The Alaska daily empire., 1920-07-12
BARANOF ISLAND
FISH HAIcAER|IlES
THRIVING, CLAIM I
Supt. Sprague Back From In
spection Trip. Over
Streams, Lakes

SUPERINTENDENT vi. i.t ~
A. ]. Sprague returned this weeF
from an extended official visit to
various streams and lakes on Bar
anof Island where several million
eyed salmon eggs and young salmon
have been planted at intervals since
last fall. 2,69O,OO0 were planted in
Warm Springs Lake alone between
the 23rd of last October and Feb
ruary It'll of the present year
Other streams and lakes in which
fish and eyed eggs were planted Oh
Baranof Island were Big and Little
Basket Creeks and Hadlock Lake
Mr.. Sprague announced that he
was much pleased at the success OF
his experiment as he found the fry
in a most healthy condition and dis
porting in schools of thousands In
practically all parts of the lake
which was previously barren of sal
mon on account of C6 foot fall
between the lake and.i salt water
The area OF Warm Springs Lake Is
sos acres. its elevation IS 1873 feet
and it has ten and one half miles
OF available spawning grounds.
Urges More Egg Planting
After taking note Of the healthfu'
condition in which he found the fry
in the lake, Mr. Sprague does not
hesitate to state that. in his opinion
he salvation OF the salmon industry
in Alaska is the planting of eyed
eggs in barren lakes and streams
the same as has been done in Warm
Springs Lake Previous to making
the experiment there it was an
nounced that fish would not survive
in the lake as the water was said
to be mineralized The fact that
the fish not only survived but are
growing rapidly, disproves this the
DRY.
The superintendent will maintain
close watch on the growing fish
as he is DESTROYS of demonstrating
whether a young salmon goes out
to salt water the first or second
year dlleI HdlCHiHS, "Hi'h IuN'eiDAi
has never been closely proven.
Fish Ladder Necessary
However, when the fish do go from
Warm Springs Lake to the sea they
will not be able to return-that is,
unless they are given government
aid in the form of a fish ladder as
they will not be able to ascend the
falls. Also means must be provided
TO keep the Salmon Trout and Dolly
Vardens, the natural enemies OF sal
mon, from getting into the lake AS
the result of Investigations made at
Warm Springs Lake and elsewhere
on his trip, Mr.. Sprague says he
has reached the conclusion that the
Cohoe variety of salmon is best suit
ed to artificial r/jpagation, being
the most healthy and vigorous OF
all the salmon family.
Mr.. Sprague SAYS the residents
of the vicinities recently visited by
him are watching with great interes
the result Of his experimental fist
planting and are quite enthusiastic
over the successes thus for recordei
Many Lakes Visited
While on his trip superintendent
Sprague visited many unnamed lake
and creeks and also many that ar
named, including Eva Lake AM
| Crock and tho Shoup Bay district il
which BIO investigated the salmol
runs. He found a rather peculid
condition dxisting for this season O
the year in that the water in TIL
streams is very low in the Peri
Straits district and everywhere from
Rocky Pass to below Kake11Nso low
| indeed, that if present. condition
continue. the salmon will not b
able to reach the lakes and stream
to spawn. He found the same cor
dition existing in the Security Ba
region.
The total number of fish distrii
uted from the hatchery during til
period which has elapsed since las
August is 7,922000.
Trout Fishing Open
Superintendent Sprague wishes
understood and this is good new
to the deciples of Isaac Walton
hat the closing of salmon stream
during the spawning season doe
not interfere with trout fishing.
fact fishing for salmon trout an
"Dollys" Is encouraged at any an
all times as 1t is desired to extei
l inmate those species as speedily an
completely as possible.