65 



The fish is seldom brought into the markets of San Francisco 

 from fresh water. 



Salmo myJciss, Hard-head, and Black Salmon — This is an exceed- 

 ingly large trout, equal or superior in size to One. nerka, since it 

 reaches a weight of from fourteen to eighteen pounds. It inhabits 

 the mouths of large rivers, such as the Columbia, Fraser, Skeena, 

 etc., and is occasionally found in Puget Sound. It appears to spawn 

 in spring, somewat earlier than the salmon, and occurs upon the 

 coast at the same time with the latter. It is believed to be migra- 

 tory. In some regions it is esteemed as a food fish, but in the 

 Columbia the flesh is very w^hite, and it is considered valueless. 

 The body is less deep than that of a salmon, and the tail much 

 heavier. 



Salmo clarki, Oregon Trout, Salmon Trout — This species is very 

 abundant in all lakes and rivers north Mount Shasta, but is n(;t 

 found south of that locality. It is abundant in salt water in Puget 

 Sound, w'here it is taken in seines in great numbers. It reaches a 

 weight of from two to three pounds, and is reckoned an excellent 

 food fish. 



Salvelinus malma, Dolly Varden Trout — The Charr is abundant 

 in the lakes and streams of the Cascade Range, from Central Oregon 

 northward, and is also very common in the salt waters of Puget 

 Sound, where many are taken in seines. Specimens obtained at 

 Seattle and in the markets at Victoria reached a weight of eleven 

 pounds, but in the mountain lakes and streams it does not exceed 

 three pounds. Many are brought in by the Indians at the places 

 before mentioned. It feeds freely on sticklebacks, herrings, etc., and 

 is an excellent food fish. 



The Dolly Varden trout of the Upper Sacramento, formerly known 

 as Salvelinus bairdi, proves to be identical with this. Mr. Smith, who 

 is stationed at the fish-hatching establishment upon the McCloud 

 River, has examined many specimens, and finds that the characters 

 relied upon to distinguish them utterly fail. Teeth are present upon 

 the hyoid bone, in most examples from the McCloud, as in the typical 

 spedabilis. The supposed absence of these teeth was the chief char- 

 acter upon which bairdi was based. 



Jrhjpomesus olidus, Surf Smelt — Professor Jordan did not meet with 

 this fish south of Monterey, and states that it is very abundant in 

 Puget Sound, where it spawns in the surf in the spring. It reaches 

 nearly a foot in length, is very fat, and is held in high esteem as a 

 pan fish. In the markets of San Francisco it is tolerably common, 

 but seldom exceeds eight inches in length. 



Osmerus iMcificus, Eulachon, Candle-fish — The Eulachon has not 

 yet been recorded from the coast of California, but is abundant from 

 Oregon northward, ascending the rivers in enormous numbers, but 

 for no great distance. In the Columbia, as well as in Fraser and^ 

 Nass Rivers, it is especially abundant. In Fraser River the run is. 

 in May. On Nass River is a factory for making Eulachon oil, which 

 is used as a substitute for cod-liver oil. When fresh it is one of thev 

 finest of pan fish. Many are pickled and shipped to San Francisco,^ 

 where they are held in the highest esteem. Its use as Columbia^ 

 River Sardines has been previously mentioned. The largest reaches^ 

 a length of about ten inches. 



Osmerus thaleichthys, Smelt, Small Silver-smelt — Tolerably com- 

 mon from Monterey Bay northward, but not running in such num- 



