A Sportsman 453 



bay of San Francisco, average about 22 pounds in 

 weight, while those of the Sacramento and San Joa- 

 quin rivers average almost exactly 17 pounds, as shown 

 by the average weights taken at each locality. 



No salmon-ascending rivers existing between the 

 two mentioned points would clearly indicate the identity 

 of the Monterey and Sacramento River class. So 

 the salmon of the Pacific Coast go to their spawning 

 grounds, never to return to the refreshing sea again; 

 or if by chance a few should be able to, their bruised 

 condition and totally impaired digestive organs result 

 in but a brief existence. No authentic instance is 

 known of a river salmon's survival on the Pacific Coast. 

 If any had been taken they would show their identity 

 by their disfigured appearance, which has never been 

 observed. 



In the banner year of 1902, 15,000,000 salmon were 

 canned on the coast; yet no serious diminution in 

 numbers has occurred, nor have the results of conducted 

 hatcheries shown great success, despite the general 

 opinion to the contrary. Therefore the great mass of 

 salmon regularly taken may be assumed to be the 

 progeny of those who sacrificed their lives for suc- 

 cessors. 



That electrical elements are prominent features in 

 the denizens of the sea and fresh-water bodies, is 

 clearly apparent and of undoubted efficient service, 

 and may be a part of that element I have designated 

 as scent, as a general sense which gives perceptiveness 

 of fresh water in the sea, or of minerals and earth in 

 solution, from magnetic qualities. This electric quality, 

 or whatever we may choose to call it, we observe in 

 freshly-caught fish which curl up and break in cooking, 



