236 



BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



26. Stenodus mackenzii (Richardson). Inconnu. 



Although no specimens were obtained by us, this species is known to occur in the headwaters of 

 the Yukon. It lias been reported to us by Messrs. Osgood and Maddren, who saw it in the Yukon in 

 1900. Mr. Presnell, of Chignik Hay, says that he saw an example 10 inches long at Eagle City in L898 



which had I n taken through an air hole in the ice, and he thinks he saw another, weighing 3 or 4 



pounds, on Forty-mile Creek. 





Fig. 9. — Stenodus mackenzii (Richardson 



Townsjend (1887) records one specimen taken in the Middle Klawak (Kobuk) in August. 1885; 

 Nelson (1887) records it from the Yukon at Nulato, Kotlik, and Andreafski; Turner (1886), from St. 

 Michaels: and Scofisld I L899) from the Mackenzie River. 



27. Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (Walbaum). Ilumpliaek Salmon; Pink Salmon. (PI. xxm — xxvi. i 



The humpback salmon is the most abundant salmon in Alaskan waters. It exists in millions, 

 swarming everywhere along the shores and in waters near the sea, in streams, brooks, lakes, swamps, 

 and brackish lagoons — in fact, in all places where fresh water, however little, may be found. Ii is 

 ordinarily not found far from shore, and docs not run up the streams for great distances. It does not 

 frequent the larger rivers, and is therefore almost, unknown in the Sacramento and Columbia, and even 

 in the Fraser; but in the smaller streams it is found practically everywhere from California to Bering 

 Sea, wherever a stream of fresh water, however small, enters the sea. Dr. Bean records it from 

 Refuge Cove, Cook Inlet, and St. Paul, Kodiak Island; also from Colville River. Townsend (July 2 

 to August 25, 1885) found it in the Middle Kobuk River: not more than a half dozen individuals were 

 seen, however, among the large numbers of fishes examined at every village of natives. Scofield I 1899 i 

 found this species at Port Clarence about the middle of July, at which time it was beginning to run up 

 the river back of the inner harbor. Gilbert (1895) says: 



The humpback salmon was seen by us at Port Moller on the northern side of the Alaskan Peninsula, 

 during two visits, which included the first two weeks and the last week of July, 1890. During the first 

 part of this month they were running in small numbers, and. as a few scattered ones only had been taken 

 at Unalaska up to June 16, 1890, it is safe to indicate tin- first of July as the beginning of their appearance 

 on thai part of the coast. In the early part of their run they proved a very acceptable fish, but later 

 they rapidly deteriorated. On our return to Unalaska, July Ml, 1890. we learned that they had been 

 running for several weeks, and during several visits in the month of August they were found in incredible 

 numbers crowding into the mouths of the small streams which How into Captains Barbor. Both pools 

 and shallows seemed full of them ami large numbers were dying within a few hundred yards of the 

 beach. The spawning season appeared to begin early in August. 



According to Murdoch i L885), humpback salmon occur sparingly at Perignak, Elson Bay. Nelson 

 i 1887 I states that the run at St. Michael begins about the middle of June and that the fish continue 

 rather numerous until thi' end of July. They were seen in abundance at all places visited by us in 

 July ami A i ium t.-t . On July 8 some were taken in a gill net in Yes Bay. At Klawak they are plentiful 

 and unusually large, running about 11 to the case in canning. Usually 20 to the case is a fair average, 

 though they often run as small as 25 to 30 to the case. 



Ai Afognak Falls, August 3, humpback salmon were found running in great numbers; tiny were 

 seen in all parts of the stream below the falls, some jumping, others in the water often with their tins 



