324 SEVENTH REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



the run depends on the latitude, becoming later and later till, in Norton Sound, the 

 present known northern limit of its migration, it appears early in June. Unless the 

 spawning period be close at hand, it does not ascend rivers rapidly, but generally 

 plays around for a few days, or even a couple of weeks, near the river limit of tide- 

 water. It has been estimated that it proceeds up the Columbia River at the rate of 

 100 miles a month till the exigencies of reproduction compel a faster rate of travel. 



In the sea this Salmon feeds on herring, capelin and crustaceans. A male of 

 about 35 pounds, taken at Karluk August 4, had in its stomach 45 capelin. In fresh 

 water the fish take no food. 



Spawning takes place near the head waters of streams in clear shallow rapids. 

 The fish excavate oblong cavities in the gravel beds where there is a current, and in 

 these nests the eggs and milt are deposited. The eggs are protected from some of 

 their enemies and fatalities by their environment, but are still a prey to freshets and 

 to the pestiferous little fresh-water sculpins, or blobs, that abound in all trout and 

 salmon waters, so far as observed. The young are hatched in from 60 to 100 days. 

 They are destroyed in large numbers by aquatic birds, blobs and large fishes. The 

 adults are killed by seals, sea lions and sharks. After spawning nearly all the 

 parent fish die, especially those that ascend rivers a long distance. 



The Ouinnat is a very valuable fish for canning, salting and smoking. If it could 

 be acclimated in the Great Lakes it would form the basis of new and important 

 industries. The practicability of rearing this species in fresh waters without access 

 to the sea has been satisfactorily demonstrated in France by Dr. Jousset de 

 Bellesme, director of the aquarium of the Trocad^ro, in Paris. 



The results of the experiment of introducing this Salmon into New York waters 

 are as yet unknown, but it is to be hoped that it will be successful. Since the 

 change of method by which larger fish are employed for transplanting the outlook 

 appears to be more favorable. 



58. Atlantic Salmon {Sij/wc salar Linn.xus). 



Salmo salar Mitchill, Trans. Lit. iS: Phil. Soc. N. V., I, 435, 1S15; Df,K.-\v, X. Y. 

 Fauna, Fishes, 241, pi. 38, fig. 122, 1842; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. 

 Mus., 312, 1883 ; GooDE, Fish & Fish. Ind. U. S., I, 468, pi. 186, upper fig. 1S84 ; 

 Bean, Fishes Penna., 74, color pi. 4, 1893 ; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S- 

 Nat. Mus., 486, 1896 ; Bean, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., IX, 344, 1897. 



The Salmon in America has but a single common name. When the young have 

 reached a length of 2 inches and taken on the vermilion spots and dark cross bands 

 they are called parr, and retain this name while they remain in fresh water. Before 



