6 SALMON FISHEKIES OF ALASKA. 



The species at present constituting the principal motive and object of canning 

 operations is — 



THE RED SALMON. 



The southern limit of the range of this species is the Columbia River, in which it 

 is known as the Blue Back Salmon. Its range extends northward to the Yukon River, 

 and it makes its appearance in southern Alaskan waters early in June, the run begin- 

 ning later as we proceed farther to the north. A succession of schools continue to 

 arrive until August aud, after tarrying a short time in the coast waters, begin to ascend 

 to their spawning grounds, which are in the cold snow-fed lakes from which issue the 

 head- waters of the streams that are frequented by this species for the purpose of repro- 

 duction. The run is confined chiefly to the smaller streams, such as the Karluk, in 

 which tliey crowd in numbers absolutely incredible to one who is not an eye witness, and 

 actually force each other out of the water in their eager struggles to reach the sources 

 of the rivers and deposit their spawn. 



THE KING SALMON 



Is the principal canning species of the Columbia and other rivers of Oregon and Cali- 

 fornia, but at present it has relatively little importance in the Alaskan salmon fisheries. 

 It is distinctively the salmon of the larger rivers, like the Yukon, on which the canning 

 industry has not yet attained much development. It is, however, an abundant species, 

 and, with the growth of the canuiug industry on the larger rivers, will attain great com- 

 mercial importance. 



THE SILVER SALMON 



Is in great request for canning in the Puget Sound region, but is not held in much esteem 

 by the canners of Alaska, because it becomes soft very soon after its capture and can not 

 be kept like the Red Salmon. It spawns in the fall of the year, but does not make its 

 appearance on the coast until shortly before canning operations close for the season, 

 and, consequently, the opportunity for natural reproduction is more favorable than for 

 the Red Salmon and King Salmon. The species is abundant now, and under present 

 conditions of the fisheries will doubtless maintain itself. The flesh, though not highly 

 colored, is probably not inferior in table qualities to the Red Salmon, and in the future, 

 with the extension of canning operations, it will doubtless be utilized more extensively 

 than at present. 



THE HUMP-BACK SALMON 



Is the smallest, the most abundant, and most widely distributed species of the Alaskan 

 salmon. It arrives on the coast of Kadiak from the 1st to the 10th of July, and con- 

 tinues to run for about five weeks, the height of the spawning season being early in 

 August. It does not ascend far from salt water, and usually enters streams which are 

 too shallow to cover its back fins. This species is not much used at present for canning 

 purposes, but is dried by the natives in large quantities for winter use, and moderately 

 large quantities are salted for the San Francisco and other markets. When fresh run 

 its flesh is not inferior in edible qualities to the Red Salmon, and has a beautiful red 

 color, but rapidly deteriorates after it enters the estuaries of the rivers. This species, 

 from its abundance and wide distribution, will attain great commercial importance 

 when its good qualities are better known. 



