THE PACIFIC SALMON. 



BY W. A. PERRY ("SILALICUM"). 



ON the Pacific Coast there are found five species of 

 Salmon, all of which, with the exception of one that is 

 locally confined, entering one short, rapid river, range up 

 the northwestern coast as far as the Arctic Circle, and even 

 beyond to Bering Straits. These fishes occupy a very impor- 

 tant position in regard to the welfare of the aboriginal popu- 

 lation of the coast, and even of the interior, in furnishing them 

 with their principal means of subsistence. The Salmon is, and 

 was, of greater importance to the Siwash (this term includes 

 all Indians speaking Chinook, and, in fact, all Indians be- 

 tween the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific, the northern line 

 of California, and British Columbia) than the elk, mountain 

 goat, moose, and deer combined. North of British Colum- 

 bia it is the main staple. True, there is an abundance of the 

 finest Halibut, Codfish, and Sturgeon, that the ocean can 

 produce, to be found along the entire northern coast; but 

 even these fishes, that supply the laboring people of the 

 coasts of Europe with what to them are luxuries, are by the 

 Indian and the Esquimau regarded with contempt, as being 

 fit only to be eaten in times of threatened starvation, or when 

 Salmon cannot be procured. 



The species of Pacific Salmon are: the Quinnat, or Tyee 

 Salmon; the Kisutch, or Blue-back Salmon; the Nerka, or 

 Saw-qui Salmon; the Keta, or Cultus Salmon; the Quil- 

 layute, or Oolahan Salmon. 



The Quinnat, or Tyee Salmon, is the largest that occurs 

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