The Pacific Salmon 



tionate amount in each of the subordinate runs varying with 

 each different river. By the last of July only straggling blue- 

 backs can be found in the lower course of any stream; but 

 both in the Columbia and in the Sacramento the quinnat runs 

 in considerable numbers, at least till October. In the Sacra- 

 mento the run is greatest in the fall, and more run in the 

 summer than in spring. The spring salmon ascend only those 

 rivers which are fed by the melting snows from the mountains, 

 and which have sufficient volume to send their waters well out to 

 sea. Those salmon which run in the spring are chiefly adults 

 (supposed to be at least 3 years old). Their milt and spawn 

 are no more developed than at the same time in others of the same 

 species which are not to enter the rivers until fall. It would 

 appear that the contact with cold fresh water, when in the 

 ocean, in some way causes them to run toward it, and to run 

 before there is any special influence to that end exerted by the 

 development of the organs of generation. High water on any 

 of these rivers in the spring is alv/ays followed by an increased 

 run of salmon. The salmon canners think, and this is probably 

 true, that salmon which would not have run till later are brought 

 up by the contact with the cold water. The cause of this effect 

 of cold fresh water is not understood. We may call it an in- 

 stinct of the salmon, which is another way of expressing our 

 ignorance. In general, it seems to be true that in those rivers 

 and during those years when the spring run is greatest, the fall 

 run is least to be depended upon. It varies for each of the 

 different rivers, and for different parts of the same river, it 

 doubtless extends from July to December. The manner of spawn- 

 ing is probably similar for all the species, but we have no data 

 for any except the quinnat and the redfish. In these species 

 the fishes pair off; the male, with tail and snout, excavates a 

 broad, shallow "nest" in the gravelly bed of the stream, in 

 rapid water, at a depth of i to 4 feet; the female deposits her 

 eggs in it, and after the exclusion of the milt, they cover them 

 with stones and gravel. They then float down the stream tail 

 foremost. As already stated, a great majority of them die. In 

 the head waters of the large streams, unquestionably all die; and 

 we now believe all die after once spawning, regardless of where 

 the spawning beds maybe. The young hatch in 120 to 180 days. 

 The salmon of all kinds, in the spring are silvery, spotted or 



145 



