336 
ZOOLOGY. 
From my own observation while stationed on the northwest coast, and from information received 
from others, I feel justified in pronouncing this an error, as I have seen the adult male while 
fresh o'wi and silvery^ with these remarkable characteristics strongly developed months — certainly 
weeks — he/ore the spawning season. It may be, however, as suggested by Dr. Cooper, that 
old males that have in previous seasons entered the rivers for spawning purposes, having 
afterwards recuperated in the salt water, do return with this peculiar formation of the jaws and 
mouth. This subject has, unfortunately, as yet, been but little examined. I was frequently 
told by fishermen, Indians, and others, that the females lack these peculiarities, thus confirming 
Dr. Scouler's statement. If such is the case it Avill account for Dr. Cooper's remark, that "the 
amount of hooking of the nose seemed very much independent of size or season." In my field- 
notes regarding this species I find the following remarks: "The slwicitz of the Nisquallies, or 
hooked-nosed salmon of the ivhites, is a very common kind. Adult males of this species have 
always, even when in excellent condition and fresh run from the sea, a decurved cartilaginous process 
from the symphisis of the iq')per maxilla, behind which the point of the lower jaw is received. 
The females (at least when fresh run) are witlioid this appendage. In the absence of the hooked 
snout in the females this species is like the S. hamatiis, as described in the annexed quotation. 
The strong teeth found on the intermaxillary protuberance of the male will afford a subject of 
comparison for the field-observer, when comparing the present species with the Avorn-out males 
of the S. quinnat." 
In the Fauna B. Americana, Part III, p. 141, Sir John Richardson makes the following 
remarks upon the Lapland Salmo hamatus, Avhich are interesting in the present connexion 
because thought by him to come nearest to the 8. scouleri, (see foot note to page 160 of the 
same volume;) he says: " As I have not seen an authentic specimen of the Salmo hamatus of the 
Regno Animal, I am unable decidedly to controvert M. Agassiz' opinion that it is merely a 
nominal species, founded upon a change of form which takes place in the old males of Salmo 
scdar; but the evidence I have gleaned from authors induces me to follow Cuvier in considering 
it to be quite distinct." " * * * * " The following passage, quoted from the Lachesis 
Lapponica, tends to prove not only the northern range of the Salmo hamatus, but also that the 
hook of the lower jaio is developed even in young fish; but the old males of the common salmon 
that we usually see in the Nith, and some other British rivers, have a comparitively slight hook. 
'Here,' in Lulean Lapland, 'the common salmon is found with the under jaw occasionally 
hooked. I inquired Avhether this variety Avas esteemed a distinct species, or whether a difference 
arising from age; both of Avhich questions I Avas ansAvered in the negative. I AA^as shown a fish 
of the smallest size, which had in proportion as large a hook to the loiver jaio as the largest. I 
inquired AA'hether the hooked salmon were furnished with roe or milt. I was ansAvered that they 
had ahvays milt. On opening seven of them I found this verified; AA'hereas four salmon Avhich 
Avere not hooked had roes. The hooked or male salmon is so called because the point of its 
loAver jaw is bent inward and has a taper form, resembling a finger, while, on the contrary, the 
upper one is formed with a cavity to recc/ive the point, embracing it like a sheath for about 
half its length.' " 
When Avorn out, all specimens have the hooked snout, but in the female I judge that this is 
only oAving to the absorption of the fatty cushions along the upper jaAv, Avhereas in the male the 
original characteristic is exaggerated by emaciation. The skoivitz is a very abundant species, 
and affords, in fact, the principal salmon harvest to the natives, Avho dry vast quantities for 
Avinter consumption. This species commences to run up the fresh Avater streams emptying into 
