198 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
22. Coregonus williamsom Girard. (Plate 21). 
Coregonus wHliamsoni Girard, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1856, 136. Type locality: Des Chutes 
Eiver, Oregon. 
Specimeus obtained from the Payette River at Payette, Idaho, 24; Clearwater River at 
Lewiston, Idaho, 7; Columbia River at Umatilla, Oreg., 1; Natchess River at North Yakima, 
Wash., 8; Newaukum Eiver at Chehalis, Wash., 4; Little Spokane River at Dart’s Mill, 
Wash., 6; Flathead Lake, Montana, 2; Post Creek, St. Ignatius Mission, Montana, 9; Clarke 
Fork at Thompson Falls, Mont., 1; Creek at Sand Point, Idaho, 5; Spokane River, Spokane, 
Wash., 1. 
Abundant and widely distributed throughout the Columbia and U)iper Colorado and 
Missouri basins. Specimeus of this fish were obtained by Mr. Bean which are of unusual 
interest in that they show the breeding colors. Mr. Beau’s report upon these siiecimens is 
given at the end of this paper (pp. 205,206). 
23. Oncorhynchusgorbuscha( Walbaum). Humpback Salmov. The humpback salmon wasrnuningiu 
great abundance at the date of our visit to Puget Sound (August 26) and was the only species 
then being handled at the canneries. We were informed that the humpbacks did not run last 
year, and in corroboration of the fact that this species runs on the Sound in alternate years 
oulj^, it is recalled that it did not appear in 1880, when one of us visited this region. As is 
well known, the female humpbacks are plumj), symmetrical, silvery fishes of attractive appear- 
ance and good llavor. Aside from the traditional requirements as to color of flesh, the species 
is well adapted for canning purposes. No young of this species were found in the streams. 
24. Oncorhynchus keta (Walbaum). Dog Salmon. The young of the dog salmon were abundant 
in the Newaukum and Skookumchuck rivers at Chehalis, Wash. They average slightly 
smaller than young quinnais, and are readily distinguished by their larger eyes. They have 
12 or 13 brauchiostegal rays, 14 rays in the anal fin, 130 to 135 scales in lateral lines, and 7 + 
13 gill-rakers. Like the young quinnaU, these were all nearly uniform in size, and were 
evidently young of the preceding year. 
25. Oncorhynchus tschawytscha (Walbaum). Quinnat Salmon. Only the young of the Columbia 
River salmon were seen by us during our short investigation of the Columbia and the 
Snake. It had not yet reached its spawning beds on the Snake at the time of our visit, and 
the “ close season ” prevented its capture later in the lower river. Such facts as we were 
able to ascertain concerning its run and spawning-grounds are therefore based on interviews 
with fishermen and others, a kind of testimony which must, in this case, be scrutinized 
with more than usual care. On the upper river it was repeatedly found that no distinction 
was seemingly made between the salmon and the steelhead, and of the two species of salmon 
that almost certain!}' spawn in the upper course of these streams, no distinctive accounts could 
be had. A “ silver salmon” was, indeed, frequently mentioned, but we were unable to ascer- 
tain whether the fish thus distinguished was the female quinnat or the blueback (0. nerka). 
As already indicated in our notes on the streams, salmon ascend the Snake Eiver to and 
above the Lower and Upper Salmon Falls, and have important .spawning-beds in the main 
stream, both above and below these falls. They are not known above the Auger Falls, and 
probably do not even reach the foot of the Great Shoshone. They appear first in this 2 >ortion 
of the river early in September, or occasionally in the latter part of August, at a time when 
the streams are so low that falls or dams which would form no liarrier earlier in the season 
now keep them out from otherwise favorable spawning-beds. This fish is not much used for 
food in the ujjper waters. The remnants of the various Indian tribes make yearly visits to 
the spawning-beds and occasionally white men have tried to init them on the market, but 
without success. Great numbers, are, however, annually killed through mere love of destruc- 
tion. The advent of the salmon brings out from every town men and boys with pitchforks 
or other weaijons, curious to see how many of these fish the}' can destroy. It is to be held in 
mind that these localities in Idaho and in the eastern portions of Oregon and Washington are 
so remote from the canneries that the people have no interest whatever in the jireservation 
of the s.almon. We can not, therefore, de 2 >end ujion public seutiment'to enforce j)rotective 
legislation. 
We give below such information as we jmssess concerning the distribution of salmon in 
the .Snake and Upi>er Columbia rivers. 
