So Salmonidae 



jected by the canners. No hook-jawed females of any species 

 have been seen. 



On first entering a stream the salmon swim about as if play- 

 ing. They always head towards the current, and this appear- 

 ance of playing may be simply due to facing the moving tide. 

 Afterwards they enter the deepest parts of the stream and 

 swim straight up, with few interruptions. Their rate of travel 

 at Sacramento is estimated by Stone at about two miles per 

 day; on the Columbia at about three miles per day. Those 

 which enter the Columbia in the spring and ascend to the moun- 

 tain rivers of Idaho must go at a more rapid rate than this, as 

 they must make an average of nearly four miles per day. 



As already stated, the economic value of any species depends 

 in great part on its being a "spring salmon." It is not gen- 

 erally possible to capture salmon of any species in large num- 

 bers until they have entered the estuaries or rivers, and the 

 spring salmon enter the large rivers long before the growth 

 of the organs of reproduction has reduced the richness of the 

 flesh. The fall salmon cannot be taken in quantity until their 

 flesh has deteriorated; hence the dog-salmon is practically 

 almost worthless except to the Indians, and the humpback 

 salmon was regarded as little better until comparatively re- 

 cently, when it has been placed on the market in cans as " Pink 

 Salmon." It sells for about half the price of the red salmon 

 and one-third that of the quinnat. The red salmon is smaller 

 than the quinnat but, outside the Sacramento and the Columbia, 

 far more abundant, and at present it exceeds the quinnat in 

 economic value. The pack of red salmon in Alaska amounted 

 in 1902 to over two million cases (48 pounds each), worth whole- 

 sale about $4.00 per case, or about $8,000,000. The other species 

 in Alaska yield about one million cases, the total wholesale value 

 of the pack for 1902 being $8,667,673. The aggregate value of 

 the quinnat is considerably less, but either species far exceed in 

 value all other fishes of the Pacific taken together. The silver 

 salmon is found in the inland waters of Puget Sound for a 

 considerable time before the fall rains cause the fall runs, and 

 it may be taken in large numbers with seines before the season 

 for entering the rivers. 



The fall salmon of all species, but especially of the dog- 



