138 U. §. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
started about a week later than the king salmon. In the section of 
the river between Louden and Tanana, they were reported as 8 to 
-10 days behind the kings, and in the district between Circle and 
Dawson, the first chum was recorded 11 to 17 days later than the 
first king. It is evident, therefore, that the chum salmon, also, 
although apparently far less vigorous than the king, ascend the 
river at an astonishing rate of speed, maintained without cessation 
for well over a month, under the necessities imposed on them by the 
short summer and the rigorous fall climate of the Yukon. 
The opinion has already been recorded that the king salmon of 
the Yukon is the richest in oil of any known king salmon. The same 
statement, made with even greater emphasis, may be advanced re- 
garding the Yukon chums. This species is noted in other localities 
for its poor oil and poor color. The canned product is the reverse of 
attractive in color or in richness, and occupies the lowest rank in 
the markets of the world. In other river basins the chums do not 
travel far from the sea, but enter late in the season and seek spawning 
beds not far inland. But the best of the Yukon chums travel 1,000 
to 2,000 miles up a river known for its consistently rapid current. 
They form a rich table fish in the lower section of the Yukon, where 
the king salmon, to ordinary palates, contains a superabundance of 
oil. No more striking evidence of the richness of the king salmon 
can be found than that presented in the smokehouses of natives in 
the lower river. Here the drying salmon constantly drip a pure, 
clear red oil, which is collected in vessels and preserved for winter 
use. At the village of Ohogamute, above Marshall, we observed some 
30 quart bottles filled with red salmon oil, secured this season from 
drying king salmon. 
YUKON DELTA, ITS PRINCIPAL CHANNELS, AND ROUTES MAINLY 
FOLLOWED BY SALMON. 
The Yukon River subdivides numerously within its extensive delta, 
and sends its waters to the sea through a large number of distinct 
channels. Many of these are narrow winding canals, which 
meander in every direction interminably through the flat lands, 
before they attain the outer edge of the delta. Through all of them, 
doubtless, some salmon pass, but three of the channels so far 
transcend the others in size and importance that for practical pur- 
poses they may be considered as forming the mouths of the Yukon 
and the main migration routes of the entering salmon. The channels 
in question, in order of importance, are Kwikluak Pass, or south 
mouth, with its important branch, the Kwiguk Pass; Kawanak and 
Kwikpak Passes, which coalesce before entering the sea and form 
together the middle mouth; and Apoon Pass, or north mouth. 
Much the smallest of the three is the Apoon Channel, which 
traverses the northern sector of the delta, and forms the most direct 
route for river steamers bound to and from St. Michael. Although 
exclusively used as a steamer channel, it is poorly adapted for this 
purpose, being so shallow both within and without the mouth that 
light-draft boats have quite the habit of going aground there and 
waiting until a favoring tiae shall float them. 
Few salmon apparently find their way through Apoon Pass. A 
few families of natives from Kotlik village had established a fish 
