THE SALMON AND SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 
135 
lake. It is fed by a number of cascades and streamlets, with one large, rapid stream 
discharging- through a delta at the head of the northwest arm, and a small stream, 
which during the dry season loses itself through the marsh and gravel, on the north- 
east side of the lake directly opposite the southwest arm. At the western side of the 
southeast arm is the lake outlet. It Hows in a general south and southeast direction 
for a distance of from 5 to 6 miles, with a width of 200 feet, emptying into the sea on 
the western side of the delta of Copper Itiver. 
The banks of the outlet (Eyak Eiver) are generally rocky, with projecting, wooded 
ridges, though in i)laces they are of clay, and grassy. The current at low water is 
strong, but at high water slack, and at the highest tides it is an inliowing stream. 
About 3 miles from the 
lake the river receives 
from the eastward the 
whitish waters of a glacial 
stream of considerable 
size, and below this point 
a slough, before referred to 
as Mountain Slough, opens 
from the main river and 
carries some of the water 
in its own channel, dis- 
charging about a mile to 
the westward of the river. 
For several years 
Eyak Eiver and Lake 
formed a highway for 
lighters and the smaller 
vessels engaged in trans- 
porting fish from the delta. 
They were carried direct 
to the wharf at the head 
of the southwest arm, and 
thence shipped by tram to 
the cannery. It was found 
more economical, however. 
Sketcli of Lake Eyak. 
to run the steamers around Cape Whiteshed, direct to the canneries, and no fish, 
except those carried by small boats, are now transported by way of Eyak Lake and 
Eiver. The newer stern- wheel steamers have been built much larger, and it would be 
hazardous to use them on the former route. 
The large entering stream at the head of the northwest arm of the lake discharges 
its whitish snow, or glacial waters, into the lake through a delta in which the larger 
streams are from 25 to 35 feet wide, and several feet deep, flowing with a rapid current 
over sandy and pebbly beds; the banks are pebbly, bare in some places, covered with 
grass in others, and the growth of trees and shrubs increases as the streams are 
ascended. It seems an ideal spawning- ground, vast in extent, and with abundance 
of water, yet very few salmon were seen. The party, perhaps, did not ascend high 
enough to find the actual spawning-beds, but in any event there should have been 
large numbers of dead fish encountered; not above a dozen, liowever, were seen, 
only enough to show that they do go there. Possibly the water is too cold, yet the 
