364 GAME FISH OF NORTH AMERICA. 



The salmon of the Sacramento, McCloud and Pitt Rivers are said 

 to take the fly pretty well either early or late in the season, but 

 about the middle of the season, or the months of June or July, 

 they take nothing well but salmon roe, and this is rather a troub- 

 lesome bait to keep on the hooks, owing chiefly to the swiftness of 

 the current, (running about ten miles an hour,) and the somewhat 

 shyness of the fish in seizing the bait, although there is no lack at 

 all in their numerous attempts to grasp it. The fish keep well in 

 shore to avoid the force of the current when ascending the streams, 

 and, as in the east, are best taken during the hours of twilight. 



While in tide water, the salmon will bite freely at bait, spoon, 

 and frequently flies, a peculiarity that would give the Pacific fish 

 precedence as a game fish, over his Atlantic cousin, which seldom 

 takes bait in tide water, and never spoon, to our knowledge. 

 Absence of black flies and mosquitoes is another advantage which 

 California possesses over the East ; besides, the climate has no 

 greater severity than white frosts at night, with generally sunny 

 days. In the coast ranges in autumn, and on the Sacramento in 

 summer, fishing can be had with all of the comforts of the older 

 agricultural .States. The close season for salmon extends from 

 August 1st to November ist. The Indians not being subject to 

 the prohibition of the game laws, are allowed to take game at any 

 season of the year, and they take the salmon when they are in the 

 river to spawn, at which time they come in in immense numbers. 

 The Indians take them by means of spears, with handles often 

 twenty-five feet in length, and the modus operandi is as follows : 



The Sacramento near its head is very swift, and in its passage 

 across different ledges of various degrees of softness it excavates 

 large pools or holes in its bed, each having a small fall at its head 

 and a rapid beyond. The water in these holes, which are often 

 very large, is comparatively still, and they make welcome resting 

 places for the tired salmon, before they attempt the passage of 

 the rapid above ; they collect in them in great numbers, the water 

 is beautifully cold and clear, and the fish can be seen crowded to- 

 gether on the bottom. The Indians repair to one of these holes 

 to the number of twenty or more, and a fine picture they make as 

 they stand in position to strike when the word is given, nearly 

 naked, with their brown skin shining, and eyes glittering in antici- 



