the young migrate on hatching, the spawning runs of these salmon are neces- 

 sarily of short distances. The pink salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha^ and the 

 chum salmon, Oncorhynchus ketay are usually not considered good game fish but 

 may be persuaded to take a fly when landlocked. While neither of these fish are 

 now present in Maine and there is little likelihood that they will ever be intro- 

 duced in the future their life histories, out of interest, are included. 



The pink salmon, averaging about 5 or 6 pounds and 1^ feet in length, 

 is the most abundant of the Pacific salmon. They have a two year life cycle with 

 runs occurring in the even and odd years. This is the salmon frequently known 

 as the humpback because of the cartilaginous hump formed during the spawning 

 period. The young spawned in the fall hatch in the spring and go immediately 

 to the sea at a length of one to one and a quarter inches. Curiously enough the 

 small fry migrate downstream only at night. They are rarely observed by day. 



The chum salmon, averaging 10 pounds and 2^^ feet in length, ranks as 

 the second largest of the Pacific salmon. The young spawned in the fall hatch 

 in the spring and go immediately to sea. However, unlike the pink salmon 

 which returns after one year in the ocean the chum spends four or five years be- 

 fore they return to spawn and die. Chum salmon were introduced in Maine 

 during 1938 in Damariscotta Lake, Megunticook Lake and in Swan Lake. Gill 

 nets set by the 1941 survey crew in Maine failed to catch any of these fish. It is 

 assumed that the introductions were apparently not successful. 



The third and last separation on the basis of fresh-water habits leaves the 

 Kokanee or "sockeye" {Oncorhynchus nerkd). They are second in abundance 

 along the Pacific coast and average from 6 to 7 pounds in weight. Their average 

 length is about two feet. Ordinarily these fish spawn in the tributaries above a 

 lake and the young on hatching drop back into the lake where they spend up to 

 four years before migrating down to sea. They return to fresh water after two 

 years in the ocean. The Kokanee of all the Pacific salmon has given the best re- 

 sults when landlocked. However, if they are landlocked and forced to complete 

 their life cycle in fresh water, they rarely exceed a foot in length. Spawning 

 normally takes place in the tributaries of the lake but may take place in a shal- 

 low gravelly spot if tributaries are not available. They die after spawning 

 whether the life cycle is completed in fresh water or whether they have had a 

 chance to run to the sea. During the spawning period they become vividly col- 

 ored with olive green heads and blood red sides. In 1 944 Kokanee were stocked 

 in Narrows Pond, Damariscotta Lake and Swan Lake and in 1945 in Damaris- 

 cotta Lake and Swan Lake. Fishermen take the Kokanee or "sockeye" on a fly, 

 with bait, or by trolling. 



