4,436 fingerlings remained at the end of July, 

 and only 3,036 fish, weighing 114 pounds, were 

 liberated on January 29, 1959. This was the 

 most sucessful attempt to raise winter-run 

 salmon in Battle Creek water; almost com- 

 plete failure was had in 1955 and a complete 

 failure in 1959. ' It is obvious that these sur- 

 vivals would not maintain a run in Battle Creek, 

 and it may be concluded that the fish straying 

 into Mill Creek and Battle Creek are essen- 

 tially wasted. 



TIMING OF UP-MIGRATION 

 AND SPAWNING 



Hallock's observations on the timing of the 

 runs indicate that winter-run fish first passed 

 the mouth of Feather River (near Sacramento 

 and about 225 miles downstream from Keswick 

 Dam) during the first week of November in 1957 

 and 1958. Experience at Keswick traps indi- 

 cates arrival there during the last half of De- 

 cember, but migration to this point is delayed 

 near Redding by closure of the fishway on 

 Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District's di- 

 version dam until about November 15 each 

 year. On July 14, 1961, I observed about 100 

 winter-run Chinook salmon on the redds be- 

 neath the Highway 99 bridge at Redding. Most 

 of these fish appeared to be in postspawning 

 condition. One female was apparently in the 

 process of building a nest. On July 3, 1962, 

 salmon in postspawning condition were nu- 

 merous at this site. On August 9, 1963, one 

 tired, worn female was near a redd beneath 

 the bridge, two spawned-out females had been 

 landed by a fisherman, and other stragglers 

 were noted on downstream riffles. The ex- 

 perience of personnel at Coleman Hatchery 

 indicates the spawning range is from the latter 

 part of April to the latter part of July. 



' By contrast, Harry D. Baer reports (personal com- 

 munication) that an experimental hatchingofwinter-run 

 eggs in 50° F. Sacramento River water at Keswick 

 during 1963 has been highly successful. From 52 ripe 

 females trapped between KAy 22 and July 12, 235.700 

 eggs were obtained, fertilized, and carried through the 

 eyed stage with only about 5 percent mortality. Fifty 

 thousand eyed eggs of this group were shipped to the 

 Fish and Game Department at Melbourne, Victoria, 

 Australia, and received in good shape. Rearing, to be 

 attempted at Coleman Hatchery, is yet unproved. 



From the above observations and those re- 

 ported previously, we may establish tentative 

 limits to the timing of the run. These winter- 

 run Chinook salmon apparently arrive in the 

 vicinity of Redding from late November through 

 February, and probably later, and spawn from 

 late April nearly through July, with most 

 activity in May and June. Incubation of the eggs 

 extends at least through August. 



The adults arrive on the spawning area in 

 beautiful condition. Sleek, fat, silvery, and full 

 of fight, winter-run chinooks are much sought 

 by sport fishermen. They are generally re- 

 ported to be an excellent food fish with a pale 

 pink flesh, Hallock confirmed the latter gen- 

 eralization by interviews of experienced fisher- 

 men during the fall of 1962. All fishermen 

 reported the flesh to be light pink or pink. 

 Their unique occurrence fills a valued place 

 in the all-year Sacramento River salmon 

 fishery. 



The principal fishing period for winter- run 

 fish in the Redding-Red Bluff area, as reported 

 by Hallock, is mid-December through March 

 with a peak during January-February. How- 

 ever, he also reports that ripe fish are landed 

 in significant numbers during May and June 

 as far downstream as Los Molinos, about 70 

 miles below Keswick Dam, 



In their appearance and habits the winter- 

 run fish seem to be more closely allied to the 

 spring run than to the fall run. Like the spring- 

 run fish, they ascend the river infirm "green" 

 condition, ripening slowly in fresh water. 

 However, unlike the spring run, their spawn- 

 ing period does not overlap that of any other 

 run. This may account for their increasing 

 population in contrast to the spring run. The 

 young winter-run fish are out of the gravel 

 and growing before the spring run commences 

 spavraing. The spring run, on the other hand, 

 is only well-started spawning before the early 

 fall-run spawners move in to compete for 

 nest sites. This competition, plus the indicated 

 hybridizing of the spring and fall races, ap- 

 pears to have held down the spring run, per- 

 haps even to have eliminated it as a distinct 

 race in the mainstem Sacramento River. Such 

 hybridizing could not readily be detected 

 through routine field observation, for the 

 hybrids would continue to enter the river in 



