THE KING SALMON OF ALASKA 



By John N. Cobb, 



assistant agent at the salmon fisheries of alaska, 



u. s. bureau of fisheries. 



The king salmon (Qncorhynchus tschazvytscha) of Alas- 

 ka, known as the chinook and quinnat elsewhere on the Pa- 

 cific Coast, is one of the most interesting and valuable of tlie 

 salmons found in Alaska. 



It has been conclusively demonstrated that king salmon 

 frequent the waters of Southeast Alaska throughout the 

 year. This section contains an immense number of large 

 and small islands, which are separated from each other and 

 from the narrow strip of mainland separating Alaska from 

 Canada, by large sounds, straits and bays of salt and brack- 

 ish water, in which the fish find ample food. During the 

 spring months large schools of herring frequent the shoal 

 waters for the purpose of depositing their spawn, and it is 

 then that the king salmon are found in the greatest abun- 

 dance, as they are pursuing and devouring the herring. They 

 also consume large numbers of the smelt and eulachon during 

 the annual runs of these fishes to the rivers to spawn. Oc- 

 topi and other miscellaneous animal food are also found in 

 the stomachs of the salmon at times. 



During the winter the kings are but rarely seen at the sur- 

 face. Some are, however, taken every winter on halibut 

 trawls set at times in 30 and 40 fathoms of water in Ernes; 

 and Frederick sounds and Chatham Strait, and these s?.lm<?n 

 usually have halibut, rock cod and cod in their stomaciis. Ai 

 this season but little animal life is found near the surface, 

 hence the kings are compelled to go deep for their food. 

 Indian fishermen on the Stikine River say that kings are 

 found in the deep pools along the river during this season, 

 and tliey get them by cutting holes in the ice and spearing 



