552 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
several earlier years are lacking and also for 1916 and 1925, but these omissions do 
not necessarily mean that the locality was not fished regularly through all these years. 
The fluctuations in catch are not significant of exhaustion of the run as, in 1926, when 
the catch was comparatively low, it was reported that the escapement was exception- 
ally large. In addition to red salmon, the streams also produce small runs of cohos, 
chums, and pinks. 
Fishing in Wrangell Narrows and Blind Slough covers a period of more than 
20 years; catches varied considerably without definite evidence of periodicity. The 
catch at Blind Slough in 1924 was the largest ever taken from that locality. In the 
same year the Narrows produced its third largest catch. At best the runs are small 
and uncertain so that the closing of these waters from Point Alexander to Prolewy 
Point in 1925 and subsequent years had no important effect upon the fisheries of 
Sumner Strait. 
Red Bay, a small indentation on the north coast of Prince of Wales Island, is one 
of the oldest and best known fisheries in this district. Its history is similar to that of 
Shipley Bay and Point Barrie and began with the exploitation of the red-salmon run 
not later than 1896. The annual yield of this species was well sustained until 1911. 
The first indication of a failing supply became apparent in 1912 and this became 
more marked during the next 3 years. The catch improved somewhat in 1916 and 
1917, but it dropped even more sharply in the next few years and reached its lowest 
point in 1922 when only 504 reds were taken. In 1923, however, the reported catch 
was 18,962 and compared favorably with the number taken in earlier good years. 
The catches in 1924 and 1925 were again small, and there is no assurance in the record 
of these later years that the run will regain its former proportions without curtailment 
of commercial fishing. The bay is small, and salmon have little chance to escape 
unless fishing is prohibited for long periods; accordingly it was permanently closed 
in 1926. 
As already noted, traps were operated with fair success at several points on 
Sumner Strait. Those located at Point Colpoys made the largest catches. According 
to the statistical data, the first trap was driven in 1913 and made a catch of 470,000 
salmon. In 1914, 1915, and 1925 no catches were reported, but the unallocated 
catches of Sumner Strait in those years reached rather high totals and it is not improb- 
able that the bulk of the salmon thus reported came from Point Colpoys. Except as 
noted, the record is complete from 1916 to 1927. More red, king, and pink salmon 
were taken here than at any other point in Sumner Strait although this location is 
near the eastern end of the district. Probably the kings were bound chiefly to the 
Stikine River, but the other species were in large part destined to the tributaries of 
Clarence Strait, a fact that was demonstrated by tagging experiments at Point Colpoys 
in 1926 and 1927. The catch of all species has declined but more markedly in the 
case of pinks than the other species. Ruins Point is another locality where fair 
catches were made by a trap which presumably drew largely upon the runs to Shipley 
and Shakan Bays. Tagging experiments at this point in 1924 and 1925 showed that 
salmon released here were subsequently taken in these bays and also that there was 
a general movement northward and eastward through Sumner Strait, a few recap- 
tures being made far to the southward in Clarence Strait and the waters of British 
Columbia. The somewhat unusual catches of king salmon reported from Warren 
Island and Point Baker were made by trailers and bear little or no relation to the 
localities named. Trailers operate in those sections of the strait where king salmon 
