336 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



species seems to work au almost total destruction, the sockeye being 

 one of the heaviest sufiferers in this respect. This mortality has a prac- 

 tical significance in that if none of the ascending fish are to return 

 again to the sea there is no occasion for protecting them with the object 

 of saving any for subsequent fishing seasons, and all that need be done 

 is to assure a suflBcient run past the nets to provide for the requisite 

 amount of spawning. 



With the information now at hand, however, no measure can be set 

 upon the quantity that should reach the si)awning-grounds, and for 

 some time at least, if not forever, the question must remain entirely 

 problematical, the only safe course to pursue being to allow the widest 

 margin possible. 



The ([uinnat has not the same position here that it holds on the 

 Columbia River, in consequence of its being apparently less abundant 

 and also because of the large proportion of off-colored fish, which has 

 made its pursuit less active than would otherwise have been the case. 

 Nevertlieless it ranks as the most important species for the fresh market, 

 for which purpose it is principally used, its employment for canning 

 during the season when it is chiefly taken being made impracticable 

 by the high i)rices which then prevail. The introduction of stock from 

 the Columbia River, with the object of securing a larger run of the 

 deei)er-colored fish, was contemplated by the Canadian government 

 some years ago, but the plans were never carried out. The experiment 

 would have been watched with keen interest, in view of tlie problem 

 involved as to whether the lighter coloring of so many individuals is 

 simj^ly due to local influences which might also affect the imported fish. 



The rapid growth of the fresh trade is strongly stimulating the fishery 

 for the quinnat, and its wellare should be caiefully looked after in tbe 

 salt water and the smaller streams, as well as in the larger rivers where 

 its ])ursuit is naturally most extensive. 



The steelhead is also chiefly utilized in a fresh condition, the fishery 

 being mainly a winter one in the lakes and rivers, although catches are 

 made at other seasons and to some extent in the salt waters. Its pre- 

 daceous tendencies and supposed habit of feeding on the young salmon 

 of other species have been suggested as suflicient reasons for denying 

 it all proiection, but it would be exceedingly unwise to act upon, this 

 proposition until its life-history has become better known. In British 

 Columbia the general provision against winter fishing for any of the 

 salmon has interfered with but not wholly prevented the capture of this 

 species at that time of year. The circumstances show the necessity for 

 regulating its fishery on a difierent basis from the other forms. 



Of the remaining members of the group the silver salmon is the most 

 important and is the one most likely to be drawn upon in making up 

 a shortage in the cannery pack of sockeye. It is most extensively 

 utilized south of the boundary line, where the principal catches are 

 obtained by means of purse seines in the salt water. It is also taken 



