64 



THE MIGRATION AND CONSERVATION OF SALMON 



modified in some of the hybrids and even 

 small intermixtures in the course of a few 

 years would result in general confusion of 

 the group pattern. This is clearly shown by 

 the work of Foerster in his studies on the 

 scale markings of Cultus Lake sockeyes 

 (1936). He demonstrated variability in 

 scale ring counts in a single season ; and 

 also changes in counts from year to year in 

 the same area. These make extremely 

 doubtful any general separation of regional 

 groups on the basis of scale markings. In 

 consequence, I cannot share the views of 

 those who regard scale markings as adequate 

 and final testimony to the origin of an adult 

 salmon. To me this view appears to be too 

 nearly the revival of the long outmoded idea 

 of the absolute fixity of species or varieties 

 and entirely out of line with well demon- 

 strated facts concerning the variation of 

 types. 



Return op Planted Fish to Salmon 



Streams 



In the past many experiments have been 

 tried in the effort to establish new runs of 

 Pacific salmon. Both eggs and fry have 

 been planted in large numbers at various 

 points in the hope to populate streams in 

 which no salmon were previously known 

 or to increase the distribution of salmon in 

 river systems which had valuable runs at 

 specific points but were without salmon in 

 other branches that appeared equally if not 

 more favorable for salmon propagation. A 

 few of these experiments have been success- 

 ful in a degree but none of them in a large 

 way. On the other hand most of them have 

 been total failures and these include experi- 

 ments that were large and were carried out 

 by able, energetic and well trained person- 

 nel. I wish to discuss here in detail a few 

 of these efforts. 



One of the earliest was the effort of 

 Captain Callbreath to establish a private run 

 of red salmon on Etolin Island, Clarence 

 Straits, Alaska. Over a period of some 20 

 years he hatched and planted in his lake 

 yearly large numbers of sockeyes in the 

 hope of securing returns of value. I believe 

 that not a single adult salmon ever came 



back to ascend the stream or reached the 

 lake on which his hatchery was located. A 

 series of experiments to extend the range 

 of the natural spawning area in the Skagit 

 River system was carried on by the U. S. 

 Bureau of Fisheries. The run of sockeyes 

 in this river was noted for its quality and 

 unique character as the only run of reds 

 in an American stream on Puget Sound. 

 This run left the Skagit at Concrete, taking 

 at a reentrant angle the Baker River, a 

 large tributary, and going up to Baker Lake 

 where the run had natural spavming 

 grounds. The fish were all caught in a trap 

 at the entrance to the lake, kept under con- 

 trol and the new generation planted in the 

 lake or at other points in the Skagit River 

 system. The fish were known as the Baker 

 River run and have been much studied and 

 discussed by those interested in salmon 

 problems. 



Both eggs and fry from this run were 

 planted at various points in the Skagit 

 River system, as well as elsewhere to a 

 smaller extent. While no printed records 

 testify to the results it is believed that of 

 these numerous experiments no new runs 

 have been made; in none of the streams 

 planted were runs of adult reds seen later. 

 All of the experiments were apparently un- 

 successful, and in one sense that was cer- 

 tainly correct ; they did not result in making 

 red salmon streams of the tributaries in 

 which these young descended to the Skagit 

 nor spawning grounds of the lakes in or near 

 which they were planted. An examination 

 of the map of this region shows that almost 

 all the points selected were located on the 

 Skagit River system above the junction of 

 the Baker River. Accordingly, it is not 

 necessary to conclude that the total number 

 of planted fish perished. Even though 

 circumstances in general may have been 

 adverse, it appears much more likely that 

 some survived and at the appropriate time 

 started from feeding areas in the sea on 

 their migration to spawning grounds. All 

 those which entered the Skagit would in con- 

 formity with the environmental influences 

 turn into the Baker River and become part 

 of the Baker Lake spawners. 



