282 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
ounces. This fish was very thin and weak, and its fins were very much worn. Every 
time we attempted to get any of the others they would run under the brush in the 
deep pool above. These six are the only live redflsh we saw in this stream. 
As we were crossing the bar at the mouth of the inlet we saw a large flsli which 
may have been a redflsh, but we did not see it plainly enough to enable us to be cer- 
tain as to the species. At various places along the stream we saw dead redflsh in 
various stages of decay. We counted at least fifteen small ones and four or five 
large ones. Fragments here and there indicated that the dead fish were being eaten 
by animals of some kind, probably fishers, wolverines, wolves, etc., which occur here. 
One female redflsh, 11 inches long, was found full of eggs; whether she got killed in 
some way we could not determine. All the small ones we examined were females. 
There may have been a few other live fish lying in the deep holes under the drift, 
but there could not have been many. The clearness of the water and the care with 
which we examined the stream precluded the possibility of many escaping detection. 
Evidently the spawning season of the redflsh in this stream was practically over at 
this time, and nearly all the fish had gone or had died and disappeared. 
THE SALMON TROUT OR STEELHEAD SALMON. 
One of the most interesting and important results of our work in Idaho was the 
discovery of the fact that large numbers of steelheads spawn in the streams of that 
State, and that the catch of steelheads in the Snake Eiver is almost as important as 
that of the chiuook salmon. During our stay at Weiser and Upper Salmon Falls we 
saw a number of steelheads caught. An examination of these specimens shows them 
to be Salmo gairdneri. We saw no specimens in Salmon, Weiser, and Payette rivers, 
but the evidence that this species breeds in all these streams is quite trustworthy. 
The name by which this fish is usually known in these Idaho localities is “salmon 
trout,” although “steelliead” is occasionally heard along Snake Eiver. 
Headwaters of Salmon River. — Mr. F. C. Parks, Sawtooth, Idaho, says : 
The salmon trout come to the Alturas Lake region about May 5, and are seen up to about June 10. 
Some spawn in Salmon River and Alturas Lake outlet, while others go up into the inlets where they 
probably spawn on the same gravel bars used later by the redfisli. Their spawning habits are about 
the same as those of the redflsh. Their noses get hooked and some sores appear later. Have seen 
some dead ones, but do not think many die. They are of various sizes, not in two sizes as the redflsh 
are. The largest I have seen would weigh about 14 pounds, the smallest about 2 pounds, while the 
average weight is probably nearly 8 pounds. They are becoming less abundant each year. The small 
ones are very scarce. 
We catch them with spears and grab hooks. They will sometimes take a hook baited with then- 
own spawn tied up in mosquito bar. About one-third of those we get are females. Their eggs are 
about the size of those of the redflsh. 
Color: Along middle of side as red as the redflsh; back, steel-color; the female has less red and is 
more silvery. 
We saw uo salmon trout bere at the time of our visit, unless the fry which we 
found in little pools along Salmon Eiver were salmon trout. The little pools and 
ditches in the vicinity of S teuton’s ranch and elsewhere contained large numbers of 
young trout. We caught 50 or more of these fry which measure li to 2^ inches in 
length. We have no means of telling certainly whether they are young Salmo gaird- 
neri or Salmo mykiss , but are inclined to believe them the former. 
