SUCKLEY MONOGEAPn OF THE GENUS SALMO. 117 



18. SALMO RICHARBI, Suckley. 



SUK-KEG-H SAI/MON; RICHARD'S SALMON. 



Syx. — Salnio rkhardU, Suckley, Notices New Species N. Am. Salmon. N. Y., 

 June, 18G1. 

 ? S. paucidens, Rich., F. B. A. 



Sp. Ch. — [Based on a skiu in alcohol, No. -2005, Smithsonian Cat. ; 

 Fishes.j Dorsal ontline moderately convex, its point of greatest height 

 being at the insertion of anterior ray of dorsal — the arch from the snout 

 to the caudal insertion being very uniform. 



Femije. — Head conical; ja^vs apparently equal — the thick, fleshy tip 

 on the point of the lower jaw of the fresh-run fish aiding much to give 

 this appearance. Maxillary extends back to a point immediately below 

 the posterior of margin of orbit. Teeth extremely small, and l»ut few. 

 Tail deeply lunated — almost forked. Tail and other fins unspotted. 

 Does not often attain a greater weight than fifteen potinds — the average 

 being scarcely more tlian eight. Br. rays, usually 14. 



^ Hab. — IsTorthwest Pacific coast. Enters Fraser and Skagit Rivers. 

 The species is named in honor of Mr. J. H. Richard, the cl^'er artist who 

 has so handsomely and correctly dra^T]l the ichthyological illustrations 

 of the Pacific Railroad Reports. 



Diagnosis. — The forked or deeply lunated tail will serve to distin- 

 guish the species from those not possessing that character. From the 

 quinnat it differs in lacking the strong teeth and pointed, triaiigular, 

 smooth, projecting chin which extends in front of the teeth of the latter. 



The unspotted tail and fins assist in the diagnosis. Concerning its 

 identity with S. paucidens, see text beyond. The " lip" in front of the 

 teeth on the lower jaw is not triangular, but is rather thick, extending 

 some distance in front of the teeth, and in this respect approachiug to 

 the 8. quinnat. 



This salmon runs up Fraser River in great numbers, where it is the 

 principal summer salmon. In the Skagit it occasionally is found, and is 

 there considered a great rarity by the natives, who call it oheli-itl. This 

 fish in many respects agrees with Richardson's descrij)tion of the S-pau- 

 cidens. But as that is so meager and may apply to the yoimg of so 

 many different kinds, I have been guided by the known difference of 

 time in their arrival from the sea. Dr. Gairduer says that the weak- 

 toothed salmon enters the Columbia in comx)any with the S. quinnat, (in 

 April and May,) whereas the sulc-Jcegh does not run up Fraser River 

 until later. 



" The procuring of specimens from the Columbia of the salmon 

 known to the Indians of the lower river as the Tcweachts, would settle 

 this question. 



" The sukdcegh is the best summer salmon of Fraser River, being in priim? 

 condition in the rivers during August and the early part of September. 

 When they enter Lake Chiloweyuck they almost immediately die, owing, 



