The Californian Salmon. 



absorbed. The alevins are more lively and 

 precocious than those of the Salmo salar. At a 

 year old they attain a length of 6 to 8 inches ; 

 the second year they double in size, and at 

 four years they often measure 24 inches in 

 length. When full grown they may weigh 

 67 lbs., but 22 lbs. is about the average weight 

 of the great part of those that are caught. 

 They decrease in weight daring the time they 

 are in fresh water, and their appearance then 

 alters greatly. They do not seem to take any 

 nourishment while in fresh water. It is stated 

 by Mr. Vincent Cooke, of the Oregon Packing 

 Company, that, out of 98,000 salmon caught 

 in the Columbia river in 1874, three only 

 were found with some traces of food in their 

 stomachs, and these seemed to have quitted 

 the salt water very recently. 



"At the time when they leave the sea to 

 ascend the rivers, they scarcely differ from 

 the Atlantic salmon, and are beautiful fish 

 with silvery scales, while the two sexes differ 

 little in appearance. Up till the month 

 of June they keep in good condition, and 

 retain their delicious flavour, which is exactly 

 similar to that of the ordinary salmon. But 



