114 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



describing and naming new species from the characters of unideutifiedj 

 immatnre individuals is not stopped, the study of the relations of the 

 species will become so complicated that useful classification will be next 

 to impossible, and the principal object and usefulness of scientific 

 arrangement, such as simplifies the study of natural history in other 

 branches," will be greatly impaired. Examples of description based on 

 young fish are Salmo newherrii, Grd., and Sahno {Fario) argyreus 

 Grd. Errors of this kind might easily be avoided by a little care in 

 labeling by the collector in the field. These remarks are meant generally, 

 and not to reflect upon individuals. 



Dr. Storer adds to his description the following statement : "But a 

 single specimen of this beautiful fish was taken, and that by a gill-net 

 stretched across the mouth of a brook flowing into Red Bay, Labrador.''- 



IG. SALMO GAIKDXEEI, Richardson. 

 Gairdner's Salmon. 



Syk. — Sahno f/airdveri. Rich., Fauua B. A., Fishes, 1836, p. 221 ; — De Kay, N. Y. 

 Famia, ir, 1842, p. 243; — Storer, Sjniop., 1846, p. 196; — Herbert, Suppl. 

 to Fish and Fishing of the United States, 1850, p. 34; — (not Fario gaird- 

 neri, Grj>., Pr. A. N. Sc, Phil., viii, 1856, p. 219 :— Ibid. Pacific R. R. Re- 

 poi-ts, vol. vii : et Gen. Rep. Fishes, p. 313, Plate Ixji, fig. 1-4) ; — Suck- 

 ley, P. R. R. Rep., vol. 12, p. 331 ;— Ibid. Nat. Hist. Wash. Ten., p. 331. 

 Qiiannich or Kwnannich Chinook, (not jargon.) 



Sp. On. — [Based on data given by Richardson, and on the examination 

 of two dried skins in the Smithsonian collection.] Profile of dorsal 

 outline nearlj' straight; tail terminating in a vslightly semilunar outline. 

 Ventrals correspond to conuneucement of dorsal, and adipose to end of 

 anal. Jaws fully armed with strong hooked teeth, except a small space 

 in center of up]ier jaw. Vomer armed with a double row for two-thirds 

 of its anterior portion. Back of head and body, bluish gray ; sides, 

 ash gray; belly, white; caudal, spotted with oval dark spots; snout, 

 rounded ; head, short and comparatively broad'; under fins, light-colored. 



Habitat. — Pacific Ocean, northwest coast of America. Enters and 

 ascends the Columbia in the spring. 



DiAGNOSLS. — From S. qiihmat by its round muzzle and chin, and 

 when adult b^' lacking the forked tail. From S. truHcatus by its broad- 

 head at the base ; its round " snub " snout. [For further marks of dif- 

 ference see those species.] It resembles the S. tnincatus in its short 

 head,' small teeth, truncate tail, and large scales. In the specimen 

 examined the operculum differs considerably in shape from that of the 

 male S. quinnat. 



Gairdner's salmon enters the Columbia in the spring in company AA'ith 

 .the 8. quinnat. It is a flue silvery fish, and equal in flavor and delicacy 

 to the latter, but much smaller in size ; the average, according to Dr. 

 Gairdner, being about six or seven pounds. 



Two skins are in the Smithsonian collection, sent from Astoria by Mr. 

 James Wayne. 



