The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-04

since made my report to the department in
Washington City and am now on my way back
to Alaska. this time with double GRAND. Be.
sides protecting the salmon fisheries l am
charged with commission from the interior
department to remove the trespassers from the
island OF Afognak. This island 10 SGT apart by
the government as salmon preserve. 1t Is
about 600 miles north of Sitka and just north of
Kadiak island. The impression is that ii this
island be protected from molestation of any
kind the salmon will increase SO as to supply all
the surrounding waters. My report OF my last
seasons work has been printed as q senate doc
ument by order of the United States senate. In
it set forth that the distractions to the salmon
IN the chief riv1rs OF Alaska have been largely
removed. The building OF some kind Of dams,
however, will be necessary to the protection OF
the salmon If artificial means are to be used for
their protection. The trout are the leading de-
stroyers OF the eggs, and dams could be used 70
keep them out"
The report says OF this subject:
typical hatchery Of this class has been in
operation at the works OF Calbreath & Co., at
Point Ellis. on kuiu island. Chatham straits,
which can best be described as follows: A dam
has been constructed at a point Just above ex-
treme high tide, with a second dam q short dis
lance above II, with access thereto by suitable
passageway, so that a person standing upon the
lower dam, armed with q scoop net, can dip up
the desired salmon from below and readily
transfer them into the stream above the upper
further Instructions, and the fish are left I'M
disturbed 70 finish their journey to their breed
ing waters, never far removed 1t Is estimated
that out OF 500 female salmon, to which must
be added the requisite number OF milters. there
will be fry enough to furnish all the adult
salmon required for such cannery as the one
operated by them (since burned), estimated at
1o.0O cases OF forty-eight tine each, holding one
pound each, and yet make provision for the loss
OF young aud adult fish from natural causes
before it Is time for them to return 70 propagate
their kind in turn.
Describing the enemies of the salmon Mr..
Pracht says in his report:
II the male salmon succeeds In fighting OF
the trout and protects his mate while she do
pOsits the Ova in some crevice III the rocks or in
hole scoopsd out OF the bottom gravel with his
battered nose, it Is not yet safe from the sea
duck. III escaping both OF these, and in the
early days OF spring the punches OF young fry
playing upon the surface OF the water while
drifting out to sea escape the frequent dives of
gulped by the schools OF herring which come
up into some of the estuaries to meet them;
or II portion manages TO escape
these enemies, more OF them are des-
tined to help make a meal for tho
sea bass. Once ont to sea- lurking in the rocks,
the young salmon furnishes. food for the "big
fish," not excepting the members OF his own i'm
mediate family. Having escaped the teeth of
his own kind and grown to q size aHording pro-
lection against them, We might follow him
and dogfsh feed upon him and the members of
the seal family are In unremitting pursuit
These enemies of the salmon follow the schools,
when, At the age of years, they are i'm PEELED
by instinct to seek fresh water to breed Here
the otter, the bears, and by no means least,
men, have their whsck at them. little pro-
lection will. however, serve to increase them
enormously and MAKE up Tor all needs