PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. Th 
In southeast Alaska the run begins in June and continues until 
September. In western Alaska the period is somewhat shorter. In 
Puget Sound it continues until late in the fall, although but few are 
taken after September 15. 
DOG OR CHUM SALMON, 
The dog or chum salmon (QO. 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 
eridironlike bars. Later in the season the male is brick red or 
blackish, and its jaws are greatly distorted. Its flesh is light yellow, 
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 Lorenzo River, Santa Cruz County, Calif., but is not utilized 
commercially in California except on Kel 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 this region it is being utlized in greater abundance each year, as 
the market for it widens. 
In central, western, and arctic Alaska the species occurs in varying 
abundance, but it is utilized sparingly, except by the natives, with 
whom it is the favorite species dried for winter food for their dogs. 
The run of dog 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. It is said to have received 
its common name from the hardness of the skull, several blows of 
the club being required to kill the salmon when taken into the boat. 
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, Calif., north to central Alaska, 
and possibly has an even wider range in Alaska. As a result of 
extensive snes made during the last five or six years the range has 
been much extended on the Pacific coast as well as elsewhere in this 
country. It seems to be found in the rivers during the greater part 
of the year. In the Columbia River the spawning season is ot 
February to May, in Puget Sound in the spring, and in southeast 
Alaska in May and June. The best commercial tishing is in January, 
February, and March. In California the catching of this species is 
restricted to hook and line fishing. 
