ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION OF THE SALMONS OF 

 THE PACIFIC COAST." 



Revised and enlarged by Henry (VMalley, Field Assistant, V. S Bureau of 

 Fisheries, in Charge of Operations on the Pacific Coast. 



THE SALMONS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 



There are five species of salmon on the Pacific coast lielonging to 

 the genus Oncorhvnchus, namely, the chinook, spring, king, or 

 quinnat salmon {Oncorhynchus ts-c/m>rytsrha) : the blueback sock- 

 eve or redfish {OiicarhynchuH nerka) ', the humpback or pink sal- 

 mon (Oncorhynchus govhuscha) ; the silver or coho salmon (6'/ico- 

 rhvnchus khutch) ; and the chum or dog salmon {Orworhym^hus 

 kcta) Among the features which distinguish the Pacific salmons 

 from the Atlantic salmon are the larger nuuiber of rays in the anal 

 fin and the invariable habit of spawning but once and then dying; 

 the Atlantic salmon may spawn several times. 



The characters noted in the following key will usually be suffi- 

 cient to distinguish the different species of Pacific salmon: 



Chinook .9a?wMW.— Scales in longitudinal series, about 13o; py- 

 loric coeca, 110 to 200, averaging 150: gillrakers comparatively short, 

 from 20 to 25 in number, 9 being above the angle; rays in anal hn 

 from 14 to 19, average 16: branchiostegals, 14 to 19, average 16. 

 Body robust; head conic; caudal fin lunate. Color above duslqr, 

 sometimes with bluish or greenish tinge; sides and belly silvery; 

 head dark, with metallic luster, back and sides with prominent spots, 

 usually X-shaped. . 



Blvehcwk .srx^m/w.— Scales in longitudinal series, about IM): py- 

 loric coeca, 75 to 100; gillrakers comparatively long and slender, 

 from 30 to 40 in number; rays in anal fin. 14 to 18; branchiostegals. 

 13 to 15. Body rather slender; caudal fin lunate; anal and dorsal 

 fins low. Color, sides silvery, no spots on back, which is frequently 



bright blue. . , • i- i 



Humpback »aZwM>n.— Scales very small, 200 or more in longitudinal 

 series; pvloric coera very slender, about 180 in number; gillrakers 

 short, from 20 to 25 ; anal rays, 15 ; branchiostegals, 11 to 12. Color, 

 bluish above, silvery on sides; lower part of back, adipose fin, and 

 tail with numerous black spots, largest and of oblong form on tail. 



/Silver ««Zm<w.— Scales large, about 130 in longitudinal scries; 

 pyloric cceca comparatively few and large, 40 to 110 in number, 



•This pappr represents a revision and enlarBoment of the chapter on "The Salmons 

 of the I'arlflc Coast." from th.- Maniinl of Flshrultur... publishorl 1" th,. Report of tlu- 

 TJ. S. CommisHlon of Fish ami I'IsIi.tI.-s for 1H'.»7, a first r.-vlsod edition of which was 

 published separately In 1000. The chanter was .siibs<>fiucntly Issued in separate form 

 under the title " Artificial Propagation of the Salmons of the Pacific Coast. 



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