ALASKA SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN 1901. 
391 
to be conducted this year. The streams are similar to those of Southeast Alaska, 
but in proportion to the territory covered are far less prolific in choice commercial 
salmon. If all the streams in the sound proper, at least so far as known, were fished 
legally throughout the season, it is doubted if 100,000 redtish and 50,000 cohoes 
could be taken under average conditions. The humpbacks are more plentiful and, 
as far as our personal observation goes, they seemed quite abundant. 
The time of runs in Copper River is early, and that in Prince William Sound 
corresponds with - Southeast Alaska, so that when the redtish have stopped running 
in the first-named locality they commence running in the second, and the canneries 
then pick up a few redtish in connection with the humpbacks, which are packed as 
soon as fishing on Copper River ceases. Were it not for this difference in time of 
runs it is doubted if any redtish would be taken from the sound, particularly as the 
redtish streams are from 60 to 100 miles from the canneries. 
All these streams have been barricaded, the evidences of which still exist, and 
it is possible that this practice is still resorted to during the fishing season. 
The stream at Cheniga, which produces more redtish than the combined output 
of all the other streams, it is said, was tightly dammed for many years, and it is fre- 
quently referred to as an example by those who argue against the parent-stream and 
four-year theories. 
CHENIGA STREAM AND LAKE. 
In the western end of Prince William Sound, opposite Herring Bay, on Knight 
Island, a point projects from the mainland known as Point Nowell. Rounding this 
point to the northward is an indentation in two parts. The outer is a round bay, 
about C miles in diameter, connected by a narrow passage with a tidal lagoon of 
irregular form, about 3 miles long, which receives at its head the waters of Cheniga 
stream, the most productive redtish stream in Prince William Sound. It is a lake 
outlet, and was examined by Ensign Hepburn on July 12. 
The stream is about one-half mile long, 30 feet wide, 10 inches deep, and Hows 
with a strong current over a stony bottom in a NE. direction, which is the line of bay 
and stream system. The water is clear and had a temperature of 55 1 F. The upper 
half of the stream is quite straight, and the lower half gently curving, and, as there 
is a fall of 110 feet from the lake to the mouth, its course is almost one continuous 
rapid, but there are no serious obstructions to the free ascent of fish. 
The mountains forming the valley through which the stream runs lie well back on 
each side with occasional projecting spurs through which the stream has cut its way 
so that the banks are alternately low and flat, and steep but not very high. The 
vegetation is that common to Southeast Alaska, although the forest trees are nearly 
all small spruce, with a heavy undergrowth of berry bushes, devil’s club, and coarse 
grass. At the head of tide water, and ranging across the stream, are three triangular 
log cribs, substantially built and filled with rocks, and on the left bank is a pile of 
poles that may be used for the barricade. This stream was tightly barricaded for 
many years, and it is probable when the fishing gangs arrive that the stream is 
closed during the season. There is a log - jam near the lake, but it forms no serious 
obstruction to the passage of fish. 
The lake is an irregular, triangular-shaped body of water, about a mile m length 
on each side. The water is clear and the bottom, wherever it could be seen, is sandy. 
