ALASKA SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN 1900. 
197 
Egashak River, W. f N. From the outer bar the cannery vessels are said to steer 
SE. by S. to sea. The Albatross , with an ebb tide, steered SE. until clear of all 
shoals, and then laid her sea course. On a sketch made of this locality by the Alba- 
tross in 1890, a few additions have been noted and the approximate track of the 
Albatross m July, 1900, has been plotted, all of which may be of service. 
The following observations were made, using an artificial horizon: 
Protection Point. — Latitude, 58° 27' north, 5 sets circum-meridian altitudes. 
Longitude, 158° 12' 19" west, mean of 15 post-meridian altitudes. 
Upper cannery , Alaska Packing Company , 150 yards southwest of cannery build- 
ing. — Latitude, 59° 00' 22" north, 2 circum-meridian and 1 meridian altitude. Long- 
itude, 158° 29' 22" west, mean of ante-meridian and post-meridian sights. Variation, 
by compass declinometer, 23° 20' E. 
From three days’ observations, near neap tides, at the upper cannery, the 
approximate establishment is 0 h. 59 m. ; approximate rise and fall, 21.55 feet. But 
as the former observations of the Albatross were probably for a longer series, that 
data has been retained on the chart, viz, local establishment, approximate, 0 h. 53 m. ; 
rise and fall, approximate, 21 feet. 
NUSIIAGAK RIVER (tAHLEKUK). 
This river, with its headwaters and tributaries, is not well known, and but 
little definite information could be obtained at the canneries, where it is locally 
referred to as the Main River. The system drains the hills and mountains between 
lakes Clark and Iliamna on the east and the Kuskokwim on the west. Above 
Kakwok, about 50 miles from the mouth, it receives a tributary from the westward 
which is the outlet of Lake Tikchik, and possibly a chain of lakes extending toward 
the Kuskokwim. This lake is by some referred to as Lake Nushagak, but the main 
river seems to extend to the northeast, where it has many tributaries and is known 
as the Mulchutna. According to the census report of 1890, page 92 — 
The watershed between the Nushagak Valley and the Iliamna Basin is low and dotted with lakes 
and ponds, the general characteristics of these slopes being the same near the divide. * * * The 
whole Nushagak, or, better, Tahlekuk River Valley, including Tikchik River and Lake, is .densely 
wooded with trees not more than a foot in diameter, which, however, increase in size as the upper 
courses are reached, so that on the Mulchutna and the Kokhtuli (Forest) rivers exceptionally large 
trees may be found in numbers. 
The river on its lower course is large, and flows a great quantity of water into 
the head of Nushagak Bay, where it forms a junction with Wood River. 
Fishing on the Nushagak is carried on entirely by traps and gill nets, and, for 
king salmon, commences from June 6 to 16, depending upon the season; at the large 
canneries fishing for this species is finished by June 30. They run scatteringly 
throughout the whole season, but after the redfish come in in abundance, the king- 
salmon gear is taken in and those found in the traps and the stray ones taken in nets 
are used fresh; the surplus bellies salted are for private use. The smaller canneries, 
however, pack the king whenever a sufficient number accumulate to make a few cases. 
The redfish run in sufficient numbers to commence packing from June 16 to 20, 
and they are expected to run until July 20 to 25. This year the redfish run was so 
large that the gill-netters were limited. It is said that they supplied nearly all the 
fish, and of the number packed only 20 per cent were taken from traps. 
