SALMON AND TEOUT IN ALASKA. 7 



apply; the dwarf lake-dweller^ is spotted.) The steelhead, also a 

 spotted fish, is at once recognized by its slimness, the square tail fin, 

 and the deep caudal peduncle. It is difficult to pick up a steelhead 

 by grasping the tail, whereas a salmon may be readily so held. Sal- 

 mon without spots — sockeye, dog salmon, and sometimes the coho — 

 are somewhat confusing. The sockeye is usually distinguishable by 

 the blue back after death, the sharp nose, and the narrow maxillary, 

 while the tail fin lacks the produced pointed lobes of the dog salmon; 

 also the scales are firmer and show a clean-cut paving, and the flesh 

 is intensely red. The coho and dog salmon scales when silvery appear 

 to be of a finer and more delicate texture than those of the sockeye. 

 This is especially notable in the dog salmon. The female dog salmon 

 is usually very deep, both dorsoventrally and in lateral thickness — 

 "plumpness." The caudal peduncle is less compressed than in other 

 species and the curves joining it to the body are shorter than in the 

 coho. In the Alaska fisheries the dog-salmon males are seldom taken 

 until the secondary sex characters begin to be developed — the ''hook- 

 bill" and dirty coloration.'^ The produced caudal rays mentioned 

 above and the light color of the flesh are distinguishing marks in this 

 species. The coho is distinguished from the dog by less delicate 

 scales and deeper peduncle, by its small pupil, and in general by the 

 occurrence of spots often at first overlooked. 



Ip closer examination one will consider the greater length and 

 fineness of the gillrakers in the sockeye, the increased number of 

 anal and branchiostegal rays in the king, the fine scales of the hump- 

 back, the large and few pyloric coeca of the coho. The dog salmon 

 possesses no single diagnostic mark, but differs from the other 

 species respectively in each character as mentioned above. Changes 

 incidental to the spawning period will be noted under that head. 



DESIGNATIONS OF YOUNG SALMON. 



The lack of a distinctive terminology for the young of fishes has 

 led to much confusion in the interpretation of reports of fish cultur- 

 ists and investigators, more or less consequent acrimonious debate, 

 and some legal entanglements. In an effort to settle this matter for 

 the benefit of American writers and readers, the American Fisheries 

 Society in 1905 adopted the following nomenclature:'' 



Fry— &8h up to the time the yolk sac is absorbed and feeding begins. 



Advanced fry =&sh.irom. the end of the fry period until they have reached a length 

 of 1 inch. 



Fingerlings^iish between the length of 1 inch and the yearling stage, the various 

 sizes to be designated as follows: No. 1, a fish 1 inch in length and up to 2 inches; 



a " In handling a large number of dog salmon in 1907 it was observed at Juneau early 

 in September that many green silvery males were being taken in the traps at Shelter 

 Island and vicinity. Among these were several dog-salmon grilse." (Fassett.) 



^ Report of the Commissioner of Fisheries for fiscal year ended June 30, 1906, p. 24, 



