THE SALMON AND SALMON FISHERIES OP ALASKA. 
115 
to the tish. The small perceutage hatched was due to fuugus, inexperience and the high 
temperature of the water in the lake being factors. Of the eggs fertilized on August 1 
the eye-spots appeared in 18 days, and a few were hatching out September 13, but 
died immediately. The first fish to survive hatched out September 16 (47 days), and 
the first were planted on Oetober 12. A short season of very warm weather raised 
the temperature of the surface water abnormally. When the temperature was taken 
it was 65°, and it is believed to have been much higher. 
After the first set of eggs had been in the trough about a week a slime or fungus 
gathered on the wirework of the baskets, the eggs sticking together and dying. At 
this time the water was carried to the distributing trough and thence through the 
hatchery troughs direct from the lake. A distributing trough for one set of baskets 
was then packed for a filter with coarse gravel and charcoal, and then layer by layer 
with finer material to the top, and at the time of my visit the second distributing 
trough was being prepared in the same manner. This hlter relieved the slime or 
fungus somewhat, but did not stop it altogether. 
The appliances in the Klawak hatchery seem all very good, and the methods are 
those usually adopted at standard stations. 
The eggs for the hatchery were obtained from fish taken at the Half mile Stream 
and at the Three-mile Stream, on the northern side of the lake. The former has its 
source in two small lakes and empties into the large lake by a short delta in three 
arms. It is accessible to fish for about a mile, when it flows over a fall too high for 
fish to ascend. On the day of our visit the stream was much swollen by the heavy 
rains; two of the arms were about 30 feet in width, and the third 25 feet, with an 
average depth of 18 inches. Under average conditions there is very little water flow- 
ing in any but the middle arm, and at its mouth is a trap of stakes bound together, 
elliptical in form, the long diameter touching the banks at the extremities. On the 
lake side it is arranged in two places with circular openings having stakes pointed 
inward and converging like the opening in a rat trap, allowing the fish to enter, bnt 
not to leave. The fish entering here and impounded are removed by a dip net and, 
if ripe, they are stripped at once and the eggs fertilized; if not ripe, the fish are 
returned to the lake. The fertilized eggs are then carried by boat to the hatchery and 
placed in the hatchery troughs. 
The Three mile Stream also emiities through a delta, but is much larger than the 
Half mile Stream. It rises in the mountains, a large part of the water flowing over a 
high cascade. The water is clear and pure, and of an even, low temperature summer 
and winter. It has a gravel bottom and a large supply of fish. The redfish spawn 
in this stream for a long distance, and the hatchery in the summer of 1897 drew 
largely upon it for its supply of eggs. A trap similar to the one described has been 
placed here. 
The stream at the head of the lake has not been thoroughly tested, but it is known 
to be large and that redfish spawn in it in numbers. It flows from a chain of lakes. 
All these streams have ideal bottoms for nesting, and in my opinion the natural 
conditions for spawning can not be surpassed. There are few, if any, localities in 
southeast Alaska so well adapted for a hatchery site. If the Government should 
ever desire to establish a hatchery in this region it is believed that here the greatest 
success could be obtained with the least expenditure of money. Not only are the 
natural conditions superior, but by an easy trail the lake is only 2^ miles distant from 
Klawak, which has a monthly mail. 
