45 2 Reminiscences of 



but a few hundred miles from the Asiatic coast. This 

 loop of islands diverts the Japanese current inland and 

 the stream curves in its route until it proceeds 

 south along the Washington, Oregon, and California 

 coasts; and the remarkable feature is presented of 

 two mighty streams, but slightly apart, proceeding 

 in opposite directions in greater volume than all the 

 combined land rivers of the world could exhibit if 

 united in one body. 



The speed of this mighty current south opposite the 

 outlet of the bay of San Francisco is estimated at be- 

 tween thirty and forty miles per day of twenty-four 

 hours. Into this current pour the brackish and roiled 

 waters of the bay. 



The fresh water combining with the salt is quickly 

 detected by the salmon a hundred miles below, and a 

 general exodus of the salmon takes place, leaving but 

 a few stragglers remaining. 



In three or four days after their departure the 

 canners on the Sacramento River are abundantly 

 supplied by seiners. 



Shortly afterward a fresh school conies in, which 

 departs as those before after a few days following 

 a fresh rise of the river waters, and appears as in the 

 first instance a few days after their departure at the 

 usual seining localities. These instances occurring 

 several times during my fishing period plainly indicated 

 to me the result of the river freshets. No mistake 

 could occur in the identity of the particular schools 

 in disappearing from the Monterey waters and appear- 

 ing at the Sacramento River, as the same class of salmon 

 known as the king or chinook, inhabiting the Col- 

 umbia River several hundred miles north of the 



