THE FISHES OF THE COASTAL STREAMS OF OREGON AND NORTHERN 
CALIFORNIA. 
By JOHN OTTERBEIN SNYDER, 
Assistant Professor of Zoology, Leland Stanford Junior University. 
INTRODUCTION. 
The present paper contains an account of the fish fauna of the smaller coastal 
streams of Oregon and northern California which have their origin west of the 
Sierra-Cascade Mountain system and drain a section of the coast extending from 
the Columbia River to the Sacramento. All of the streams reaching the ocean 
between the Columbia and Sacramento are therefore included except the Klamath, 
which rises in the high table-lands east of the Cascade Mountains. 
The material was collected during a series of field investigations conducted 
under the auspices of the Bureau of Fisheries for the general purpose of studying 
the fish fauna of this region. The study of a collection made by Messrs. Frank 
Cramer and Keinosuke Otaki in the basins of the Rogue, Willamette, and Umpqua 
rivers is also embodied in this report. Many specimens from the lake region of 
Oregon, and from the Columbia, Klamath, and Sacramento basins have been kindly 
furnished for examination by Dr. B. W. Evermann. 
LOCAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE FISH FAUNA. 
The coast region of Oregon and northern California is one of great rainfall, the 
quantity of rain increasing to the northward, where streams draining even the 
smallest basins have an unusually large and constant volume. Apparently. every 
condition favorable to the support of a rich fauna prevails, and the streams in 
many places fairly swarm with fishes. The number of species is remarkably small, 
however, and those present consist mostly of anadromous forms such as the stur- 
geon, salmon, and trout, together with others able to withstand salt water, as the 
cottoids and sticklebacks. Only 11 species of strictly fluvial fishes have been found 
in the smaller coastal streams, 7 of which occur in the rivers north of the Klamath. 
a The work was under the general supervision of Dr. C. H. Gilbert, of Stanford University. During June and July, 1897, 
a party consisting of Dr. Gilbert, A. G. Maddren, G. B. Culver, and J. O. Snyder explored the region south of the Rogue 
River. From July until late in September, 1899, a second party, including W. F. Allen, J.S. Burcham, E.C. Robinson and 
J. O. Snyder, students of Stanford University, extended the survey northward to the Columbia. Side excursions from the 
main line of work were frequently made to examine tributaries of the Columbia, Klamath, and Sacramento rivers. The 
writer has been very materially aided both in field explorations and laboratory studies by Dr. C. H. Gilbert, to whom he 
wishes to express his deep obligation for direction, advice, and friendly criticism. Great credit is also due to the several 
field assistants whose hearty cooperation has made this investigation possible. 
B. B. F. 1907—11 155 
