NOTES ON THE FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 
273 
The opiuion is quite prevalent among the canners and fishermen that the fish 
belong to a difl'erent race from the spring and summer fish, being similar to the fall 
run in the other rivers of the west coast, in all of which the fall run consists of lean 
fish. The opiuion also prevails that tne fish hatched from eggs of the fall run will 
return to the river in the fall and be the undesirable fish, and the hope is general that no 
attemi)ts will be made to propagate tlie late fish, but that the efforts of fish-culturists 
will be centered on the spring and summer broods, which alone are suitable for canning. 
Salmon taMng food in fresh wafer . — The opinion and observation of fishermen and 
dealers coincide in attributing to the chinook salmon the habit of wholly abstaining 
from food after entering the river. 
According to the statements of fishermen there is only one locality in that i>art of 
the basin of the Columbia River where commercial fishing is carried on where the 
Chinook salmon regularly take the baited hook ; this is at the falls of the Willamette 
River, at Oregon City, where anglers use fresh-salmon spawn with great success. 
Food consisting of partly digested small fish has repeatedly been observed in the 
stomachs of salmon taken at or near the mouth of the river. Unmutilated smelts have 
sometimes been seen to fall from the mouths of chinook salmon when the latter were 
thrown in a scow or boat. In all such instances, however, the inference is clear that 
the food was ingested before the fish left the ocean. 
During the month of June the angling at the falls of the Willamette River was 
considered unusually fine, and large numbers of chinook salmon were taken. On June 
19 the Portland Oregonian contained the following note on the subject: 
The salmon fishing at the falls of the Willamette still continues good, and some fine catches have 
been made ^yithin the past few days. Mr. L. T. Barin caught 21 on Saturday and A1 Johnson and 
Henry Gordon caught over 30. Several others caught from 10 to 20, and in all nearly 100 young chinook 
were taken in one day, weighing from 2 to 10 ponnds, and averaging about 5 pounds. For a country 
where it is said salmon would not take a hook this is pretty good fishing. 
Oil June 23 the writer made a visit to Oregon City, and found that a large number 
of fish were then below the falls. The best fishing is from a rocky island lying at 
the extreme left of the falls, at the only point where it is possible for the fish to 
ascend. In the course of an hour about 15 chinook salmon, mostly of small size, were 
taken by a dozen anglers. Most of the fish here caught are under 10 pounds in weight, 
but a few weighing from 15 to 25 pounds are also secured. 
Fishing is done with jointed rods, fitted with 50 to 100 yards of stout line, one or two 
hooks, and a light sinker. The current is very swift and strong, and the line is cast 
up under the falls and permitted to drift downstream. From 10 to 25 yards of line are 
usually paid out. The only bait used is fresh salmon sjjawn. This is cut into pieces 
of the size of a cubic inch, and is placed on the hook as securely as its consistency 
will ]iermit. The vivid red color which the spawn naturally has gives fflace to a pale 
pinkish or white color after immersion in the water. 
Periodicity of run of hluehachs . — A study of the statistics of the salmon fishery of 
the Columbia River collected by the U. S. Commissiou of Fish and Fisheries during 
the past five or six years discloses an interesting feature of the run of blueback salmon. 
The figures show that the fish are much more abundant in the alternate years. Many 
of the salinon-canners and fishermen have overlooked this fact, which, when the matter 
has been brought to their attention, has been clearly demonstrated by reference to 
their records. So far as generalizations may be made from the data at hand, the 
F. C. B. 1894—18 
