THE PISHES OF ALASKA. 261 



tVo adult steelhcads Were taken in Hot Springs Creek, Bell Island. These with several others 

 were in a deep pool where they had been left by falling water as they were returning from their spawning 

 beds in the lake aljout a mile farther up the stream. Examples are also reported from the Pacific ('old 

 Storage Company at Taku Harbor. On August 14 a few were seined at Karluk, where they are reported 

 not to be common. May 26 to 30 Mr. C'laudius Wallich found them spawning in the stream at the 

 head of Lake McDonald. Quite a number were observed. OnMay24to27, 1904, Mr. F. M. Chamberlain 

 found them spawning in Steelhead Creek near Loring, also in Naha River above Dorr Falls. The 

 temperature of the water in the creek was 56° to 57°, that of the river being 50°. No steelheads were 

 noticed in a small liranch of Steelhead Creek, where the temperature was 45.° 



One example (no. 02813; scales about 150), 10 inches long, was caught with hook and line .June 22 

 in Courtney Lake at Union Bay. A few examples were seen in the cannery at Point Highlicld .July 13 

 and at Taku Harl)or July 14. A female 17 inches long and weighing 1 pound 10 ounces was caught at 

 Snug Harbor August 6. 



The center of abundance of the steelhead is evidently the Columliia River. Mr. F. M. Warren, sr., 

 of Portland, reports that the run in the Columbia, Rogue, and other Oregon rivers was large in 1902 and 

 1903. The first spring run in 1903 was about June 20 and continued two days, the fish averaging only 7 

 pounds. The fish of the later run (in August) were much larger, averaging about 15 pounds. A few 

 may be taken m the Columbia any day in the year. The largest one of which we have a definite record 

 was caught at Corbett, on the Columbia River, by Reed Brothers. It was seen by Mr. J. N. Wisner and 

 weighed 42 pounds. Reed Brothers state that they often get steelheads of that size. 



On Septeml>er 11 many steelheads were seen in Mr. Warren's cold-storage plant at Goble, on the 

 (!'()lumliia. They were then being caught in traps near by. At this time it was difficult to ti.'U males 

 from females. A female examined showed the roe to be very immature, indicating that spawning would 

 proliably not have occurred before February or March. 



One hundred and five examples were measured and weighed. The lengths varied from 31 to 45 

 inches and the weights from 10.5 to 32.5 pounds. The average length was 37.03 inches and the average 

 weight 18.48 pounds. Several exammed at PvTamid Harbor in August were 26 to 32 inches long and 

 weighed 9.5 to 13.5 pounds. One taken at Bell Island was 33 inches long and weighed 9 pounds. 



In September and October, 1897, Mr. A. B. Alexander, of this Bureau, examined a large number of 

 steelheads at the Cascades and at Celilo, on the Columbia River. Many were seen, September 18 and 

 19, ascending the falls. In all 4,179 were examined; of these, 1.531 were males and 2,648 females; 476 

 males and 900 females were regarded as well developed and ready to spawn within a month or .six weeks. 



This ripening of the steelhead in the fall is probaljly unusual. All <.)ther observations indicate that 

 this species is a spring spawner. In the headwaters of Salmon River, in Idaho, it spawns in early spring — 

 usually in May and June. In Alaska, so far as known, it spawns early in the spring. 



It is not always easy to distinguish the steelhead from the cutthroat or the rainbow trout; it is par- 

 ticularly difficult, if not impossilile, to do so in the fry and fingerling stages. The adult Alaska steel- 

 head has larger scales, a shorter head, and a smaller eye than the Alaska cutthroat; it is also less pro- 

 fusely covered with lilack spots, the tail is more nearly square, and there is no red on the throat. From 

 the Alaska rainliow trout it may usually be distinguished by the smaller eye, somewhat smaller scales, 

 less brilliant coloration, and relative a))sence of black spots except on upper part of side and on dorsal 

 and caudal fins. 



The steelhead reaches a much larger size than either the cutthroat or the rainbow. On the Columbia 

 it is of much commercial importance. In Alaska it is a valuable food fish, though it is not al^undant 

 enough to be of as great importance as any of the species of salmon. It lends itself well to the canning 

 process and is a nutritious and very palatable article thus prepared. It is, however, most valuable as 

 a fresh fish, especially when distant shipments are necessary. There is no member of the salmon family 

 which can be handled more satisfactorily in cold storage than the steelhead. Its size, trim shape, firm 

 fle.sh, and superior keeping qualities fit it admirably for treatment in this way. 



34. Salmo irideus (Oibbons). Alasia Rainbow Trout. (PI. xxxix.) 



The rainbow trout has not previously been reported from Alaska, except Ijy Bean in 1881 from 

 Sitka, although its presence in Southeast Alaska was known to various officers of the Albatross and local 

 angler."?. No specimens, however, had been collected or had come into the hands of any naturalist. 



