96 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. 



in weighl being L5 per cent. This specimen was returned to the creek 

 after being weighed November 20. It was found dead on the racks 8 

 days later, when h had spawned all but 20 of its ova. Its weight had 



decreased 1.860 grams. 



No. 43. a male, was branded September 20, when it weighed 10.080 

 grams. It was taken at Battle Creek, November 25, when it weighed 

 6,27o grams, making its time from Rio Vista 66 days and its loss in 

 weight 25 per cent. 



This important experiment proves that the fall salmon travel very 

 slowly, at a rate of four or five miles a day, and require about two 

 months to reach the spawning grounds from the mouth of the river. 



The salmon of the spring run arrive at their spawning grounds from 

 two to six weeks or even longer before they are ready to spawn. This 

 time they spend lying quietly in the pooLs. The fall salmon are more 

 nearly ripe when they reach their spawning grounds. Indeed, it is 

 probable that many of them cease to ascend the streams only when they 

 are ready to spawn. 



One important point to be considered in this study of the loss in 

 weight during migration is the deterioration in the value of the flesh 

 as a food. The loss of 12 or 16 or 25 per cent is entirely in nutriment. 

 If even a very fat beef were starved two months, or until it had lost 

 16 per cent of its total weight, no one would care to eat of its flesh. 

 But such is the condition of the fall salmon upon their arrival at the 

 upper portion of the river. They have eaten nothing for over two 

 months, and nutriment to the extent of about 16 per cent of their 

 weight has been absorbed almost wholly from the flesh. 



It is evident, therefore, that the fall salmon taken at the upstream 

 points have but little value as food, and their capture should be 

 prohibited. 



NATURAL PROPAGATION'. 



Spawning Habits. — Salmon in spawning usually take a position at 

 the upper end of a riffle where the current is strong and where there 

 are gravel and cobblestones among which the eggs may lodge. The 

 male immediately takes her exact position, or perhaps a point 1 or 2 

 feet downstream from it, and extrudes a small quantity of milt. In 

 about five minutes the process is repeated, the female always taking 

 the position first occupied. This they continue day and night for over 

 a week, usually nearly two weeks. I have observed salmon spawning 

 at night, but have never been able to watch one pair until spawning 

 was completed. Branded salmon Xo. 91, previously referred to. was 

 only eight days in spawning, although some eggs had been extruded 

 before it was taken. Two weeks is the spawning time usually assigned 

 by persons living in the vicinity of salmon streams, which is probably 

 about right. 



