SALMON0IDE.E. 167 



[64.] 4. Salmo Hearnii. (Richardson.) Coppermine River Salmon. 



Salmo Hearnii. Richardson, Franklin's First Journ., p. 706, 



This, which is another anadromous trout, was taken in the Coppermine River 

 and adjacent sea, on Sir John Franklin's First Expedition. Its flesh is red, and, 

 though similar in flavour to that of the Common salmon, is, perhaps, less firm and 

 more oily. Our party subsisted upon it for several days, but the Indians who then 

 accompanied us, being unused to it, thought it unwholesome, and our Canadian 

 voyagers were soon infected with the same apprehension. The well-known cala- 

 mities that befell us on our return, prevented me from bringing home specimens of 

 the fish, and I can introduce the species to naturalists, only through the medium 

 of a description hastily drawn up on the spot, which does not altogether coincide 

 with the account of any other salmon that I have seen or read of. The affecting 

 story related by Hearne, of the slaughter of a poor old Esquimaux woman, by the 

 Indians of his party, while she was engaged in taking this salmon at a cascade 

 near the mouth of the Coppermine, subsequently named, from the transaction, 

 Bloody-fall, may be appropriately quoted here ; as it contains the earliest notice of 

 the fish, and, indeed, the only one previous to the publication of Sir John Frank- 

 lin's narrative. 



" It ought to have been mentioned in its proper place, that in making our retreat 

 up the river, after killing the Esquimaux on the west side, we saw an old woman 

 sitting by the side of the water taking salmon, which lay at the foot of the fall as 

 thick as a shoal of herrings. Whether from the noise of the fall, or a natural 

 defect in the old woman's hearing, it is hard to determine, but certain it is, she 

 had no knowledge of the tragical scene which had been so lately transacted at the 

 tents, though she was not more than two hundred yards from the place. When 

 we first perceived her, she seemed perfectly at ease, and was entirely surrounded 

 by the produce of her labour. From her manner of behaviour, and the appearance 

 of her eyes, which were as red as blood, it is more than probable that her sight 

 was not very good, for she scarcely discerned that the Indians were enemies till 

 they were within twice the length of their spears of her. It was in vain that she 

 attempted to fly, for the wretches of my crew transfixed her to the ground in a few 

 seconds, and butchered her in the most savage manner. There was scarcely a man 

 among them who had not a thrust at her with his spear ; and many in doing this 



