146 TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 



After the salmon came the dog-fish and hair-seals. 

 On the reaches of the river countless bald-headed 

 eagles hovered and sat waiting. 



There are several varieties of salmon on the Pacific 

 and Bering Sea coast, but for canning purposes it 

 is usually the king called in British Columbia 

 " chinook " and the red salmon which is put up. 

 In short seasons, when the catch seems likely to be 

 insufficient, one or two other kinds may be pressed 

 into the service, or rather into the cans I The dog- 

 salmon only is anathema, and this only because its 

 flesh, though firm, is white and unpleasing-looking. 

 In all other respects the fish is "fit to stand by 

 Caesar," which is the king variety. 



All the salmon running into this creek were of one 

 species, but our men told us that up some rivers 

 one or two varieties of salmon run at once. The 

 eggs hatch out in winter, and when the ice is broken 

 down come the small fish to the sea, a piscine army. 

 The average king salmon when fully grown scales 

 fifty pounds, and frequently reaches eighty. The 

 salmon most in demand for canning purposes is the 

 small red, for its dark crimson colour lends it an 

 enchantment to the home-buyers of canned salmon 

 which all the others lack. 



Cecily's delight when she saw Kitchener was 

 boundless. The little creature made no favourites, 

 and did not bestow his favours by halves. He 

 simply loved every one alike enthusiastically. Our 

 cabin-boy constituted himself nurse-in-chief, and the 

 cub seemed very contented. 



