16 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
The investigations of 1895 resulted in the following conclusions concerning -a 
number of important questions regarding these fishes, viz : 
1. The cliinook salmon resorting to the headwaters of Salmon River for spawning 
purposes reach the spawning-grounds in perfect condition, so far as shown by external 
appearances, no mutilations nor injuries of any kind having been seen. The many 
sores and mutilations seen upon them later in the season result from injuries incident 
to spawning, are received on the spawning-beds, and are not due to injuries received 
en route from the sea. 
2. After spawning, the Chinook salmon coming to these waters die in the vicinity 
of the spawning-beds. 
3. The young cliinook salmon remain about one year in the streams where they 
were hatched before beginning their journey to the sea. 
4. The large redfish are identical with the blueback salmon, or sockeye (Oncorhyn- 
clius nerka), and come up from the sea, as do the chinook salmon. They reach the 
spawning-beds in perfect condition, are mutilated there during the spawning season, 
and then die, never returning to the sea. 
5. The small redfish spawn at the same time and on the same beds with the large 
redfish. They arrive upon the spawning-beds in apparently perfect condition, but soon 
become mutilated, just as do the large form and the chinook salmon, and then die 
without returning even to the lake. 
6. Eggs of the small redfish laid in September in the inlet to Alturas Lake began 
hatching on the 21st of March following. 
7. The young redfish remain in Alturas Lake at least one year from the time when 
they were spawned. 
The investigations of 1895 left unanswered, however, some of the most important 
and interesting questions concerning the redfish. It was not possible to determine 
when the large redfish arrives at the Idaho lakes, nor whether the small form is really 
anadromous. Both forms were already in Alturas Lake before the nets were set in 
the outlet, on July 20. The importance of settling these questions, if possible, and 
the desirability of repeating and verifying the observations of 1895, justified the 
continuance of the work another season. Alturas Lake was, therefore, again visited 
in the summer of 1896. Gamp was established July 11 on the outlet of Alturas Lake, 
at the ford about li miles below Perkins Lake. On account of unusually high water 
it was impossible to set the gill nets satisfactorily until July 17. On July 22 the camp 
was moved to the head of Alturas Lake and a gill net was placed across the inlet at 
its mouth. The net at the ford was taken up August G and reset in the outlet between 
Perkins and Alturas lakes, thus making it more easily reached from the camp. It 
remained in this place until September 25, when it was taken up and not reset again. 
Redfish began to come into the inlet August 3. After that date the net was kept in 
place only at irregular intervals until August 14, when it was taken up. 
Sigh water . — The spring of 1896 was an unusually late one in Idaho. The snows 
of the preceding winter were much deeper than usual and were slow in disappearing in 
the spring. Rains were also uncommonly frequent, even late in the spring and during 
the first half of summer, the last of importance occurring August 6. A very hard 
rain fell on the night of August 3, resulting in a perceptible rise in the streams. On 
July 11 the streams were much higher than at the same time the year before. Salmon 
River and Alturas Creek were overflowing their banks in many places ; much of the 
