SALMON INVESTIGATIONS IN IDAHO. 
277 
THE REDFISH OR BLTJEBACK SALMON. 
Headivaters of Salmon River . — The redfisli or blueback salmon ( Oncorhynchus 
nerlca ) is the most important of all the salmon of Alaska, where it is known as the red 
salmon. In the Lower Columbia, where it is known as the blueback salmon, it is 
exceeded in importance only by the Chinook salmon, the catch of bluebacks in the 
Columbia River in 1S92 amounting to 873,106 fish, or 4,365,530 pounds. That this 
species spawns in large numbers in the Columbia basin is certain, but we know very 
little regarding its spawning habits or the location of its spawning-grounds. Dr. Bean 
has studied it in Alaska, but not until now has any naturalist studied it at any of its 
spawning-grounds in the Columbia basin. 
So far as is yet known, the lake region at the headwaters of Salmon River contains 
some of the most important spawning-grounds of this species. I observed it at Alturas 
and Pettit lakes, and it is known to occur in Redfish Lake, Stanley Lake, and perhaps 
in one or two other small lakes of this group. They are also known from the head- 
waters of Payette River (Big Payette Lake), from Wallowa Lake in Oregon, and from 
Okanagan Lake in Washington. 
Redfish at Alturas Lalce. — Mr. F. C. Parks gives the following information: 
The redfish appear at Alturas Lake usually about August 1, and reach the inlet of the lake about 
August 5, when some are nearly ready to spawn ; others are tight and the flesh firm and without sores. 
They are then more wild and active than later. There are two distinct sizes, those of one size weighing 
3 or 4 pounds, while those of the other size are very much smaller, weighing less than half a pound 
each. The small and large ones nearly always school separately. Have seen no big ones for three 
years until this year. Four years and more ago the large ones were common. About 1881 a prospector 
took 2,600 pounds fresh from Alturas Lake to Atlanta and Rocky Bar, where he sold them to the miners. 
Formerly many were salted and barreled. At one time there was talk of starting a cannery here or 
at Redfish Lake, but the passage of a law prohibiting traps stopped the matter. 
Most of the fish seem to be males. We get them when they first come in, with grab hooks and 
spears. They spawn only in the inlet; do not believe they ever spawn in the lake. The small ones 
run up the inlet at least 3 miles, where the water is so shallow that their backs stick out. The large 
ones spawn in the lower part of the inlet. The spawning habits of the large and small ones are 
essentially the same. They spawn upon the gravel bars in shallow water. While on the spawning- 
beds the males fight a good deal; they bite each other upon the back and hold on for quite a while. 
The spawning begins early in August and is usually over by the first of September. Finding them 
still spawning to-day (September 12) was a great surprise to me. When we started out this morning 
I did not believe we would find any redfish. 
I think they come up from the sea each year; have never seen any in the lake in the winter and 
do not believe any stay there. I have never seen them in or about the lake except from about the last 
of July to late in September. I think they practically all die after spawning; a few may get back to 
the sea. The little ones I have always regarded as the same as the big ones, size being the only 
difference. I never found any food in their stomach, and never knew them to take a hook. 
The ones we got to-day (September 12) will average in size with those of former years, both the 
large ones and the small ones. Have seen some weighing probably 6 pounds. Mr. Ferris, an old 
fisherman here, says he has caught them weighing 6 pounds. 
There is not much variation in their time of arrival. They seem to have come a little later and 
in greater numbers this year than for several years; the large ones especially were more abundant 
this year than usual. The greater abundance this year may be due to the unusually high water of 
last spring, which may affect fish in two ways: (1) By reaching farther out to sea; (2) by enabling 
fish to get over falls, which prove a barrier in lower water. 
