show 
that the fish found in Frederick Sound and Stephens Passage enter these regions in any 
numbers except through Chatham Strait and the western entrance to Frederick 
Sound. In addition to the distribution through Frederick Sound and Stephens Pas- 
sage, there is a distinct movement south through Chatham Strait and Iveku Strait, 
especially on the part of the chum salmon. As to the other species, this southerly 
migration seems to be of much less importance than that to the region of Frederick 
Sound and Stephens Passage. The Stikine River apparently is an important spawning 
ground for reds and cohoes. 
3. The distribution of the fish tagged near the western entrance to Sumner 
Strait (Ruins Point) varies with the species, but it is almost entirely to the south, 
either along the western shore of Prince of Wales Island or in Clarence Strait. The 
red salmon were taken chiefly along Clarence Strait and in streams running from the 
