ALASKA SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN 1000, 
195 
Kvichak Bay; arid the Ugashik next to the southward of the Egegak. These rivers 
are large, and discharge a great quantity of water into wide indentations, locally 
still retainingthe name of rivers, which open on the arms of the great bay. The banks 
of the rivers are frequently marshy, generally muddy, and the discolored water is 
charged with a large amount of sediment, which, when deposited, forms the dangers 
to be encountered. 
On account of the funnel-shaped configuration, the tidal currents run with great 
force, having a velocity, at times, of at least 6 knots, and a rise and fall of from 18 
to 21 feet; vast areas of shoals are uncovered at low water, leaving only pools and 
shallows, with generally narrow channels between. Navigation in the arms and 
approaches is only successfully accomplished at, or near, high water, even by those 
thoroughly acquainted with the channels. 
From a point about 3 miles to the westward of Cape Grey, the Albatross kept 
along the coast, at a distance of 6 to 8 miles, for 25 miles, and then steered a course 
to clear the shoals off Cape Constantine. Acorn Peak was made and mistaken for 
Nichols. Hills, but before the latter were well made out we were inside the shoals, as 
indicated on Coast Survey chart No. 8800, and Cape Constantine was in sight from 
aloft. After bringing Nichols Hills on a bearing WNW., as advised in the sailing- 
directions, the course was laid for them and an anchorage made in 8 fathoms at low 
water, with Point Protection bearing SSW., distant 2y miles. This anchorage, 
according to directions, is not considered a good one, and, according to the cannery 
people, should not be selected. 
It is regretted that, as our visit to the Nushagak was for only a few days in 
connection with the special fishery investigation, exact directions can not be given 
for the navigation of these waters, but, from inquiry and my own limited experience, 
the following notes may be of service to others. No regular survey has yet been 
made of this locality. The published charts are not based upon surveys, but are 
compilations from all available sources, for the most part from sketches, and at best 
from recon noissances, so that they should by no means be strictly followed. The 
mariner must regard these charts as maps and a general guide only. 
“Nichols Hills,” as indicated on Coast Survey chart No. 8800, and on others, is 
very misleading. There are no high isolated hills in the vicinity. A line of high 
bluffs from Egashak River border this shore to the southward, fringed by a narrow 
belt of marsh, and about I miles northwest from Protection Point these bluffs are 
broken on top into mounds which are the Nichols Hills, locally known as The Knolls. 
Under average conditions they do not afford a leading mark, as stated, for guidance 
from seaward, as they rise but little above the bluff line, and it is not believed they 
can be made out by a stranger in time to avoid the dangers oil' Cape Constantine. 
About 2 miles northwest from Point Protection the bluffs referred to breakaway 
to the westward, and are lost on approaching the beach 2 miles south from the same 
point. Point Protection and its vicinity for several miles is low and marshy, with an 
occasional low mound and hillock. The flagstaff and pilot station no longer exist. 
The old Eskimo who formerly piloted the cannery vessels is dead, and a hut in 
ruins and a grave are all that is left to mark the former site. There are no inhabitants 
in the vicinity. The nearest village is Ekuk, 15 miles to the northward, on the 
eastern side of the bay. 
