30 SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



No falling off has been observed in the supply of the King Salmon; in fact the 

 number used is very small in comparison with that of the Eed Salmon. 



The only destruction of King Salmon known to me was incidental to the efforts to 

 prevent Eed Salmon from ascending certain streams by an impassable fence, and this 

 no longer exists. 



The Dog Salmon [Oncorhynchus heta). 



(Plate i, fig. 2.) 



This is one of the least important of the Alaskan salmon to Americans, but one 

 of the most valuable to the natives. It is found chiefly in the small rivers and creeks, 

 and is usually very abundant in all parts of the Territory as far north as Hotham Inlet, 

 and probably Point Barrow. Its flesh is comparatively pale, and it deteriorates so 

 rapidly in fresh water as to prove very unattractive to white people. The jaws be- 

 come enlarged and distorted, and the flesh unpalatable. 



In the rivers of California and British Columbia it is said to appear seldom or 

 never in the spring, but in Alaska it makes its appearance on the coast in great schools 

 about the middle of June and continues abundant for nearly a month, after which it 

 decreases rapidly in numbers, disappearing usually about the time of the forming of 

 the ice. 



The average size of the Dog Salmon is about 12 pounds, but I have seen individuals 

 that would weigh 20 pounds. On the 30th of August, at Karluk, a haul of a large 

 seine yielded forty Dog Salmon and only oue Red Salmon. Early in July the fish-drying 

 frames of the natives on the shores of Cook's Inlet are red with the flesh of the drying 

 Dog Salmon, or Rylco. 



The natives cut off the head, split the fish in halves, and remove the back-bone, 

 allowing the two halves to remain fastened at the tail. The sides are gashed at short 

 intervals in order to facilitate the drying. The fur traders lay in a large stock of this 

 dried salmon, which is known to the trade as ukali. In the fresh-run condition the 

 flesh has a beautiful red color, resembling that of the Red Salmon, but not so brilliant. 



In the small streams falling into Alitak Bay, with only a few exceptions, this 

 fish and the little Humpback are the principal salmon, and the natives dry them for 

 winter use in large quantities. The Sturgeon River, according to Mr. Charles Hirsch, 

 never contains anything but Dog Salmon and Humpbacks. In the Karluk the Dog 

 Salmon is only an occasional visitor. At St. Paul, Kadiak, Mr. Washburn says that 

 the Rylco arrives about July 1, and there is only one annual run. 



Early in July the red color of the skin of the Ryko, or Dog Salmon, is somewhat 

 remarkable in being interrupted at intervals along the sides, causing a sort of resem- 

 blance to bands. 



The Silver Salmon (Oncorhynchus Itisutch). 

 (Plate i, fig. 3.) 



The Silver Salmon is considered an excellent fish in the Puget Sound region, but 

 is not so highly esteemed in the northern part of Alaska. It is used to some extent 

 for canning, but is far less important for this purpose than the Red Salmon. It 

 reaches a weight of about 30 pounds; the average weight in Alaska is less than 15 

 pounds. This species in Alaska, as in the Puget Sound region, is a fall-running fish. 

 It does not ascend the streams to any great distance, and 1 have seen spent fish of 



