CHIGNIK TO RESURRECTION BAY SALMON STATISTICS 
681 
No good reason is apparent why the runs have not increased in the odd years since 
there are almost invariably a few pinks to be found in all streams on the odd years. 
It would seem probable that even a small breeding population would either build up 
in the course of time or would disappear entirely if the density of spawning popu- 
lation was below that required for effective propagation. It is possible, of course, 
that the meager runs on the odd years are composed of “strays” from other streams 
that do support good runs, but even this does not explain the maintenance of poor 
runs over a long period of time unless it is assumed that the breeding of the few fish 
found in the streams on the odd years is entirely without result. Too little is known 
of the habits of the pink salmon, and particularly of their “homing instinct,” to 
justify definite conjecture; but the fact remains that the poor runs on the odd years 
showed no general tendency to increase until 1927. 
It would appear from a consideration of the few available facts that there is no 
real reason why good runs may not be maintained on the odd years as well as the 
even. If this could be brought about, the production of pink salmon throughout 
the greater part of western Alaska would be practically doubled. It seems doubtful 
(in view of the fact that the odd-year runs have not increased in the past before they 
were commercially fished) that such an accomplishment can be effected solely by 
regulation. It would seem to require artificial propagation on a tremendous scale, 
aided by rigid protection, but if runs could be established on the odd years their 
value would well repay the effort. The possibility of doing this depends, however, 
upon the extent to which the pinks return to their parent streams, a matter that is 
now under investigation. Once this question is settled, if favorable, consideration 
might well be given to the opportunity here presented of enormously increasing 
the productivity of a large area. 
This district has never produced many chums or kings, the largest catches of both 
species having been made in 1927, the last year considered in this report. The catch 
of cohos was irregular and small up to 1924, but in that year and each subsequent 
year good catches have been made, an increase that was doubtless due to increased 
intensity of fishing. 
Viewing the district as a whole, a notable increase in the catch of all species has 
come about in the last seven years, yet that is not in itself evidence that the runs 
are increasing and that the supply of salmon is larger than ever before. It is much 
more likely due to the fact that greater efforts are being made to catch the salmon. 
On the other hand there is no evidence that the salmon runs in this district have 
been depleted, but it must be borne in mind that small streams, such as these, can 
be easily overfished and a run of salmon depleted in a few years. The development 
of the fishery should be carefully watched, and fishing operations should have close 
supervision if disastrous consequences are to be averted. 
MARMOT BAY DISTRICT 
The Marmot Bay district embraces Marmot Bay, its several arms indenting the 
southern shore of Afognak Island from Tonki Cape on the east to the narrows between 
Afognak and Whale Islands on the west; the eastern part of Whale Island; and all 
waters along the north shore of Kodiak Island from Karluk Strait eastward to Uzinki 
Narrows and North Cape on Spruce Island, with all adjacent islands. 
