2io Sport and Life. 



When the fish arrive in the lower reaches of the rivers their flesh is of an 

 intensely deep red salmon-colour, and as regards flavour not inferior to 

 that of our best salmon ; and it seems that the excellency of its flavour 

 deteriorates in a much less degree by freezing or other methods of 

 preservation. From my own limited experience I should pronounce it to 

 be firmer, less oily, and more easily digested. After the fish have been 

 some time in fresh water the flesh pales, and becomes unfit, for canning 

 purposes, and towards the end of their fresh water career their flesh has 

 become white and flabby. 



As in all migratory salmonoids, locality much affects the season of the 

 wanderings of the quinnat, and modifies its habits ; it is also probable that 

 in the accounts of some of the older naturalists the observations on the 

 quinnat refer to more than one species ; at any rate, we meet with some 

 contradictory statements which otherwise cannot be accounted for. But 

 the following facts seem to refer truly to the quinnat of the Californian and 

 British Columbian waters. 



Early in spring, by the end of March, when icy cold freshets come 

 down the rivers in consequence of the melting of the snow and ice of the 

 mountains, the quinnat assembles in its hosts near the mouths of the 

 rivers ; at this time of the year it refuses to enter rivers which are not fed 

 by snow-water torrents. As long as the fish are under the influence of sea 

 water they continue to feed well, freely taking any natural or artificial bait. 

 Gradually they work up higher, entering pure fresh water after a week or 

 fortnight. From this time they cease to feed ; in fact, every other instinct 

 seems to be suppressed but the one which impels them to push up stream 

 to their spawning grounds near the sources of the rivers, often many 

 hundreds of miles distant, and reached only after several months of 

 incessant travel. During this journey the quinnat has never been known to 

 take or attempt to take any nourishment. The rich store of nutritious 

 substance which it has accumulated in its tissues during the time of plenty 

 among the crustaceans, worms and fish of the ocean, is now gradually used 

 up to supply the muscular energy for its long journey, and to bring the 

 generative products to maturity. 



The run of the quinnat lasts throughout the summer, apparently in 

 diminishing numbers. But a new though -smaller contingent arrives in the 

 autumn for those rivers which are not fed by snow water coming from the 

 mountains of the interior, and which then have their water raised by 

 autumnal rains. The years vary locally with regard to the abundance of 

 quinnat. A writer in "The British Columbia Annual " for 1894 informs 

 us that a regular cycle of four years obtains in the Fraser river; after a year 



