8 SALMON FISHERIES OF PACIFIC COAST. 



in large numbers, and in a few smaller streams in lesser abundance. 

 In August, September, and October they are again to be found in 

 large numbers feeding in the bays and sounds, while during the 

 winter months a few have been taken on trawls set for halibut, show- 

 ing that they are living in the lower depths at this time. 



In Cook Inlet the run occurs during May and June and is com- 

 posed wholly of red-meated fish ; in the rivers of Bristol Bay the run 

 comes in May and June, and the same is true of the Togiak, Kusko- 

 kwim, and Yukon Rivers, although fish may be seen in the upper 

 courses of the Yukon in July, the lateness here being due to the 

 immense distance the fish have to cover. 



On the Asiatic side the chinook is found in some of the rivers of 

 Siberia. 



SOCKEYE, BLUEBACK, OR RED SALMON. 



The sockeye or blueback salmon (O. nerka) , which forms the great- 

 est part of the canned salmon of the world, when it first comes in 

 from the sea is a clear bright blue above in color, silvery below. Soon 

 after entering the river for the purpose of spawning the color of the 

 head changes to a rich olive, the back and sides to crimson and finally 

 to a dark blood red, and the belly to a dirty white. The maximum 

 weight is about 12 pounds, and length 3 feet, with the average weight 

 about 5 pounds, varying greatly, however, in different localities. Ob- 

 servations of Chamberlain " in Alaska show that the average weight 

 of a number of sockeyes taken from Yes Bay was 8.294 pounds, 

 while the average weight of a number from Tamgas was only 3.934 

 pounds. Evermann and Goldsborough 6 report as a result of the 

 weighings of 1,390 red salmon, taken from as many different places 

 in Alaska as possible, an average weight for the males of 7.43 pounds ; 

 for the females, 5.78 pounds ; or an average weight for both sexes of 

 6.57 pounds. A run of small, or dwarf, males accompanies certain 

 of the main runs, these being especially noticeable in the Chignik 

 lagoon, Alaska, run. This species usually enters streams with acces- 

 sible lakes in their courses. 



A few specimens of the sockeye have been taken as far south as 

 the Sacramento River. In Humboldt County, Cal., small runs are 

 said to occur in Mad and Eel Rivers. Only an occasional specimen 

 appears in the coastal streams of Oregon. The Columbia is the 

 most southern river in which this species is known to run in any 

 numbers, entering the river with the spring run of chinooks. From 

 here south the species is called blueback exclusively. A considerable 

 run enters the Quinniault River, Wash., and there is also a small run 

 in Ozette Lake, just south of Cape Flattery. 



a Some observations on salmon and trout in Alaska. By F. M. Chamberlain, naturalist, 

 U. S. Fisheries Steamer Albatross. U. S. Bureau of Fisheries Document no. 627, p. 80. 



"The fishes of Alaska. By B. W. Evermann and E. L. Goldsborough. Bulletin Bureau 

 of Fisheries, vol. xxvi, p. 257. 



