SALMON AND SALMON EIVERS OF ALASKA. 
187 
suow ou their summits. As near as we could judge, they were about the same iii 
height as the Karluk Lake range — from 1,500 to 2,000 feet. 
“The grade of the river above the falls is very slight — not more than 7 or 8 feet 
to the mile. From the falls to tide- water the grade is much steeper, there being a 
difference of elevation, including the fall, of about 40 feet between the river above the 
falls and high-tide level in the estuary, which is at a distance of about 600 yards below 
the falls. The difference of elevation of the upper and lower ends of the estuary, 
calling the lower end of the estuary the head of Afoguak Bay, is about 14 feet, that 
being the average rise and fall of the tide, which generally ebbs to the upper end of 
the bay, leaving the estuary almost bare. Great numbers of salmon are thus stranded 
and many die before the next tide rescues them. 
“The Afoguak River has two tributaries, both of which enter the main stream 
below the falls, in the position shown on the chart. Owing to the lack of time we did 
not trace them to their sources. Where they join the river they were from 15 to 20 feet 
wide and from 12 to 18 inches deep, with a current of about 2 miles per hour. Their 
shores, surroundings, and rate of descent are similar to those of the main river. At 
the time of our visit gorhusclia were running up them in great numbers. 
“ In the upper part of Afoguak Bay, near the mouth of the estuary, are a number 
of small, low islands, the largest of which is the highest, its southern end rising in a 
high slate bluff 70 feet above high water. The slate here, as on the main island of 
Afognak, dips northwest at an angle of 20 degrees. This island, like the opposite 
shores ou both sides of the bay, is covered with the peculiar species of spruce before 
mentioned, The strata of the bay shores attract attention by their sharply upturned 
edges, which cut the boot when walking over them. They consist of highly inclined 
bituminous shales and sandstones, interstratified with thin beds of yellow sandstone, 
which are apparently devoid of bituminous matter. 
“Across the bay from the canneries in a northerly direction is a small cove run- 
ning northwesterly about 700 yards. It forms a good anchorage, and is frequently so 
used. At its extreme end it receives the waters of a small creek, which emerges from 
the forest with a width of about 20 feet and a depth of 12 inches. Near its mouth it, 
like the main river and its tributaries, cuts through a bed of hard rock, which gives it 
a sharp turn. This bed may possibly be a continuation of that cut by the river. 
“As regards obstructions, the zapor and fall, a sketch ()f the latter being appended, 
form the only important ones. The zapor is formed like an ordinary timber dam ou 
its inside face. Its foundation consists of rough logs built crib fashion, on the top tier 
of which rests the spiling, formed of split spruce logs about 10 feet long, set at an in - 
clination of about 30 degrees from perpendicular. This forms the inside wall of the 
dam, against which is piled gravel to stop up all holes. In its center is an inclined 
sluice about 3 feet square, opening upwards from the down stream side, up which 
the fish run into the trail, a tank made of cribbed logs, about 6 feet square in interior - 
dimensions. Here the fish are speared by the natives. This zapor is now going to 
ruin, many gaps existing in the spiling, which render the trap ineffectual. The fall, 
however, prevents many fish from ascending the river, as the series of cascades is dif- 
ficult for them to surmount, owing to the shallow, rocky bed at their termination. If 
desired it would be an easy matter to construct a fish-ladder here, and obviate the 
difiiculty completely. 
