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UNDERWATER GUIDE TO MARINE LIFE 



Fig. 94. Atlantic salmon. 

 KING SALMON (cHiNOOK salmon) : Oncorhytichus tschawytscha 



Size: Averages 3 feet. Up to 5 feet. 



Weight: Averages 20 to 30 pounds. Up to 125 pounds. 



Distribution: Ventura River, California to Alaska and Kamchatka. 



Identification: The color is silvery with small black spots on back, dorsal fan, 

 and caudal fin. The flesh is red or white and, though preferred red for canning, 

 is thought by many Alaskans to have a superior flavor when white. 



SILVER SALMON (coHO salmon) : Oncorhynchus kisntch 



Size: Averages 2 to 2i/2 feet. 

 Weight: Averages 6 to 12 pounds. 

 Distribution: Alaska to southern California. 



Identification: Like the king salmon, but the spots are not as extensive, none 

 being on the lower tail lobe. 



GENUS SALMO 



Spawns more than once. Mouths white inside. Short anal fin with 9 to 12 

 rays. Head comparatively small. 



ATLANTIC salmon: Sahuo salar 



Size: Averages 2 to 2V2 feet. 



Weight: Averages 10 pounds. Known to reach over 80 pounds. 



Distribution: Northern New England to Hudson Bay. Also in Europe. 

 Pollution and overfishing have resulted in its extermination in large southern 

 rivers such as the Hudson and the Delaware. 



Identification: Covered liberally with large, black spots which are usually 

 X-shaped. Silvery with a brownish tinge above. 



STEELHEAD RAINBOW TROLtT: Salvio gairdncri 



Size: Averages 2 to 2Vi feet. 

 Weight: Averages 10 pounds. 

 Distribution: Alaska to southern California. 



Identification: There are numerous dark spots on the back and unpaired fins. 

 The color is a steely blue. 



SMELTS: Family Argentinidae 



These small, mostly marine, silvery fishes arc among the finest if not the 



