SALMON. 41 



its entire length, is a light steel-blue; shading 

 off on the sides to a lighter tint, that merges by 

 imperceptible gradations through grey to silvery- 

 white on the belly ; blushed over with pink, that 

 disappears soon after death. Back, above the 

 well-defined lateral line, thickly spotted with 

 black, the spots being like stars with rays of 

 irregular length ; but I have very often seen the 

 spots extending beyond the lateral line, and even 

 on the white of the belly. Opercula, all the fins 

 and the tail more or less spotted, and of a pinkish 

 hue, the anal and pectoral fins tipped with 

 black. The general appearance of this salmon is 

 that of being very thick for its length, the dorsal 

 outline slightly arched, forming almost a notch 

 with the tail. 



Soon after our commencing work, I was en- 

 camped for many months on the banks of the 

 Chilukweyuk river, a tributary to the Fraser, 

 having a short but rapid course through a rocky 

 valley. 



In June and July salmon ascend this stream 

 in incredible numbers, filing off as they work 

 upcurrent into every rivulet, filling even pools 

 left on the prairies and fiats by the receding 

 floods. 



