Feeding in Fresh Water 169 



their breeding rookeries take neither food nor 

 water for two or three months. 



The degree of emaciation reached and the 

 extent of the injuries received by the salmon by 

 the time it has spawned preclude the possibility 

 of its recovery even if it reaches salt water alive. 

 Death is a natural result of the conditions. 



In Alaska, the humpback and dog salmon, in 

 the last stages of exhaustion, may be seen in 

 brooks after spawning, within a stone's throw of 

 the sea, still struggling up-stream. At this time 

 all desire to feed or return to salt water is gone, 

 the fish linger until they die from exhaustion, and 

 the stream becomes offensive from the abundance 

 of dead fish. 



Notwithstanding the fact that the salmon cares 

 little for food when in fresh water and pressing 

 up-stream under the strong instinct to seek its 

 spawning grounds, it can be induced to take the 

 angler's bait or spoon when properly presented, 

 even taking a little food at times on its own 

 account. Perhaps the devices of the angler are 

 more attractive to these sea fish than anything to 

 be found in the streams. There can be no doubt 

 that many salmon are taken by anglers at great 

 distances from the sea, with the spoon and with 



