The Chinook Salmon 



There is no other species of fish in the world equalling the 

 chinook salmon in commercial value. Of the 5 species of salmon 

 on our west coast it is approached in value only by the blue- 

 back. It reaches an enormous size; examples have been taken 

 in Cook Inlet weighing 100 pounds, and individuals of 40 to 60 

 pounds weight are not infrequent. The average weight of those 

 taken in the Columbia River has been stated to be 22 pounds, 

 and for those of the Sacramento River, 16 pounds. 



The chinook salmon does not take the hook when in fresh 

 water, though it is occasionally taken on the trolling spoon, 

 particularly in the lower Columbia, and at Williamette Falls and 

 in the Sacramento River. In Monterey Bay the chinook salmon 

 is an important game-fish at certain seasons. It is taken ex- 

 clusively by trolling. The best season is from the middle of 

 May to the end of June, though they may be taken as early as 

 February, and rarely, even in January. The anglers usually use 

 a 3<>ply line, a 4-inch hook, a 3 to 5 pound sinker, and let 

 out about 150 feet of line. The sinker is attached by 24-ply 

 line 20 feet above the hook. A sailing speed of about 4 miles 

 an hour, with the hook sunk 20 to 50 feet beneath the surface 

 (depending upon how the fish are running), is most effective. 

 The best time of day is from sunrise to noon. Trolling spoons 

 are rarely used, a hook baited with common sardine being 

 much better. The fish caught range in weight from 8 to 60 

 pounds, the average being 25 pounds. The fish bite freely, but 

 25 fish by one line is regarded as a big day's catch. They are 

 very game, and jump out of the water frequently. 



This splendid salmon is unknown in Japan, its range ex- 

 tending little south of Kamchatka on the Asiatic side. 



Head 4; depth 4; D. 1 1 ; A. 16; Br. 15 or 16 to 18 or 19, the 

 number on the two sides always unlike; gillrakers usually 9+14; 

 pyloric caeca 140 to 185; scales 27-146-29, the number in longitudinal 

 series varying from 135 to 155; vertebrae 66. Head conic, rather 

 pointed in the females and spring males; maxillary rather slender, the 

 small eye behind its middle; teeth small, longer on sides of lower 

 jaw; vomerine teeth very few and weak, disappearing in the 

 males; body comparatively robust, its depth greatest near its 

 middle; ventrals inserted behind middle of dorsal; ventral appen- 

 dage half as long as fin; caudal strongly forked, on a slender 

 peduncle. Colour, dusky above, often tinged with olivaceous or 

 bluish on sides; silvery below; head dark slaty, usually darker 



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