182 
BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
averaging about 13 red salmon to the case, or more than 2,500,000 fish. In 1889 
the number of fish put up was still larger, reaching probably 250,000 cases, containing 
more than 3,000,000 salmon. As the number of fish arriving at Karluk Bay for along 
period of years has been known to be far greater than in any of the other bays of 
southern Alaska, it is probable that most of these salmon were present at Karluk for 
the purpose of ascending the river to spawn. Now the number of spawning fish seen 
in the river, the lakes, and their connecting fivers was comparatively very small, 
indeed out of all proportion to the number taken on the beach. 
We were told by persons who have spent a number of years at Karluk that in 
former years the great catch of salmon was made in the river,, and that at a certain 
time in the spring myriads of young salmon filled the river on their way down to the 
sea. In my opinion this river will soon cease to show snch a state of productiveness, 
if indeed it has not already done so, and we must conclude that the most formidable 
obstruction at present to the ascent of salmon in the Karluk for the purpose of repro- 
duction is overfishing. 
The river freezes over in winter with such solidity that the natives travel along 
its course all the way to Karluk Lake on the ice. As the water is very shoal in many 
places, it must necessarily freeze to the bottom in such localities. The natives told us, 
however, that salmon may be taken any time during the winter under the ice in deep 
holes in the river, as well as in Karluk Lake. Karluk Eiver does not thaw out until 
late in the spring. 
The relations of the rivers to one another could not be determined in the short 
space of time at our disposal. 
The temperature of the air was recorded by Mr. Stone, and a table showing the 
results of his thermometer readings is given elsewhere. 
There is no doubt that the salmon are affected in their movements by the condition 
of the weather, but observations upon this subject have been so fragmentary that no 
principles as yet can be deduced from them. For some reason unknown to us the 
salmon were late in making their appearance at Karluk in 1889. Up to the first of 
August the outlook for the fishermen was very discouraging, but during the month of 
August the arrivals of fish were numerous and the schools very large. 
Photographs were taken to show the relations of the seining beach to the lower 
course of the river, and especially the spit with the buildings located upon it, the 
nature of the banks and adjacent mountain slopes near its mouth, and also a series 
of Karluk Lake and its tributaries. 
ALITAK BAY AND OLGA BAY. 
(Plates Lxxii-Lxxvi and lxxxiv-lxxxv.) 
The outlines of this large and irregularly shaped body of water as laid down upon 
the chart furnished for our guidance differ greatly from those represented upon the 
running chart of Capt. L. P. Larsen, which Mr. Booth was allowed to copy for the use 
of the U. S. Fish Commission. About 10 miles to the northward of Cape Alitak the 
bay contracts abruptly, and continues narrowing to the north for a distance of about 
7 miles, when it expands again into a great bay fully 15 miles in length, composed of 
two enlarged ends connected by a narrower intervening body. This upper portion has 
been called Olga Bay, and it is the body of water in which we are most interested at 
