114 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



describing- and iinining new species from the characters of unidentified, 

 immature individuals is not stopped, tbe study of the relations of the 

 species will become so complicated that useful classification will be next 

 to impossible, and the principal object and usefulness of scientific 

 arrangement, snch as simplifies the study of natural history in other 

 branches, will be greatly impaired. Examples of description based on 

 young fish are Salmo newherrii, Grd., and Salmo {Fario) argyreus < 

 Grd. Errors of this kind might easily be avoided by a little care in i' 

 labeling by the collector in the field. These remarks are meant generally, . 

 and not to reflect upon individuals. ^ 



Dr. Storer adds to his description the following statement : " But a v\ 

 single specimen of this beautiful fish was taken, and that by a gill-net tl 

 stretched across the mouth of a brook flowing into Red Bay, Labrador." 



16. SALMO GAIRDNERI, Richardson. 

 Gairdner's Salmon. 



Syn. — Stilmo (/airdneri, Rich., Fauna B. A., Fishes, 1836, p. 221 ; — De Kay, N. Y. .; 

 Fauna, iv, 1842, p. 243; — Storeu, Synop., 1846, p. 196 ;— Herbert, Suppl. 

 to Fish and Fishing of the United. States, 1850, p. 34 ; — (not Fario gaird- 

 neri, Grd., Pr, A. N. Sc, Phil., viii, 1856, p. 219 ;— Ibid. Pacific R. R. Re- - 

 ports, vol. vii ; et Gen. Rep. Fishes, p. 313, Plate Ixxi, fig. 1-4); — SucK- ' 

 LEY, P. R. R. Rep., vol. 12, p. 331 ;— Ibid, Nat. Hist. Wash. Terr., p. 331, 

 Qnannich or Kwnannich Chinook, (not jargon.) 



Sp. Ch. — [Based on data given by Richardson, and on the examination . 

 of two dried skins in the Smithsonian collection.] Profile of dorsal li 

 outline nearlj' straight ; tail terminating in a slightly semilunar outline. J 

 Ventrals correspond to commencement of dorsal, and adipose to end of t 

 anal. Jaws fully armed with strong hooked teeth, except a small space i' 

 in center of up]ier jaw. Vomer armed with a double row for two-thirds ^ 

 of its anterior portion. Back of head and body, bluish gray ,• sides, ' 

 ash gray ; belly, white ; caudal, spotted with oval dark spots ; snout, 

 rounded ; head, short and com parativ^ely broad; under fins, light-colored. 



Habitat, — Pacific Ocean, northwest coast of America. Enters and ' 

 ascends the Columbia in the spring. 



Diagnosis. — Prom IS. quiimat by its round muzzle and chin, and 

 when adult by lacking the forked tail. From S. trurwatus by its broad i 

 head at the base ; its round " snub " snout. [For further marks of dif- [ 

 ference see those species.] It resembles the S. tnincatus in its short I 

 head, small teeth, truncate tail, and large scales. In the speciraemi 

 examined the operculum differs considerably in shape from that of the 

 male ^S*, qninnat. 



Gairdner's salmon enters the Columbia in the spring in company with 

 the 8. quinnat It is a fine silvery fish, and equal in flavor and delicacy 

 to the latter, but much smaller in size ; the average, according to Dr. 

 Gairduer, being about six or seven pounds. 



Two skins are in the Smithsonian collection, sent from Astoria by Mr. 

 James Wayne. 



