SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN IN 1896. 79 
Six mature specimens from Union Lake near Seattle, Washington, 4 males and 2 females. 
Of the small specimens, no doubt hatched during the winter of 1895-96, our collection contains 
the following : 
Two specimens, 2£ and 3| inches in length respectively, hatched during the winter of 1895-96 by 
Mr. L. E. Bean at Mapleton and retained in a small spring brook until September 9, 1896. 
One, 3 J inches long, caught in a seine in Siuslaw River below Florence December 8, 1896. 
Two specimens, 5J and 5f inches respectively, caught with a seine in Tsiltcoos Lake December 1, 
1896. All three with parr marks present ; no red on sides ; dorsal, adipose, and caudal tins yellowish ; 
caudal reddish near tips; pectoral and ventrals yellowish. 
During the latter part of September and early part of October Mr. Alexander was at Celilo, on the 
Columbia River, and made some valuable observations upon the silver salmon. He examined a total of 
2,268 fish of this species, all of which he found well advanced, indicating to him that they would 
spawn before the middle of October. 
Silver salmon examined by Mr. Alexander at Celilo. 
Male. 
Female. 
Date. 
Num- 
ber. 
Well de- 
veloped. 
Num- 
ber. 
Well de- 
veloped. 
Total. 
Taken in wheels by Mr. Taffe : 
Sept. 18, 1896 
5 
2 
1 
0 
6 
Sept. 19, 1896 
4 
2 
1 
Sept. 21, 1896 
9 
7 
13 
8 
22 
Sept. 22, 1896 
11 
8 
8 
6 
19 
31 
21 
24 
15 
55 
Taken in seines by Mr. Seufert: 
Sept. 26, 1896 
136 
112 
149 
135 
285 
Sept. 27, 1896 
157 
146 
186 
160 
343 
Sept. 28, 1896 
117 
97 
123 
114 
240 
Sept. 29, 1896 
102 
73 
115 
83 
217 
Oct. 2, 1896 
137 
123 
166 
145 
303 
Oct. 5, 1896 
149 
105 
144 
123 
293 
Oct. 7, 1896 
96 
83 
127 
119 
223 
Oct. 10, 1896 
68 
63 
78 
154 
Oct. 13, 1890 
49 
41 
106 
91 
155 
1, Oil 
843 
1, 202 
1, 048 
2,213 
Silver salmon first appear in the southern end of Puget Sound about the 1st of September, and the 
run usually lasts until the first or middle of November. A few individuals are taken as late as 
December, after which few are seen in the sound, but a good many are caught in Duwamish River. 
23. Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum). Bluebaclc Salmon; “ Redfish “ Sockeye.” 
The investigations made in Idaho in 1894 and 1895 resulted in settling some of the disputed 
questions concerning the redfish, but left others still in doubt. The details of the observations made 
in those years will be found in the reports already published. * A summary of the conclusions reached 
regarding the life-history of the redfish is given on page 16 of this article. 
Although no satisfactory evidence was obtained as to the occurrence of the small form anywhere 
in the stream helow the lakes, this was not considered proof that it does not come up from the sea. 
So close is its resemblance to the native trout, except at spawning time, that it would probably not 
attract the attention of anyone, even if seen below the lakes. 
In order to obtain more definite results in the study of this problem, the redfish lakes of Idaho 
were again visited in 1896. Camp was established July 11, on Alturas Lake Creek at the crossing of 
the trail a short distance below Perkins Lake. Gill nets were set in the outlet the same day and were 
kept set until September 25. These nets were examined from day to day during the entire period of 
seventy-six days and not a single redfish was caught in them. The water was so high and the current 
so swift during the first ten days the nets were set that it was impossible to place them so as to wholly 
obstruct the stream. It is therefore possible that fish may have ascended the stream and passed the nets 
* A Preliminary Report upon Salmon Investigations in Idaho in 1894, by Barton W. Evermann, 
Bull. U. S. F. C. 1895, 253-284. 
A Report upon Salmon Investigations in the Headwaters of the Columbia River, in the State of 
Idaho, in 1895 ; together with Notes upon the Fishes observed in that State in 1894 and 1895, by Barton 
W. Evermann, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1896, 149-202, plates 67-72. 
