ALASKA SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN 1900. 
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half as wide; the land about it is low and fairly flat, and covered with a dense growth 
of raspberry bushes, shrubs, and coarse grass. Tide water backs into the lagoon. 
The water of the stream is slightly discolored by the vegetation, and does not 
seem to be very pure. But few dead salmon were noticed on the banks, or about the 
lake outlet; nor were more than half a dozen redfish seen to pass into the lake during 
a period of over an hour. Young salmon, from L-,j to 3 and 4 inches in length, were 
seen in numbers, however, in the upper part of the stream close to the lake, and a 
few were noticed in the lower part of the stream in the straight runs, hugging close 
to the undercut banks. Many flounders and sculpins were seen in the lagoon, and 
they, with the Dolly Vardens and cut-throats, were gorging themselves with the eggs 
of the humpbacks, which latter were spawning at the time. 
Above the lagoon, in every broad pool or pond-like widening, mallard ducks with 
young were found feeding, but upon what could not be learned. The lake could not 
be examined for lack of time and facilities. The sketch of the lake was made from 
the vicinity of the outlet, and can be regarded merely as a crude approximation. 
The lake is said to be about 3 miles long, east-northeast and west-southwest, and 
is about lh miles across from the outlet to the Ayakulik Portage. It appears, and is 
reported to be, deep, with generally bold shores, dropping quickly into deep water. 
The beaches near the outlet are very narrow, of water-worn bowlders and rubble, 
with here and there small patches of sand and shingle. On the north the hills rise 
quickly to a considerable height, and the same is true of the west end; an interme- 
diate point to the northeast of the outlet, which juts into and divides the lake into 
two main bodies, rises to the southward in an even gentle slope, also to a good height. 
Northwest of the outlet is a low valley making back from a small inlet, and through 
it a small portage leads to the waters of a lake draining into the Ayakulik River. 
The shores are everywhere covered with the same rank, dense growth of shrubs and 
grasses, and on the hillsides are extensive patches of scrub alders and cottonwoods. 
Seepage enters the lake from every little ravine in the hills, and there are 
reported to be feeders, as indicated on the sketch, none of which, however, were 
examined. The large stream that enters the head of the eastern arm through a 
broad valley was carefully examined some months ago for a hatchery site, and it is 
reported that the conditions here are all that could be desired; there are broad 
spawning-grounds, excellent natural facilities for taking ripe fish and for holding 
them if necessary, ample level area for extensive nursery ponds and for building 
purposes, and a splendid supply of excellent water by gravity; the chief objections 
would be the cost of transporting material and supplies, and the isolation. 
The Babbling Brook was also examined and found suitable for hatchery pur- 
poses. Where the brook joins the main stream there is a broad widening forming 
a good-sized pond in which retaining and ripening corrals could readily be fenced 
off, and where fry could be looked after in the spring until large and strong enough 
to beset free. The low ground in this little pocket in the hills is ample for building 
purposes, and the buildings would be well protected from the free sweep of the 
winter gales. The water from Babbling Brook is very clear and pure, would require 
but little filtering, and is said never to freeze. There is the added advantage of its 
accessibility, twenty minutes by trail taking one to the cannery. The waters of the 
