REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS 93 



DO QUINNAT SALMON RETURN TO THEIR NATIVE 



STREAMS? 



(Extracts from "Report on Investigations in the Sacramento River, 1896-1901," by 

 ClOl I'-iet Rutter, late Naturalist, D. B. Fish Commissioner steamer "Albatross. ") 



There is a widespread belief thai when a salmon returns to fresh 

 water to l>reed it seeks the stream in which it was hatched, though there 

 is very Little evidence thai such is true. Various fishermen claim that 

 they ••an distinguish the salmon of particular streams by their general 

 appearance, which is incredible. The employes of the Alaska Packers' 

 Association state thai the red salmon taken ;it Qganuk are always 

 smaller than those taken ;it Karluk, both places on the north coast of 

 Kadiak [sland, Alaska; thai 1:; of the former are required to make 

 a case of canned salmon, while only 11 of the latter are accessary. 

 This seems to indicate that the salmon of the two localities are distinct, 

 but the Larger salmon may go to Karluk, not because they have been 

 hatched in Karluk Lake, hut because they are Larger. 



In 1897, 855,000 Quinnat salmon fry were released in Paper-mill 

 Creek and its tributaries draining into Tomales Bay, California, and 

 2,000.000 alevins were released in the same st reams in 1898. (See 

 ''Observations on ah-vin^ artificially reared.") In 1900 a few salmon 

 were seen in Paper-mill Creek, and in 1901 they were abundant. In 

 one haul of the seine in the tide-water portion of Paper-mill Creek. 

 covering a section about 150 feet long. 7 Quinnat salmon were taken 

 November 16. 1901. It is well known that Quinnat salmon did not 

 breed in Paper-mill Creek or its tributaries previous to 1897. for which 

 reason these streams were selected for the experiment. Mr. Thomas 

 Irwin reports that he saw two large salmon in Paper-mill Creek about 

 1890. but with these exceptions he never saw any fishes in the stream 

 that might be taken for Quinnats until 1900. He lives on the 

 banks of the creek and knows the stream thoroughly. His statement 

 agrees with that of other persons. 



Paper-mill Creek is not suitable for Quinnat salmon, being entirely 

 too small, but it is frequented by Dog salmon and Steelheads. 



