FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 
247 
liisutcli ), and “jack” or “ tyee ” (O. chouicha ), which is the quinnat or 
king salmon of California, and the Chinook of the Columbia. The 
red salmon (0. nerlca), called the “sockeye” here, is the most abundant 
species at the northern part of this region, where also the steelhead 
occurs in small numbers, according to Mr. W. H. Kirby. 
The jack salmon is the first to appear each season. It begins to run 
about the middle of August and remains in these waters until October, 
appearing singly or in schools. Its average weight is 11 pounds. It is 
stated that on some of the rivers of this region, particularly the Skagit, 
this species will average 20 pounds in weight, while the maximum 
often reaches 50 pounds. 
The silver salmon does not arrive before September, and usually re- 
mains until about the first week in November. Its average weight is 
about 7 J pounds. 
The humpback salmon, or “haddoh,” is found from July 15 to August 
15. This species is not very abundant, and is comparatively unimpor- 
tant from a commercial standpoint. 
The sockeye “ run” is usually from early in July to September. 
The dog salmon (O.heta) comes in. the fall. It is not commercially 
important, for it has not yet been considered suitable for canning, and 
there is no market demand for it. But the Indians prefer it for drying, 
and depend almost entirely upon this species for their supply of salmon 
cured in this way. Other species, particularly the quinnat or “jack” 
salmon, are too fat for drying satisfactorily, and can not usually be 
dried whole like 0. keta. 
The presence of salmon in the sound is generally indicated by their 
jumping, but this does not always signify that they are numerous 
enough to warrant the use of a seine. The presence of large schools 
is more certainly determined by observing the fins showing above the 
water.* 
Captain Tanner states that — 
A Mr. Herrick, formerly connected with a cannery on Columbia River, but now in 
the employ of Parker & Felters at Seattle, claims from an experience extending 
over the pa9t 20 years that salmon are rapidly decreasing iu this region. This 
decrease is due not only to the great annual catch, but also to the presence of much 
floatiug refuse from the sawmills of the neighborhood. Mr. Myers, of the Dwamish 
Head Cannery, on the contrary, considers that there has been no general decrease, 
and that there are no indications of the salmon becoming exterminated as some pre- 
dict. He has been connected with the fishery in Puget Sound for the past 12 years, 
and states that salmon are as abundant now as at any time in the past. They 
fluctuate in abundance, however, from year to year. ( Albatross Explorations.) 
Smelt occur throughout the year, and are often very abuudaut. 
A few shad are occasionally taken in Mud Bay, in the vicinity of 
Olympia, by the Tacoma fishermen. They were first noticed in Puget 
Sound in 1884, since which time they appear to have slowly increased in 
* When a school of salmon come near the surface, so that their fins can be seen, 
the fishermen say that they are “ finning.” 
