144 
bulletin of the bureau of fisheries. 
Yet it will be noted that these 5 fish were retaken by Seufert Brothers within the period 
of 5 days from September 12 to 16. Silver salmon number 87 is a decided exception 
in this list. It was retaken only 70 miles up the river and was out the longest time of all 
the marked fish, namely, 57 days. Its button, however, does not present a history of 
long contact with salt water. It is etched to some degree on one surface, but not more 
than would be possible by a long career in slightly brackish water. 
steelheads. 
Of the 18 steelheads marked, only 5 were retaken. One of these, number 116, was 
caught down the river 4 miles below where it was liberated and between four and five 
hours after liberation. As already stated, the fishes were liberated on a strong flood 
tide and it is evident that this particular fish at once made about a mile an hour speed 
toward sea. It was taken by purse seine in the channel near Republic spit in the same 
locality where ehinook number 123 was captured 6 days later. These two fishes give 
absolute proof of downstream movements of salmon. The fishing annals of the lower 
Columbia have many instances of similar outward movements of schools of salmon. 
Tabu® IV. — Extent or Corrosion or the Aluminum Marking Buttons oe the Steelheads 
Retaken. 
Number. 
Time out 
Distance 
from state 
trap. 
Corrosion of marking surface. 
in days. 
“U. S. Fish” surface. 
Numbered surface. 
98 
52 
Miles. 
210 
Slightly corroded about head of rivet . . . 
Markedly corroded over head of shaft and 
a 4 
around rivet within the shaft. 
33 
30-35 
7 
Slightly corroded about rivet. 
Deeply corroded about rivet and slightly 
pitted. 
Button not preserved. 
125 
70 
X A 
Corroded about head of rivet 
Button not preserved 
a Downstream. 
It is said that at certain times, following a period of stormy weather or when for 
other reasons the gill nets have not been operating on the lower river, the seines on 
lower Sand Island capture fish with definite marks received from fishing gear — marks 
that can be accounted for only on the theory that the fishes have moved seaward after 
receiving the marks. 
One steelhead was reported captured in a trap only about one-half mile upriver 
from the state trap where it was liberated. This fish was out 7 days, but as its button 
number was not taken and since the button itself was not sent to me, no record could 
be made of the character and extent of its corrosion. 
Of the two steelheads retaken by Seufert Brothers, number 124, out 33 days, shows 
slight corrosion, but number 98, out 52 days, shows marked corrosion. Evidently the 
former spent little time in tide water, while the corrosion of the button of the latter 
indicates considerable contact with salt water. 
