392 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



male dog- salmon is led and bis Jaws are much distorted. This is also 

 true of the humi)l)ack salmon, which is small, weighing uj) to 6 pounds 

 and having 15 anal rays. 



Among- the offshoots of the Salmonidw is the steelhead, which, from 

 good autliority, is the salmon trout, the same si)ecies as the rainbow 

 trout in the streams. In point of fact the steelhead and rainbow trout 

 were originally one and the same lish, so far as at present known from 

 tlieir construction, the difference in size being due to their habits and 

 the extensive surrouiidings of the steelhead. In construction, except 

 its size, the steelhead is a trout, but in habits a salmon. The rainbow 

 trout may become a salmon trout (or steelhead) when its habits are 

 anadromous, which could occur through accident, such as an unusual 

 freshet in which the rainbow trout is washed into the estuaries of the 

 rivers and the sea. The rich food and boundless extent of territory off 

 the mouths of rivers account for his increase in size and strength. Tin's 

 growth is noticed in the salmon as being comparatively insignificant 

 while remaining in fresh water, but rapid upon its first visit to the sea. 

 Fish food is most plentiful in the ocean near the estnaries of the rivers, 

 as the influence of the fresh-water stream is felt many miles at sea, 

 causing an abundant growth of marine vegetation or vast pastures, 

 attracting the smaller fish and Crustacea upon which the salmon feed, 

 returning yearly to their native rivers to spawn. 



Very respectfully, J. J, Beige, 



Commander, U. S. Navy. 

 Hon. Marshall McDonald, 



United States Fish Commissioner. 



