FISHERIES OF WASHINGTON AND BRITISH COLUMBIA. 279 



hpld in reference to the salmon returning. They no doubt descend very rapidly, 

 and either in the deep water of the center of the streams or along the shores, where 

 tliey are less apt to conic in contact with nets. I have on several occasions noticed 

 the spent sockeye salmon swimming down this river toward the gulf, and I ha\ e 

 been informed by the netters that they have taken them ; but of course there is not 

 the same chance of capturing them on their return to the ocean. 



Observations made elsewhere in Pacific coast rivers do not confirm 

 Mr. Mowat's conclusions regarding the sockeye. Dr. T. H. Bean, who 

 made a study of the Karluk Ki ver, at Kadiak, Alaska, in 1889, expresses 

 the opinion that no spawning sockeye leave that river alive, although 

 they may live in the lakes at its source during more or less of the winter. 



Prof. B. W. Evermann, who has given much attention to the salmon 

 question in the headwaters of the Columbia Eiver in Idaho, and whose 

 statements are based on most painstaking observations, says of the 

 sockeye in that region : 



What becomes of the redfish after spawning? Our observations, made at Alturas 

 and Payette lakes in 1S94 and 1895, and particularly those at Alturas Lake in 1895, 

 which have already been given with consider able detail, leave no doubt as to the 

 answer to this question. The redfish which spawn in the inlets to the Idaho lakes 

 never return to the sea, but all die at the close of the spawning season. The evidence 

 is conclusive. 



Had Mr. Mowat been spared to continue his inquiries during a 

 longer period, it is to be expecte I that he would have succeeded in 

 throwing much light upon this still perplexing question. In the face 

 of the other evidence just cited, it can scarcely be admitted that bis 

 deductions are conclusive as regards the sockeye. While Professor 

 Evermaun's observations relate to waters at a long distance from the 

 sea, the Karluk spawning-grounds are much nearer to the ocean than 

 any in the lower tributaries of the Eraser River. 



An argument may be based upon the uniformity in size of the fish, 

 but not safely without support from other evidence. Thus the sockeye, 

 silver salmon, and humpbacks each run quite uniform in weight, the 

 majority of those which enter any river averaging about the same. 

 Did they make repeated ascents, the older fish might be expected to 

 attain successively larger sizes, but as the sizes vary little, it is natural to 

 assume that, with possibly few exceptions, they make but the one jourr 

 ney — are adapted to spawn but once. That a few escape might explain 

 the occasional capture of larger sizes, as reported from tiuie to time. 

 The quinnat and dog salmon, on the contrary, exhibit a considerable 

 variation in size, suggesting the survival of a greater proportion of the 

 fish after each spawning, a greater power of longevity, and the oppor- 

 tunity of making two or more runs. Notwithstanding this argument, 

 however, the dog salmon have been counted among those which die 

 most readily after spawning. 



From a practical standpoint the question of mortality may be 

 assumed as having some importance for consideration in connection 

 with regulations for the protection of the salmon. If all the individ- 

 uals of a species composing a season's run die at their spawning- 



