SALMON AND SALMON STREAMS OF ALASKA. 169 



carries the changes due to the spawning period to an extravagant de- 

 gree, being hook-jawed, hump-shouldered and distorted more excess- 

 ively than any other species. 



The humpback is the most abundant of the salmon among the 

 Alaskan Islands. It exists in millions, it swarms everywhere in 

 waters near the sea, breeding in brooks, lakes, swamps and brackish 

 estuaries — anywhere where a little fresh water can be found. It runs 

 for a slight distance, and does not go far from the shore. From its 

 great abundance and the ease by which it is taken in nets, this species 

 is exceedingly cheap in Alaska, the individuals costing about a cent 

 apiece. In the large rivers, the humpback rarely runs. It is there- 

 fore almost unknown in the Sacramento, the Columbia and even the 

 Eraser River. Small rivers which do not rise in lakes are often 

 crowded with humpbacks. Such streams are known as humpback 

 streams. 



The humpback is not found in Japan, where it is replaced by a 

 closely allied species, with unspotted tail, the Masu {Oncorhynchus 

 masou). 



The Dog Salmon. 



The dog salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) is known also as calico 

 salmon and as chum, to the Russians as Hayko, and in Japan where it 

 is especially abundant as Sake. It is rather larger than the silver 

 salmon, averaging about ten pounds. It is plump and silvery, when 

 taken in the sea, and may then be best distinguished from the red 

 salmon by the tendency of the dark color of the back to form vertical 

 bars on the side. In the breeding season, it becomes largely black, still 

 obscurely barred, and the jaws are greatly elongated and distorted. 



The flesh of the dog salmon is very pale, with little of the salmon 

 flavor and none ot its color. When fresh from the sea it is however 

 well-flavored and wholesome. When canned it is dirty white, soft and 

 mushy, and with a strong taste of mud. It is then practically worth- 

 less as food. It runs in the rivers in the fall and for very short dis- 

 tances. Its flesh is then still more pale and mushy. It is in fact unfit 

 for canning, and, the few firms who have packed it have been unable to 

 dispose of the goods. The 'Rainbow Brand' was established for dog 

 salmon. 



The dog salmon takes salt well. It is the large salmon or saki of 

 Japan, of which great quantities are salted in Japan, and Japan has 

 also furnished a market for the same species salted in Alaska. The 

 dog salmon — taken fresh in spring — is frozen and sent in cold storage 

 to the East and to Germany, where it sells readily. The species is 

 attractive in appearance, and when taken in the sea is good food, al- 

 though unsuited for canning purposes. 



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