334 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



which he had caught at low tide near the end of the mill wharf at Point 

 Hudson. I showed them to several Chinamen, who at once pronounced 

 them to be the best quality of " whetong," one of the Chinese names for 

 the trepang. 



When properly cured they are a valuable food product, and will sell 

 m Canton for about $45 per ton. This indicates that there may be a 

 deal of money in the business, if rightly conducted, as a cargo of a hun- 

 dred tons could easily be cured at some places in a few mouths with a 

 sufficient force of Indians to collect them. The cost is simply to gather 

 the trepangs at low tide, or have the Indians do so, and then have them 

 properly dried, which is an easy process, though one requiring some 

 care and skill. A few inexi)ensive experiments will enable one to as- 

 certain the correct way of preparing these slugs, which will be likely 

 to find a ready and lucrative sale to the Chinese merchants. 



Poet Townsend, Wash., March 19, 1884. 



103.— SAJLinOIV IIV THE ITIcCIiOUD KITER OURHVG THE SEASON OF 



1SS6. 



By L.OREN W. ORE£X. 



The first run of salmon for this season appeared at the mouth of the 

 McCloud Eiver on May 15. The run was comparatively small in num- 

 ber, and the fish were unusually bright and healthy. This was owing 

 to the uncommonly high water, which continued till late in the spring, 

 and gave the fish a much better chance to ascend the steep and rocky 

 riffles, thus making their journey from the ocean a much quicker one 

 than is usual at low water. It is well known that salmon take no food 

 after leaving salt water, and the state of the water during their upward 

 journey has much to do with their appearance on arriving at the head- 

 waters. Nearly all of this ruu, which was about five days in passing, 

 went up to the extreme limit of their sijawning-grounds, where they 

 deposited their ova. 



About the last of May another small run arrived, and for some time 

 salmon were abundant and much above the average in size. By the 

 middle of June the water was muddy and the Indians were catching 

 no fish. On June 20 a small ruu was passing up the McCloud, and 

 another was just starting in from the ocean. On the |?5th they were 

 still coming in small numbers; and on July 5 a small run arrived, the 

 fish being larger than any before known here. By the last of July 

 there were no salmon, and the water was clear and low. 



On August 21 a good run was reported at the mouth of Sacramento 

 River, and on the 28th they arrived at the McCloud Kiver Station in 

 great numbers and excellent condition, some weighing as much as 45 

 pounds. By September 10 a considerable number of dead salmon were 

 floating down the river; while by the middle of the month many salmon 



