MANUAL OF FISH-CULTURE. 13 



THE DOG SALMON. 



The dog salmon {Oncorhynchus Iceta) is the least valuable of the 

 Pacific salmons, although it is dried in large quantities by the Alaskan 

 natives. Its average weight is 12 pounds and the maximum is about 

 20 pounds. It is found from Sau Francisco to Kamchatka, being 

 especially abundant in Alaska. The enlargement and distortion of 

 the jaws give the species a very repulsive look. When just from the 

 ocean, the flesh has a beautiful red color and is not unpalatable, but it 

 deteriorates rapidly in fresh water. Larger quantities are utilized in 

 Puget Sound than elsewhere in the Pacific States. 



THE STEELHEAD. 



Another anadromous salmonoid fish found on the Pacific coast, popu- 

 larly regarded as a salmon, is the steelhead {Salmo gairdneri), known 

 also as Gairdner's trout, hardhead, winter salmon, square-tailed trout, 

 and salmon trout. It resembles in form, size, and general appearance 

 the salmon of the Atlantic coast, and is distinguished from other Pacific 

 coast salmon by its square tail in the spawning season, its small head, 

 round snout, comparatively slender form, light-colored flesh, and its 

 habit of spawning in spring. It is more slender than the quinnat and 

 consequently not so heavy for its length. The average weight in the 

 Columbia is about 10 pounds, although sometimes a weight of 30 

 pounds is attained. 



Its range is very extended, reaching from Santa Barbara on the 

 southern coast of California to the Alaska Peninsula, and perhaps to 

 the Arctic Ocean, and it 7s found in almost all the streams of the 

 Pacific States which empty into the ocean. It begins to enter the 

 Columbia in the ftill, and is then in prime condition. From this time it 

 deteriorates until the following spring, when, between the mouths of 

 February and May, spawning occurs. The fish's movements in other 

 rivers on the coast are not materially difterent, though perhaps it enters 

 the southern rivers earlier and the northern rivers later than the 

 Columbia. Like the chinook, the steelhead ascends rivers for long 

 distances, and it has been found almost as far up the tributaries of the 

 Columbia as the ascent of fish is possible. The eggs are much smaller 

 than those of the quinnat salmon and average 3,000 to 5,000 to the fish. 



As the greatest quantities of steelheads are caught in the spring, 

 when they are spawning and in a deteriorated condition, they are not 

 generally esteemed as food. When they come fresh from the sea and 

 are in good condition, however, their flesh is excellent. As the demand 

 for salmon has increased, steelheads have been utilized for canning 

 and they have formed a noteworthy part of the canned salmon from 

 the Columbia Kiver for a number of years past, as well as from the short 

 coast rivers of Washington and Oregon. Their consumption fresh has 

 been increasing yearly and considerable quantities have been sent to 

 the Eastern States in refriaerator cars. 



