144 OBSERVATIONS ON A SALMON RIVER 



They are said to attain a weight of over 

 100 pounds. They will average 25 pounds, 

 many fish weighing over 40 pounds. The 

 largest I have seen weighed 72 pounds. 



It has never been explained why there 

 is a heavy run of fish every fourth year. 

 This heavy run occurs the year following 

 leap year. For example, in 1921 and again 

 in 1925. 



The fishermen claim that these fish re- 

 main in the sea for four years, and those 

 that weigh about 20 pounds have returned 

 sooner and are called springfish. 



The very large fish, those over 50 pounds, 

 may have remained away for more than four 

 years or perhaps have been more fortunate 

 in obtaining good food. 



The Blueback or Sockeye salmon (O. 

 nerka) forms the greater part of the canned 

 salmon of the world and is found from 

 southern Oregon to Alaska. This fish also 

 has a heavy quadrennial run. They enter 

 the Columbia and Fraser rivers in great 

 numbers and journey over 1,000 miles from 



