50 



The Salnio sebago of the lakes of Maine is believed to be only a land- 

 locked k^almo salar depauperated by the more confined habitat. The 

 trout of a small brook never attain the size of those of a larger , 

 river. 



The quinnat of this coast was prevented from returning to the ocean 

 from the lakes San Andreas and Pilarcitos by the erection of the 

 dams of the Spring Valley Water Company, and now those lakes are 

 full of salmon which mature their eggs and milt when less than a 

 pound in weight. 



The characters whicli can be depended On to distinguish the spe- 

 cies of salmon are as follows: To some extent, the form of the caudal 

 fin and the arrangement of the spots upon the bodj^, especially near 

 the tail; the number of rays in the anal fin (Onco7'?/7ic/ms has fourteen 

 or more, Salar or Salmo about twelve) ; the size of the scales; the num- 

 ber and size of the gill rakers, or toothlike processes upon the bones 

 which bear the gills; the number of branchiostegal rays; and the 

 number of the pyloric cseca which are attached to tlie lower end of 

 the stomach. The teeth are also to be regarded, but not implicitly, 

 as they are liable to alterations with age. More attention has natu- 

 rally been devoted to the study of this group than to that of any 

 other, on account of its importance as a source of food. 



Upon this coast, the salmon fishery upon the Columbia alone 

 accounts for about a million and a half of salmon, weighing when 

 taken at least twenty-five pounds each on an average. This is prob- 

 ably equal to twice the total weight of all other fisheries, salmon 

 included, carried on upon the Pacific Coast of the United States, even 

 with the Alaska cod fishery thrown in. 



The life history of these fishes is thus invested with much interest, 

 since, upon our knowledge of it, depends the success of any attempt 

 that may be made to prevent, by judicious legislation, the threatened 

 decrease of the species. 



The season of the principal run differs according to the species, and 

 it appears to be tolerably well established, by the reappea^'ance of 

 marked fish, that some individuals make good their retreat after 

 spawning, and return again next year, although the greater portion 

 die of the exhaustion consequent upon their ascent of the streams. 

 This is the case more particularly with those which ascend highest, 

 jumping falls, passing rapids, and braving the difficulties of a long 

 journey without food. 



Oiicorhynchus quinnat, the Common Salmon — This is the salmon par 

 excellence of the Pacific Coast, the victim of the canning industry, the 

 Columbia River salmon, the taste of which is familiar to Briton, Aus- 

 tralian, Frenchman, and Teuton. As the salmon business is fully 

 discussed in the Report of the Fish Commissioners, no statistics need 

 be given here. An interesting fact in its natural history is that, as 

 with the shad, so with the quinnat, we know where some at least of 

 the individuals spend their time while absent from our rivers. In 

 this respect we are ahead of our Atlantic brethren, who, as yet, have 

 not found out what Salmo salar or Cliq:)ea sapidissima do with them- 

 selves during their holidays. Quinnat, like Clupea sajndissima, and 

 all the rest of our fashionable society, recreates in the Bay of Monte- 

 rey, where he has this year furnished much amusement and some 

 food. 



It appears singular that few quinnat were caught during summer 

 in the above named bay until this year, and this may appear to sug- 



