THE SALMON AND SALMON FISHEKIES OF ALASKA. 
77 
It is said that in prospecting this inlet several years ago 10,000 redlish were taken 
in two weeks; but this statement should be received with caution, as no available 
records bear it out. In 1897 the cannery at Klawak took from Kassook stream 1,301 
redflsh; in 1888 it took 1,829 redlish from July 11 to 24, and a few hundred have been 
taken in subsequent years when the cannery steamer with a fishing gang was in that 
vicinity. In 1896 the Hunter Bay cannery took 1,340 redlish during July; in 1897 it 
took 1,054 redlish between July 14 and August 1, and 20,456 humpbacks from August 1 
to August 31. 
A fair estimate for the capacity of the stream would be 4,000 redlish. 
GENERAL FEATURES OP HUNTER BAY REGION. 
The foregoing streams (Mchols Bay, Hessa, Tar, Hunter Bay, Klakas, Hutqua, 
Hetta, Eeke, Sukkwan, and Kassook) supply fish to the Hunter Bay cannery. In 
addition, there are two small streams on Dali Island, from which together only 3,600 
redlish were taken in 1896, and 812 in 1897. These were not visited. In 1897 the 
same cannery took also, from scattering localities in the region, 7,885 cohoes from 
August 24 to September 26, and 23,020 humpbacks from July 20 to August 31. 
The earliest red salmon to arrive in the district are scattering individuals, which 
may be seen jumping as early as June 20, in the vicinity of Hetta, where they seem to 
make their appearance before they do at Hunter Bay. By July 4 small schools have 
usually arrived, and from the 8th to the 15th they increase in large numbers until 
the height of the run, from July 15 to 25. From the latter date to August 1 they 
commence to decrease, and after August 1 they are taken in connection with other 
salmon — cohoes and humpbacks — though they continue in good condition for iiacking 
until August 20. There is, however, great variation in the length of tbe runs on 
account of the small streams, which are much influenced by wet and dry seasons, 
as instanced in 1896 (which was very dry), when red salmon were packed until the 
20th of September at the Hnnter Bay cannery. Thousands of fish may be held at the 
mouth of a stream by the low water, and the rain of a single night may raise the stream 
sufficiently to allow the whole school to ascend in one body. The average weight of 
redflsh packed at the cannery is under 6^- pounds. Those coming from Kichols Bay 
average nearly 8 pounds. 
Cohoes are taken from August 1 to October 20. Their run is chiefly between 
August 15 and Seiitember 15. As the canneries close about September 20, the last of 
the run is not packed. The cohoes average much larger than the redflsh, but they 
also require more water in the streams, and if the rains are late the run is correspond- 
ingly extended. The average weight of cohoes packed at Hunter Bay cannery is 9 
pounds, but some weigh as high as 20 pounds. Cohoes are not very plentiful in any 
one place in Alaska, but they are found scattering in all localities. They have not 
been sought to any great extent, as the run is small and continues after the canneries 
close. Next to the king, they are probably the best salmon for the table on the Pacific 
coast, either fresh or canned; but most people eat salmon by color and reject the coho 
because it is iialer than some other species. 
Humpbacks are taken in large numbers from July 25 to August 25, subject to 
variations due to the stream conditions, but scattering fish are taken before and after 
these dates. When this fish first comes in from the sea it is in excellent condition for 
canning, and remains so for about a month ; then it begins to deteriorate, the hump 
on the male growing rapidly, and the flesh becoming watery and xioor. The average 
