THE SALMON AND SALMON FISHERIES OP ALASKA. 
113 
extend back for a considerable distance before reaching the slopes rising to the higher 
ranges. This flat country is heavily wooded and along the shores are a number of 
gravelly beaches. The lake is fed by four large streams and several smaller ones. 
One on the northern shore half a mile from the outlet, one about 3 miles from the 
outlet on the same shore, and one at the head of the lake are all spawning-grounds 
for redflsh. The largest stream enters the lake on the southern shore about 3 miles 
from the outlet, but red salmon do not spawn there. It drains a very low, flat area. 
Klawak Stream has probably been fished longer and more assiduously than any 
other stream of Alaska. The cannery has been operated twenty seasons and a large 
number of fish taken from around tlie mouth of the stream at the cannery door. The 
natural facilities for taking the fish are. very great, as they enter a natural trap in the 
basin back of the cannery and school around the mouth of tbe stream. The stream 
was barricaded and had an Indian trap in it for years, but as it was becoming depleted 
all traps and barricades were removed some years ago, and now the stream is care- 
fully guarded and less extensively fished, in the hope of building up the run. There 
are now no signs of artificial barriers anywhere. 
It is said that in the early days 80,000 redflsh could be taken annually in the 
stream. The record for the past twelve years gives an average of 36,271, the largest 
catch being 62,602 in 1888. In 1896, a good redflsh year, 37,172 were taken, and in 
1897, a poor year, 12,764. A few steelheads are taken by the Indians. The stream at 
present is undoubtedly good for 35,000 redflsh, and probably 40,000 under good con- 
ditions. It is believed that if properly cared for it could produce 80,000 redflsh 
annually. 
Tbe following is the record of the stream since 1886: 
Species. 
Tear. 
Dates. 
Number. 
Species. 
Year. 
Dates. 
Number. 
Eedfish 
Do 
Do 
Do 
Humpbacks . 
Eedfish 
Do 
1886 
1887 
1888 
1889 
1889 
1890 
1891 
July 21 to Aug. 20 
June 27 to Aug. 15 
June 27 to Aug. 22 
July 1 to Aug. 13 
July 22 to Aug. 13 
June 30 to Aug. 30 
June 16 to Aug. 15 
5, 424 
41, 180 
62, 602 
19, 361 
92, 094 
49, 689 
58, 096 
Kedfisli 
Do....:.. 
Do 
Do 
Do 
Cohoes 
Eedflsli 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1896 
1897 
June 24 to Aug. 17 
June 22 to Aug. 31 
June 21 to Aug. 15 
June 23 to Aug. 14 
June 29 to Aug. 31 
Sept. 12 to 27 
June 25 to Aug. 3 . 
40, 555 
33, 166 
34, 722 
40, 526 
37, 172 
2, 667 
12, 764 
As tbe stream was not flsbed to any extent in 1886 and 1897, the average for the 
intervening ten years would be about 41,700. 
KLAWAK HATCHERY. 
Eealizing the value of Klawak Stream to the cannery, and the importance of the 
natural spawning conditions in the lake and its feeders, the managers determined to 
try to improve the catch by operating a hatchery. Accordingly, in May and June, 
1897, a hatchery, with a dwelling for the attendants, was erected on the right bank 
of the outlet, close to the lake and immediately below the upper rapids. The western 
end of the lake narrows so gradually that it is difficult to tell where it ends and the 
outlet begins, but the first or upper rapids seem to be the natural line of demarcation. 
Here the stream is from 150 to 200 feet wide, and falls and tumbles about 10 feet in a 
a cataract, immediately below which the hatchery site was selected. The water was 
conducted in a wooden trough from the lake above the rapids to the building, which 
was built from the bank out over a side eddy or widening of tbe main stream, so that 
a slight current flows under the building. 
