96 Tliirh/scrcnHi Aiiininl Mceiiiiq 



ditions at the time when this fish first appears on the coast to- 

 gether with the changes wliich might he experienced through 

 its migration and stay in the hvkes preliminary to entering upon 

 spawning. Tlie nnml)ei' examined was large enough to enahle 

 one to speak definitely regarding most of the facts observed. On 

 the other hand the number of individuals examined from the 

 other species, namely: 31 humpback, 21 silver, 10 king, and 9 

 dog salmon, is too small to establish accurately the facts concern- 

 ing them. So far as one can observe generally the results sub- 

 stantiate those obtained from the examination of the red salmon. 



It has been stated l)y various autliors tbat these five species 

 have generally similar habits and food and it is rather striking 

 that in spite of this agreement they manifest nuirked individual- 

 ity with reference to the ])arasitic species wliieli they harbor. 

 One is inclined to tliink that tlie cause may l)e a difference in 

 range during the long unknown life in the deep waters of the 

 ocean from whence these fish come suddenly into the estuaries 

 at the approach of the spawning season. The difference in the 

 parasitic infestation of the species indicates clearly that in some 

 way they carry on a different mode of life. The evidence at 

 present at hand is insufficient to decide whether they actually 

 use somewhat different types of food or whetlier they st'ek this 

 in different regions. 



The first specimens whicli are caught early in the yeai- eith- 

 er in the salt water or in the brackish water of the estviaries fre- 

 quently have the stomach filled with recently ingested food. 

 Among twenty-five such specimens only seven had any ])arasites 

 in the intestine while of ten, entirely without food in the stomach, 

 nine had parasites in the intestine. A month or more later it 

 was impossible to recognize in any case definite masses of food 

 in the stomach of the red salmon. Yet about the same percent- 

 age of the whole numl)er harbored intestinal parasites. A])par- 

 ently then the taking of food oi- the cessation of feeding has in 

 this case little or no intluenee on the ])resence of parasites in the 

 intestinal canal. One may proceed, however, one step fiirther 

 along the same line. Eed salmon were taken during July and 

 August from fresh water lakes where they wei'e waiting and 

 ripening for the spawiiing pi^riod. and these individuals showed 

 the same variability and the same relative degree of parasitic 



