244 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
the falls, and many were seen thrown by their own velocity against the rocks in the 
rush to ascend. It is probable that few of this species gain the lake, and that most 
of them spawn in the lower course of the river and in the tributaries referred to. 
On my visit to the lake, for want of facilities the shores could not be examined 
except in the vicinity of the outlet and for about half a mile along the eastern side. 
Dead fish were not very abundant along the lake shores. All the dead redfish seen 
were opened, and it was found that 50 per cent of the females had not spawned and 
30 per cent of the males bad milt. A similar condition was previously noticed and 
referred to in my former report, pages 12 and 13. There may be some abnormal 
impediment in the genital pore, but it is more probable that in ascending a difficult 
stream the exertion is so great that the fish dies of exhaustion before it is fully ripe. 
On August 15 the temperature of the surface water of the lake near the shore 
was 62° F., at 4 feet depth 58° F. and 59° F. The stream at the falls was 65° F. 
It is said that the reservation stream has been fished by all the canneries each 
year until 1899, when only two corporations out of the three operatingin the vicinity 
fished here. The natives report that this year (1900) one cannery obtained fish both 
from Malinof and from the Afognak stream; that a small schooner in charge of a 
member of the Brotherhood of Afognak Pioneers fished in the vicinity of the Royal 
cannery, entering and leaving the bay undercover of darkness. Several members of 
the organization, when questioned in regard to it, claimed to have no knowledge of 
such fishing. It is believed, however, that the natives’ report is true. 
The natives fish the stream, using, so it is said, the usual hook and pole, though 
at the summer village (Litnik), on the left bank of the stream near the mouth, several 
nets were seen which were also probably used. 
ZAPORS. 
From the earliest Russian times the natives were taught to barricade the streams 
by zapors, or barricades which were maintained for generations in the principal 
rivers. Upon the advent of the cannery man this method of holding the fish was 
encouraged and aided in every possible way. These zapors, as originally constructed, 
consisted of large cribs of heavy logs weighted with stone, placed at intervals across 
the river to form piers, at a suitable location. Between the piers other logs were 
secured, forming a line of support for the rails, or saplings, which were placed side 
by side, in the direction of the stream, with the butts upstream, embedded in the 
gravel or river bottom, and the other end resting on the timber support. The 
arrangement of these rails was the same as those used in the construction of the 
barricades in southeastern Alaska, and described in my former report, page 37. This 
arrangement permitted the water to pass through the interstices or over the ends, 
and prevented any fish from ascending. At a point below this dam a similar one was 
constructed, but near the center, or wherever the depth was most suitable, an open- 
ing was left for a sluice, the latter arranged to permit the fish to pass in, but not out. 
The fish were then impounded between the two barricades and easily captured. 
The zapors of late date, however, consist of only one barricade, which prevents 
the fish from ascending. The one until lately maintained in the reservation stream 
was of this construction and was located a short distance above tide water, below the 
first falls, about a mile from the low-water mouth of the river proper. Three cribs 
