PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES 



413 



about 5 pounds, varying greatly, however, in different localities. 

 Observations of Chamberlain ^ in Alaska show that the average 

 weight of a number of sockeyes taken from Yes Bay was 8.294 pounds, 

 while the average weight of a number from Tamgas was only 3.934 

 pounds. Evermann and Goldsborough "* report as a result of the 

 weighings of 1,390 red salmon, taken from as many diflCerent places 

 in Alaska as possible, an average weight for the males of 7.43 pounds; 

 for the females, 5.78 pounds; or an average weight for both sexes of 

 6.57 pounds. A run of small, or dwarf, males accompanies certain 

 of the main runs, being especially noticeable in the Chignik Lagoon 

 (Alaska) run. This species usually enters streams with accessible 

 lakes in their courses. 



These fish are occasionally found landlocked in certain lakes, 

 especially in the State of Washington, and are always much smaller 

 in size than the sea-run fish. In Bumping Lake, near North Yakima, 

 Wash., they are quite abundant and are mature when about a pound 

 in weight. Despite the fact that these fish have a soft mouth, anglers 

 consider them very gamey. They take bait, the fly, and the trolling 

 spoon. Large numbers aVe hatched and distributed by the Washing- 

 ton Department of Fisheries under the name of "silver trout." 



A few specimens of the sockeye have been taken as far south as 

 the Sacramento River. In Humboldt County, Calif., small runs are 

 said to occur in Mad and Eel Rivers, wliile 20 sockeyes are reported 

 as having been taken in the Klamath River in the autumn of 1915. 

 Only an occasional specimen appears in the coastal streams of Oregon. 

 The Columbia is the most southern river in which this species is 

 Imown to run in any considerable numbers, entering the river with 

 the spring run of chinooks. From here south the species is called 

 blueback exclusively. A considerable run enters the Quinault River, 

 Wash., and there is also a small run in Ozette Lake, just south of 

 Cape Flattery. 



In the Puget Sound region, where it is Imown as the sockeye, this 

 species ascends only the Skagit River in commercial numbers, although 

 a small run appears in the Lake Washington system of lakes and, 

 possibly, in the Snohomish, Still aguamish, and Nooksack Rivers. 



At one time the greatest of all the sockeye streams was the Eraser 

 River, British Columbia, a stream famous from very early days for 

 its enormous runs of this s})ecies, a pecuUar feature of which is, that 

 there is a marked quadrennial periodicity in the run. The maximum 

 run occurs the vear following leap year, the minimum on the year 

 following that. " The greater part of the catch of the Puget Sound 

 fishermen is made from this run as it is passing through Washington 

 waters on its wav to the Eraser. The fish strike in during July and 

 August on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, apparently coming 

 from the open sea to the northwest. They pass through the Straits 

 of Juan de Fuca, Rosario, and Georgia, spending considerable time 

 in the passage and about the mouth of the river. Small numbers 

 run as early as May and as late as October, but the main body enters 

 about the first week in August. t^ • • u 



The sockeye occurs in most of the coastal streams of British 

 Columbia, and is usually the most abundant species. The principal 



3 Some Observations on Salmon and Trout in Alaska. By F. M. Chamberlain, naturalist, U. S. Fish- 

 eries steamer v4/6a<ros«. U. S. Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 627, p. 80. \\ ashington, 190/. 



* The Fishes of Alaska. By B. W. Evermann and E. L. Goldsborough. Bulletm, U. S. Bureau of 

 Fisheries, 1906, Vol. XXVI, p. 257. Washmgton, 1907. 



