7 



tr^^ 



"S^- 



SALMON (from top): Kin&; 

 Chum; Htimpback; Sockeye. 



Coho: 



in May while those further north 

 and west come in June. 



Silver or coho salmon are almost 

 universally distributed from Dixon 

 Entrance to Kotzebue Sound, north 

 of Nome. The coho may reach 36 

 inches and weigh as much as 30 

 pounds, but averages 24 inches and 

 9 pounds. Maturity is reached at 

 about 3 years in Alaska waters. 

 Adults ascend nearly all coastal 

 streams and rivers to spawn. The 

 runs are late in the season, from 

 July to December. King and silver 



salmon commonly strike a lure and 

 can be trolled for. This method 

 of salmon fishing is practiced only 

 in Southeastern Alaska. 



Red or sockeye salmon range 

 from Southeastern waters to the 

 Kuskokwim River, and go up those 

 rivers with accessible lakes in their 

 watersheds. Bristol Bay is the 

 greatest producing area of this spe- 

 cies in the world. Reds range from 

 15 to 20 inches and average 6 

 pounds. The most common age is 

 5 years, but there are sizeable pro- 

 portions of 4-year-olds and 6-year- 

 olds. Runs usually begin late in 

 June and continue through July, 

 although the Karluk and Chignik 

 Rivers have two runs, one in June, 

 the other in August. 



Pink or humpback salmon range 

 from Southeastern Alaska to Bris- 

 tol Bay. Southeastern Alaska is 

 the center of abundance, and pro- 

 duces an average annual pack of 

 2,000,000 cases. Pinks mature uni- 

 formly at 2 years, and each stream 

 with an annual run supports two 

 separate populations. Pink salmon 

 may vary widely but average about 

 18 inches and 4 pounds. Runs are 

 from July to September. Pinks 

 prefer the lower reaches of smaller 

 streams near the coast and appar- 

 ently ascend only as far as neces- 

 sary to avoid congestion. Under 

 favorable conditions, pinks repro- 

 duce in tremendous abundance. 



Chum or dog salmon, although 

 not the most abundant, are the most 

 widely distributed of the salmon, 

 entering almost every stream from 

 Southeastern Alaska to the Mac- 

 kenzie River of the Arctic. Their 

 range in age and size is likewise 



12 



