NATURAL HISTORY OF THE QUINNAT SALMON. 
A REPORT ON INVESTIGATIONS IN THE SACRAMENTO RIVER 1896-1901. 
By CLOUDSLEY RUTTER, 
Naturalist , United States Fish Commission steamer Albatross. 
ORIGIN AND METHOD OF THE INVESTIGATIONS. 
The superlative value of the quinuat salmon as a food-fish has long been recog- 
nized, and the great market demand for it was, until recently, rapidly leading to 
its extermination. Within the last few years, however, artificial propagation has 
reached such efficiency that the species is again increasing, especially in the Sacra- 
mento River, California. Two divisions of the work of artificial propagation — spawn- 
ing and hatching — have received much attention and are especially well understood. 
The first includes securing the spawning fishes and taking and fertilizing the ova; 
the second includes the care of the eggs from the time they are fertilized until they 
are hatched. 
At Battle Creek hatchery in 1897 nearly 50,000,000 eggs were taken, which 
hatched over 40,000,000 alevins. With such an enormous output of young salmon 
the question of the best method of planting them became of vital importance. It 
had usually been the custom to plant the alevins within a few days after they were 
hatched, and with such large numbers as were produced in 1897 this was an absolute 
necessity, owing to lack of space in which to care for them. But there was evidently 
a great risk in planting so many helpless young fishes when the knowledge of their 
habits and enemies in the streams was so limited. It was for the purpose of supplying 
such knowledge that these investigations were undertaken. Begun originally with 
the one purpose in view, the investigation has grown till many other questions have 
been involved. In order to determine the best method of planting it was necessary 
to study the habits of the young salmon under natural conditions. This led to 
a study of the spawning habits and finally the general life-history. In studying 
the natural propagation it seemed advisable to compare it with artificial propagation, 
which led to various experiments bearing on the latter subject. Most of the work 
was carried on in the Sacramento basin. Every mile of the Sacramento River from 
source to mouth has been visited, except 5 or 6 miles below the head of Box Canyon 
near Sisson. Nearly 1,000 miles have been traveled in skiffs, and twice the entire 
distance from Redding to Sacramento has been thus covered, seining stations being- 
established every 17 miles on an average. In exploring Pit basin and the sources 
of Feather River about 500 miles were ti'aveled by wagon and about 30 seining 
stations were made. (See chart of explorations, plate 18.) 
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