WASTE OF SALMON IN ALASKA 



403 



The Quinnat Salmon, 1 also called Chinook, 

 California, King, Columbia River and Sacra- 

 mento Salmon, is the largest, the most widely 

 distributed and the most valuable of the Pacific 

 Salmon. Frequently it attains a weight of 50 

 pounds, and specimens have been taken in 

 Alaskan waters weighing about 100 pounds. Its 

 average weight is between 20 and 30 pounds. 

 It is found from Monterey Bay, California, up 

 the whole Pacific coast to Bering Strait, and 

 down the Asiatic coast to China. 



The Blueback Salmon, 3 also called Sockeye, 

 Nerka, Redfish or Red Salmon is the most abun- 

 dant species, and in flavor and general impor- 

 tance it stands next to the preceding. In Alaska 

 it is of greater value than all other species com- 

 bined. Its flesh is of a rich red color, full of oil, 

 and of fine flavor. In size it is small for a salmon, 

 its average weight being only about 5 pounds. 

 Its geographic range is from the Columbia River 

 to Japan, and it is the species most abundant in 

 the canneries along the Fraser River and the 

 shores of Puget Sound. In 1901 the number of 

 Red Salmon canned in Alaska and elsewhere on 

 the Pacific coast was 19,615,310. 



The Little Red Fish of various lakes in Idaho, 

 Oregon and Washington, wherein they reside 

 continuously, are now regarded by Dr. Jordan 

 as small and immature specimens of the 

 Blueback Salmon. Like all others of their 

 genus, they die immediately after spawning, 

 sometimes bearing body bruises, and again quite 

 free from them. 



In Alaska the abundance of the Blueback is 

 almost beyond belief. A catch of 10,000 fish at 

 one haul is of common occurrence; 25,000 at a 

 haul is not uncommon, and 50,000 are taken at 

 least once every year. The record haul was 

 made in 1896 when about 100,000 were taken, 

 of which 60,000 were used and the remainder 

 liberated. (Cloudsley Rutter.) 



The Silver Salmon 3 stands third in the list. 

 Its other names are Kisutch, Hoopid, Skowitz, 

 Coho Salmon and " White Fish." 



The range of this fish is from California to 



1 The scientific name of this fish, On-co-rhyn' chus 

 tscha-wyts'cha. is presented with an apology to the 

 reader. The specific name is useful only as an ex- 

 ample of the disgusting barbarism to which an ill- 

 balanced mind can sometimes descend in choosing 

 names. 



2 On-co-rhyn' chus ner'ka. 3 O. ki'sutch. 



Japan. It is next in size to the quinnat, but in- 

 ferior in flavor, and its flesh is pale. It is a good 

 fish to ship fresh, and despite the fact that when 

 canned it is not highly esteemed, great quanti- 

 ties are canned in Oregon and Washington, and 

 marketed as "medium-red Salmon." In 1901, 

 the number canned in Alaska was 523,713. 



The Humpback Salmon, 4 also called the 

 Gorbuscha, Holia, Hone and Haddoh Salmon, 

 ranges from the Sacramento to Kamchatka. 

 It derives its best name from the fact that "upon 

 the approach of the breeding season, the back 

 of the male grows higher than it usually is, and 

 forms an abrupt hump back of the head," at 

 which time the flesh is valueless. 



Formerly this fish was not highly regarded by 

 the canning establishments, and was but little 

 used. As a matter of fact, its flavor when fresh, 

 in the spring, is by some experts, of whom Mr. 

 C. H. Townsend is one, considered fully equal 

 in flavor to that of any other salmon. To-day it 

 is receiving its full share of attention from the 

 canning establishments, and is now quite on the 

 market. Its place now and in the future is 

 clearly indicated by the fact that in 1898, 

 109,000 cases, in 1899, 150,000, and in 1900, 

 232,022 cases were prepared for the market. In 

 1901 the number of fish of this species and of the 

 dog salmon canned in Alaska was 11,301,886. 



The Dog Salmon 5 is the least valuable of the 

 Pacific Salmon. Its flesh is of such poor flavor 

 that formerly it was ignored by the canners. 

 Now, however, it is being put up under various 

 names that are not its own, such as "Chum 

 Salmon." This fish is also called Hayho, Lekai, 

 Qualoh, and Calico Salmon. Its range is from 

 Sacramento to Kamchatka; and in the rivers 

 of Japan it is the most common species. Its 

 weight is from 10 to 12 pounds. 



As previously observed, the Salmon of the 

 Pacific coast far surpass in commercial value all 

 other American fishes. Their accessibility ren- 

 ders their capture little more than a mechanical 

 operation, and eventually it will result in the 

 practical destruction of the salmon industry. 

 Americans seem utterly unable to conserve 

 for perpetual benefit any particularly valuable 

 form of wild life. 



The records of the salmon industry for the 



4 On-co-rhyn' chus gor-bus'cha. 



5 O. ke'ta. 



