cxxIV 
TsHAWYTSCHAs 
PLSD) Wee 
P. 16. 
V. 10. 
A. 15. 
Re Assis TE eSeC aes vA se ke AS 
Every fpecies of Salmon dies in the fame river or lake in which it is born, and to 
which it returns to fpawn. In the third year, male and female confort together, 
and the latter depofits its fpawn in a hole formed with its tail and fins in the 
fand ; after which both fexes pine away, and ceafe to live. A fifh. of a year’s 
growth continues near the place, guards the fpawn, and returns to the fea with 
the new-born fry in November*. The Salmons of this country fpawn but once in 
their lives: thofe of Sibiria and Europe, the rivers of which are deep, and abound 
with infect food, are enabled to continue the firft great command of nature 
during the period of their exiftence. In Kamt/chatea the rivers are chilly, 
fhallow, rapid, full of rocks, and deftitute of nourifhment for fuch multitudes: 
fuch therefore which cannot force their way to the neighborhood of the tepid 
ftreams, or get back to the fea in time, univerfally perifh; but Providence 
has given fuch refources, in the fpawners, that no difference in numbers is 
ever obferved between the returning feafons. It is fingular, that neither the 
lakes or rivers have any fpecies of fifh but what come from the fea. All the lakes 
(for this country abounds with them) communicate with the fea; but their en- 
trance, as well as that of many of the rivers, is entirely barred up with fand 
brought by the tempeftuous winds, which confine the fifh moft part of the winter, 
till they are releafed by the ftorms taking another direction. 
The fpecies which appears firft is the T/hawyt/cha. This is by much the 
largeft ; it weighs fometimes between fifty and fixty pounds, and its depth is very 
great in proportion to the Jength. The jaws are equal, and never hooked : the 
teeth large, and in feveral rows : the fcales are larger than thofe of the common 
Salmon ; on the back dufky grey, on the fides filvery: the fins bluifh white, 
and al] parts unfpotted : the tail is lunated: the flefh, during its refidence in the 
fea, is red; but it becomes white in frefh waters. It is confined, on the eaftern 
fide of the peninfula, to the river of Kamt/chatka and Awatcha; and on the weftern 
to the Bolchaia-reka, and afew others ; nor is it ever feen beyond lat. 54. It enters 
the mouths of the rivers about the middle of AZay, with fuch impetuofity as to 
raife the water before it in waves, It goes in far lefs numbers than the other 
fpecies ; is infinitely more efteemed ; and is not ufed as a common food, but re- 
ferved for great entertainments. The natives watch its arrival, which is an- 
nounced by the rippling of the water; take it in ftrong nets; and always eat 
the firft they take, under a notion that the omiffion would be a great 
crime. 
* Defer. Kamt[ch. 471. + Numbers of rays in the dorfal, pectoral, ventral, and anal fins. 
The 
