PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 13 
CHUM OR KETA SALMON. 
_ The chum or keta salmon (0. keta) reaches a maximum weight of 
16 pounds, the average being about 8 pounds. When it first appears 
along the coast it is dirty silvery, immaculate or sprinkled with 
small black specks, the fins dusky, the sides with faint traces of grid- 
ironlike bars. Later in the season the male is brick red or blackish, 
and its jaws are greatly distorted. Its flesh is quite pale, especially 
when canned. It is especially good for freezing, salting, and smoking. 
This species has a wide distribution. It is found as far south as 
San Francisco, but is not utilized commercially in California except 
on Eel River. It is found in most of the coastal streams from here 
north, being especially abundant from Puget Sound northward to 
southeast Alaska, both inclusive. In “his region it is being utilized 
in greater abundance each year, as the market for it widens. 
In central, western, and arctic Alaska the species occurs in varying 
abundance, but is utilized sparingly, except by the natives, with whom 
it is the favorite species dried for winter food. 
The run of chum salmon comes later than that of any other species 
except the coho. In Alaska it begins in June, but the height of the 
season does not occur until late in August or early in September, and 
fish are found as late as November. In Puget Sound they run from 
about the middle of August till late in November, and practically the 
same is true in the Columbia River. 
STEELHEAD TROUT. 
The steelhead trout (Salmo gairdneri) is commonly classed as one 
of the salmons by the fishermen of the Pacific coast, and it has been’ 
included in this report on this account. In different localities the 
average weight is placed at from 8 to 15 pounds, while extreme sizes 
reach 45 pounds. The excellent quality of its flesh causes it to be 
highly prized for the fresh and frozen markets, but owing to its pale 
color only limited quantities are canned. 
The principal center of abundance of this species is the Columbia 
River. It is found from Carmel] River, Cal., north to central Alaska, 
and possibly has an even wider range in Alaska. It seems to be found - 
in the rivers during the greater part of the year. In the Columbia 
River the spawning season is from February to May, in Puget Sound 
in the spring, and in southeast Alaska in May and June. The best 
commercial fishing is in January, February, and March. In Califor- 
nia the catching of this species is restricted to hook and line fishing. 
AGE OF SALMON AT MATURITY. 
As practically all salmon which have the opportunity spawn but 
once and then die, knowledge of the age at which this occurs is of 
great interest both from an economic and scientific standpoint. 
Many attempts have been made to solve the problem with the sockeye 
