SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA SALMON STATISTICS 
637 
district. In many cases fish from the canal were reported in combination with catches 
from Clarence Strait and other adjacent waters, and for that reason had to be treated 
generally as unallocated catches from southeastern Alaska. The catches in the several 
fisted localities in the district are also confused and incomplete, which accounts for 
the large totals in the section of the table showing unallocated catches. Again, there 
are lapses in the records for almost every locality that was fished before 1925, so that 
in general the records are incomplete. Discussion of the statistical data must be 
limited, therefore, to the total catch records in the district. 
The fishery regulations have restricted the field of operations in certain localities 
and prohibited fishing entirely, except by trolling, for definite periods. On Feb- 
ruary 1, 1906, Yes Bay reservation was created by an Executive order which closed 
the bay to all commercial fishing for salmon. On June 21, 1924, Yes Bay was pro- 
tected further by the prohibition of fishing within 1,000 yards of Bluff Point and Syble 
Point at the entrance of the bay. On January 1, 1913, Naha Bay and its tributary 
waters were closed inside of a fine from Loring Point to House Point. The entire 
bay was closed by the order of June 21, 1924. Walker Cove was also closed at the 
same time. By progressive steps, the general regulations effective each year from 
January 1, 1919, to June 21, 1924, closed all streams in southeastern Alaska and pro- 
hibited fishing by any means within 500 yards of the mouths of the streams. These 
regulations were superseded by the law of June 6, 1924, and the regulations laid down 
under the authority of that act of Congress. The important change thus made pro- 
vided for a closed season of 20 days from August 20 to September 9 in certain waters 
south of the fifty-seventh parallel of north latitude, of which Behm Canal was a part. 
A slight modification in the date of the midseason closed period was made in the regu- 
lations which were effective after 1924, but other restrictions were added limiting the 
size of nets, extending the distance interval between traps, suspending all fishing, 
except trolling, after October 15, closing Wilson and Bakewell Arms of Smeaton Bay, 
part of the north arm of Rudyerd Bay, the estuary at the mouth of Chickamin River, 
Shrimp Bay, Traitors Cove Lagoon, and opening Naha Bay west of the longitude of 
Cod Point, but continuing the closure of Long Arm and Moser Bay, which were cov- 
ered by the original Naha Bay closing order. The enforcement of these regulations 
reduced the catches in these designated waters very perceptibly, but apparently it had 
little effect upon the total catch in the district, as an increase in the number of traps 
from 16 to 44 in 2 years was sufficient to maintain the level of production. 
All species of salmon were taken in Behm Canal and the catches are shown graphi- 
cally in figure 48. Reds came chiefly from Naha and Yes Bays, but smaller catches 
were made at Checats Cove, Helm Bay, Spacious Bay, Traitors Cove, and Smeaton 
Bay, while unimportant catches were reported from many other localities. Excep- 
tional catches were made in a few years due, apparently, to better than average runs 
at Yes Bay. After the closing of Yes and Naha Bays to insure an escapement of 
salmon for artificial propagation at the fish-cultural stations located on lakes tributary 
to these waters, a marked reduction in catch occurred. The largest catches were made 
between 1904 and 1912; previous to 1900 the catches had been fair, averaging about 
80,000 each year. Since 1912 the average catch has been much lower, approximately 
50,000, and shows no marked change between 1913 and 1927. 
No large catches of king salmon have ever been definitely allocated to Behm Canal. 
The best catches of this species were made by traps near Point Sykes at the southern 
entrance. Stragglers were taken at several localities, but no distinct run was evident 
