138 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



'started about a week later than the king salmon. Tn the section of 

 the river between Louden and Tanana, they were reported as 8 to 

 10 days behind the kings, and in the district between Circle and 

 Dawson, the first chum was recorded 11 to 17 days later than the 

 first king. It is evident, therefore, that the chum salmon, also, 

 although apparently far less vigorous than the king, ascend the 

 river at an astonishing rate of speed, maintained without cessation 

 for well over a month, under the necessities imposed on them by the 

 short summer and the rigorous fall climate of the Yukon. 



The opinion has already been recorded that the king salmon of 

 the Yukon is the richest in oil of any knoAvn king salmon. The same 

 statement, made with even greater emphasis, may be advanced re- 

 garding the Yukon chums. This species is noted in other localities 

 for its poor oil and poor color. The canned product is the reverse of 

 attractive in color or in richness, and occupies the lowest rank in 

 the markets of the world. In other river basins the chums do not 

 travel far from the sea, but enter late in the season and seek spawning 

 l)eds not far inland. But the best of the Yukon chums travel 1,000 

 to 2,000 miles up a river known for its consistently rapid current. 

 They form a rich table fish in the lower section of the Yukon, where 

 the king salmon, to ordinary palates, contains a superabundance of 

 oil. No more striking evidence of the richness of the king salmon 

 can be found than that presented in the smokehouses of natives in 

 the lower river. Here the drying salmon constantly drip a pure, 

 clear red oil, which is collected in vessels and preserved for winter 

 use. At the village of Ohogamute. above Marshall, we observed some 

 80 quart bottles filled with red salmon oil, secured this season from 

 drying king salmon. 



YUKON DELTA, ITS PRINCIPAL CHANNELS, AND ROUTES MAINLY 

 FOLLOWED BY SALMON. 



The Yukon River subdivides numerously within its extensive delta, 

 and sends its waters to the sea through a large nuni})er of distinct 

 channels. Many of these are narrow winding canals, which 

 meander in every direction interminably through the flat lands, 

 befoie they attain the outer edge of the delta. Through all of them, 

 doubtless, some salmon pass, but three of the channels so far 

 transcend the others in size and importance that for practical pur- 

 poses they may be considered as forming the mouths of the Yukon 

 and the main migration routes of the entering salmon. The channels 

 in question, in order of importance, are Kwikluak Pass, or south 

 mouth, with its important branch, the K^viguk Pass; Kawanak and 

 Kv:iki)ak Passes, Avhich coalesce before entering the sea and form 

 together the middle mouth; and Apoon Pass, or north mouth. 



Much the smallest of the three is the Apoon Channel, which 

 traverses the northern sector of the delta, and forms the most direct 

 route for river steamers bound to and from St. Michael. Although 

 exclusively used as a steamer channel, it is poorly adapted for this 

 purpose, being so shallow both within and without the mouth that 

 light-draft boats have quite the habit of going aground there and 

 waiting until a favoring tiae shall float them. 



Few salmon apparently find their way through Apoon Pass. A 

 few families of natives from Kotlik village had established a fish 



