MANUAL OF FISH-CULTURE. \) 



the headwaters of the Sacramento until nearly lialf their bodies were 

 exposed to the air. No matter how far the headwaters of a river are 

 from the ocean, some of the salmon will press forward until stopped 

 by impassable obstructions or Avater too shallow for them to swim in. 

 On reaching the headwaters they remain for a week or two before 

 proceediug- to the spawuiug-grounds. Their rate of progress varies with 

 the season, and probably depends to a great extent on the rainfall and 

 the state of the river, rain, roily water, and high water always hastening 

 their progress. 



When they first come from the ocean the sexes are almost identical 

 iu appearance, but as the time for spawning approaches a difference is 

 noticed between the males and the females, which during the spawning 

 season becomes more marked. The fully develo]>ed ova of the female 

 give her a round, i^lump appearance, while the male grows very thin; 

 his head ilattens, the upper jaw curves like a hook over the lower, the 

 eyes become sunken; large, powerful, white, dog-like teeth appear on 

 both Jaws, and the fish acquires a gaunt and savage appearance. As 

 soon as they reach fresh water their appetites grow less, their throats 

 begin to narrow, and their stomachs to shrink. This does not at first 

 entirely prevent them from feeding, but it changes them enough to 

 enable them to overcome the temi)tation to leturn to their well-stocked 

 feeding-grounds in the ocean, and the longer they remain in fresh water 

 the greater are the changes, and the -desire to turn back for food is 

 correspondingly lessened. This change comes about gradually, increas- 

 ing day by day from the time they leave tide water until at the near 

 approach of the spawning season their throats and stomachs become 

 entirely incapacitated for receiving food, and the desire and ability to 

 feed leave them entirely. The great reserve of tlesh and blood which they 

 bring with them from the ocean enables them to keep the vital organs 

 active until their mission up the freshwater streams is accomplished. 



Quiunat salmon that spawn a long distance from the ocean do not 

 return to it again, but die on or near their spawning-grounds. This 

 singular fact has been disputed, but its truth has been proved repeat- 

 edly and conclusively. After spawning they 'rapidly deteriorate, the 

 flesh shades off to a light, dirty pink and they become foul, diseased, 

 and very much emaciated through wounds and great exertion. Their 

 scales are wholly absorbed in the skin, which is of a dark olive or 

 black hue, and blotches of fungus appear on their heads and bodies, 

 and iu various places are long white patches where the skin is i^artly 

 worn off. Their fins and tails become badly mutilated, and in a short 

 time they die exhausted. 



The quiunat salmon first appear on the Pacific coast at Monterey Bay, 

 where many are caught with hook and line as early as the second week 

 in January, and are next seen in the Sacramento River in numbers iu 

 February. In the Columbia Kiver they appear in March, but are not 

 abundant until April or May. They arrive in southern Alaska in 

 May and farther north in June, while it is probable that it is still later 



