180 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



fully equal to their eastern kindred, as a table luxury, they are so near 

 it, that the difference, if any, is not an important one. Their flesh in 

 their prime is firm, sweet, rich, and juicy, and is certainly good enough 

 to make thera a desirable fish in any river in the world. (See question 70, 

 J). 195.) As a game-fish they are active and powerful fighters, and are only 

 conquered after a hard struggle. They are caught with a hook and line 

 in salt and brackish waters, and also in the fresh waters of the upper 

 tributaries. Salmon roe is the best bait in fresh water ; but they will 

 also take the artificial fly. Last July hundreds of salmon, averaging 

 15 pounds apiece, were caught in the Little Sacramento with a hook and 

 line, near Frye's Hotel, at Upper Soda Springs, in Siskiyou County, Cal- 

 ifornia. It is not an uncommon but a common thing to catch salmon 

 here wi'hbait, which settles the question beyond dispute as to the Sac- 

 ramento salmon biting at a hook in fresh water. 



The Sacramento salmon, like all other salmon, fall off in size, weight, 

 quality, and beauty from the time they enter fresh water. A week or 

 two before they spawn they become very black, then smooth and slimy, 

 their scales being absorbed into the skin. Soon after this they become 

 foal, diseased, and very much emaciated, and in the McOloud Kiver, at 

 least, they die a short time after spawning. 



16. — GENERAL MOVEMENTS OF THE SACRAMENTO SALMON IN THE 

 LOWER PARTS OF THE RIVER.* 



The prime salmon first make their appearance in the tide-water of the 

 Sacramento, the early part of November. They are then very scarce, 

 only three or four a day being at first caught at the great fisheries. 

 They are at this time 18 cents a pound at wholesale, and 25 cents a 

 pound at retail. They increase gradually in numbers, through Novem- 

 ber and December, and the retail price falls to 20 cents. By the middle 

 of January they are somewhat more abundant in the bay, but few con- 

 tinue to be caught up the river. They remain scarce, or, rather, not 

 abundant — more all the time being caught in the bay than up the river — 

 until the 1st of March, when they begin to pour up the river in vast 

 qtiantities. This flood of salmon lasts through March, April, and May, 

 making these months the harvest mouths of the river fishermen, f both 

 because the salmon are plentiful and because they are in good condition. 

 The run culminates the last of April, or first of May. They are then 

 the most abundant. They fall off from this time gradually in numbers 

 and condition through May, and become comparatively scarce in June 

 and July, and the first part ot August. Before the end of August a 



** It should be understood that the account given here and elscAvhere in this report of 

 the salmon of the main Sacramento river applies only to the salmon above tide-water. 



t Eleven thousand three hundred and ninety-four salmon were sent down the river 

 to San Francisco last March (1872) by one line of river-boats. It is estimated that five 

 thousand more were salted on the river. Tliis makes a yield of sixteen thousand three 

 hundred and ninety-four fish, or about three hundred thousand X)Ounds, in the month of 

 March, makitjg no allowance for other sources of outlet, which were cousiderable. 



