' FISHES OF NEW YORK 24-3 



This is the largest fish of the- salmon family, individuals 

 weighing 100 pounds and measuring upward of 5 feet in length 

 being on record from the Yukon and other Alaskan rivers. The 

 average weight of adults is above 20 pounds. The flesh of this 

 salmon is paler in color than that of the red salmon, but it is 

 superior in flavor to all others. 



The quinnat is the first to arrive near the shores in the spring, 

 and the time of 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, caplin, and crusta- 

 ceans. A male of about 35 pounds, taken at Karluk August 4, 

 had in its stomach 45 caplin. 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 ob- 

 served. 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, specially those 

 that ascend rivers a long distance. 



The quinnat 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 practica- 

 bility 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 Trocaddro. 



