THE SILVEE AXD BLUE-BLACK SALMONS. 477 



scarcity. A few were seen by us on the Columbia and Sacramento. "We are told that tliis species 

 runs every year in Alaska. During its run in Puget Sound the females are canned, and the 

 males arc thrown away or given to Ihe Indians. The tlesh is then pale, and the canned product is 

 interior in quality. In economic, value the Iluuip-back Salmon is far inferior to the Quiiinat, the 

 nine back, and the Silver Salmon, and, like the DogSalinou, is mainly useful in furnishing a winter 

 supply of food to the Indians. 



THE SILVER SALMON ONCORHYNCHUS KISUTCH. 



This species is almost everywhere known by the name of "Silver Salmon." It has also a 

 series of local names. In Kamtchatka it is still known, by the name "Kisutch," in use in Pen- 

 nant's time, a hundred years ago. The name "Bielaya Eyba," or "White-fish," is also ascribed to 

 it. Ou Frazer Eiver it is known by the Musquaiu name of " Coho"; at Seattle, by the Msqually 

 name of "Skowitz"; about Cape Flattery by the Makah name of "Hoopid"; on the Columbia 

 it is called "Silver Salmon" or "White Salmon," and southward the same names prevail. It 

 reaches a weight of twenty pounds, the usual range being from seven to ten. The Silver Salmon 

 enters all the rivers from the Sacramento to Kamtchatka. In the fall it is abundant in probably 

 all the rivers. Few or none, however, are seen in the spring. They are often taken with seines 

 in Puget Sound at all seasons. Like the other fall-running Salmon, it seldom ascends the rivers 

 to any great distance. 



THE BLUE-BACK SALMON ONCORHYNCHUS NERKA. 



This species is known as the "Bed-fish" to the English-speaking inhabitants of Alaska and 

 Kamtchatka, and to the Eussiaus, now as in the time of Pennant and Pallas, as "Krasnaya Eyba," 

 which signifies red-fish, the name having reference to the color of the flesh. It is not unlikely 

 that other species are occasionally confounded under this name, but there is little doubt that the 

 present species is the one to which it is chiefly applied. On Frazer Elver, where this species is the 

 most important Salmon, it is known as the " Suk-kegh." Elsewhere in Puget Sound it is rarely seen. 

 In the Lower Columbia it is known by the appropriate name of "Blue-back"; in the Upper Colum- 

 bia as "Eed-fish." Its average weight does not exceed eight pounds, and its extreme weight is 

 probably not above fifteen. Its range is from the Columbia Eiver to Japan and Kamtchatka, 

 It runs in considerable numbers in the Columbia, and in much greater abundance in Frazer Eiver, 

 where it is the principal spring Salmon. We have no information as to its occurrence in California. 

 or as to its entrance into any of the streams south of the Columbia. Like the Quinnat Salmon, it 

 is attracted in early spring into all those streams which are fed by the melting snows, and into no 

 others. Its run in spring on the Columbia is, so far as we know, contemporaneous with that of 

 the Quinnat Salmon. The numbers are, however, much less, and I think that its run is over 

 earlier in the fall. On Frazer Eiver it runs with the Quinnat, or a little earlier in the spring, the 

 run mostly ceasing in midsummer, while that of the Quiunat continues on through the fall months. 

 This species and the Quinnat run early and go far up the streams, where, after spawning, they all 

 die. In Puget Sound this species is not known to the fishermen, only stray individuals being 

 taken there. It does not accompany the Silver Salmon and Dog Salmon in their ascent of the 

 Dwainish, Puyallup, and other small streams; neither is it caught near the shore when out of the 

 spawning season, as the other species are. In Alaska and Kamtchatka we are told that the lied- 

 fish (nerTca) and King Salmon (chawytcha) run in spring and early summer, while the other species 

 run in late summer and fall, the Silver Salmon last. 



The Blue-back is the most graceful of the Salmons and the most elegant in color. Its flesh is 

 very similar to that of the Quinnat, but less firm and more watery, and it is not quite so rich when 



