THE FISHES OF ALASKA. 261 



Two adult steelheads were taken in Hot Springs Creek, Bell Island. These with several others 

 were in a deep pool whore they had been left by falling water astheywere returning from their spawning 

 beds in the lake about a mile farther up the stream. Examples are also reported from the Pacific Cold 

 Storage Company at Taku Harbor. On August II a few were Beined at Karluk. where they are reported 

 nol to be common. May 26 to 30 Mr. Claudius Wallich found them spawning in the Btream at the 

 head of Lake McDonald. Quite a number were observed. OnMay24to27, L904, Mr. F. M. Chamberlain 

 found them spawning in Steelhead Creek near Loring, also in Naha River above Dorr Falls. The 

 temperature of the water in the creek was 56 to 57°,tha1 of the river being50°. No steelheads were 

 noticed in a small branch of Steelhead (reek, where the temperature was 45.° 



One example (no. 02813; scales aboul 150), L0 inches long, was caught with hook and line June 22 

 in Courtney Lake at UnionBay. A few examples were seen in the cannery a1 Poinl Bighfield July 13- 

 ami at Takn Harbor July 14. A female IT inches long and weighing 1 pound 10 ounces was caught at 

 Snug Harbor August 6. 



The center of abundance of the steelhead is evidently the Columbia River. Mr. F. M Warren, ST., 

 of P' >r1 la ml. reports that the run in the Columbia, Rogue and other < hog. m rivers was huge in 1902 and 

 1903. The firsl spring run in 1903 was aboul June 20 and continued two days, the fish averaging only 7 

 pounds. The fish of the later run (in August i wire much larger, averaging aboul 15 pounds. A few 

 may he taken in the Columbia any day in the year. The largest one of which we have a definite record 

 was caught at Corbett, on the Columbia River, by Reed Brothers. Itwasseen bj Mr. J. N. Wisner and 

 weighed 12 pi mm Is. Reed Brothers state thai they often gel steelheads of thai size. 



On September II many steelheads were seen in Mr. Warren's cold-storage plant at Goble, on the 

 Columbia. They. were then being caught in traps near by. At this time il was difficult to tell males 

 from females. A female examined showe.l theroeto be very immature, indicating thai spawning would 

 probably not have occurred before February or March. 



tine hundred and five examples were measured and weighed. The lengths varied from 31 to 45 



inches ami the weights from 10.5 to 32.5 i mis. The average length was 37 03 inches and the average 



weight Is. is pounds. Several examined at Pyramid Harbor in August were 26 to 32 inches long and 

 weighed 9.5 to 13.5 pounds. One taken al Bell Island was 33 inches long and weighed 9 pounds. 



In Sept em her and < (ctober, IS! 17. Mr. A. 11. Alexander, of this Bureau, examined a large ii u m her nl 



steelheads al the Cascades and at Celilo, on the Columbia River. Main were seen, September 18 and 

 19, ascending the falls. In all 4,179 were examined; of these, 1,531 win- males ami 2,648 females 176 

 males and 900 females were regarded as well developed and ready to spawn within a month or six weeks. 



This ripening of the steelhead in the fall is probably unusual. All other observations indicate that 

 tli is species is a spring spawner. In the headwaters of Salmon River, in Idaho, it spawns in early spring — 

 usually in May and June. In Alaska, so far as known, it spawns early in the spring. 



1 1 is not always easy to distinguish the steelhead from the cutthroat or the rainbow trout; it is par- 

 ticularly difficult, if not impossible, to do si. in the fry and fingerling Stages. The adult Alaska steel- 

 head has larger scales, a shorter head, and a smaller eye than the Alaska cutthroat; it is also less pro- 

 fusely covered with black spots, the tail is more nearly square, and I here is no red on the throat. From 

 the Alaska rainbow trout it may usually be distinguished by the smaller eye. si anew hat smaller scales, 

 less brilliant coloral i"U, and relative absence of black spots except OH upper pa it of side and on dorsal 

 and caudal litis. 



The steelhead reaches a much larger size than either the cutthroat or the rainbow. On the Columbia 

 it is of much commercial importance. In Alaska it is a valuable fund fish, though it is not abundant 

 enough to be of as great importance as any of the species of salmon. It lends itself well to the canning 

 process and is a nutritious and very palatable article thus prepared. It is, however, most valuable as 

 a fresh lish, especially when distant shipments are necessary. There is no member of the salmon family 

 which can be handled more satisfactorily in cold si mage than the steelhead. Its size, trim shape, firm 

 flesh, and superior keeping qualities fit it admirably for treatment in this way. 



34. Salmo irideus ittibbonsi. Alaska Rainbow Trout. iPl. xxxix.) 



The rainbow trout has not previously I n reported from Alaska, except by Bean in 1881 from 



Sitka, although its presence in Southeast Alaska was known to various officers of the Alhalmss and local 

 anglers. No specimens, however, had been collected or had come into the hands of any naturalist. 



