THE CALIFORNIAN SALMON. 
61 
“ In the principal branch of the Sacramento, the ascent 
takes place at a different time. The earliest salmon com- 
mence to ascend in November, and they increase in numbers 
till March. They are then very abundant and continue so 
till the beginning of June. During that and the following 
month the numbers diminish. In August they again 
increase, but diminish gradually till November, at which 
period they return to the sea ; just at the time when the 
younger salmon of about a year old commence their first 
ascent. There is also in this river in considerable numbers, 
a large trout commonly called the ‘ salmon trout ’ of the 
Sacramento. 
“ The habits of the Californian salmon at the time of 
spawning, are in all respects similar to those of the ordinary 
salmon, but with the former the eggs are much less 
abundant. In specimens of equal size there is a difference 
of nearly one half in the number of eggs ; thus while in the 
Salmo solar, there are generally about as many thousands of 
eggs as the fish weighs in pounds, the Salmo quinnat only 
produces about 500 eggs to each pound weight of the fish. 
. . . . The time of incubation is about forty days, and 
in another month the umbilical sac is absorbed. The alevins 
are more lively and precocious than those of our salmon. 
At a year old they attain a length of 6 to 8 inches ; the 
second year they double in size, and at four years they 
often measure 21 inches in length. When full grown they 
may weigh 67 lbs., but 22 lbs. is about the average weight 
of the great part of those that are caught. They decrease 
in weight during the time they are in fresh water, and their 
appearance then alters greatly. They do not seem to take 
any nourishment while in fresh water. It is stated by Mr. 
Vincent Cooke of the Oregon Packing Company, that out 
of 98,000 salmon caught in the Columbia Piver in 1874, 
three only were found with some traces of food in their 
