168 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
The species at present constituting the principal motive and object of canning 
operations is — 
THE RED SALMON. 
The southern limit of the range of this species is the Columbia Eiver, in which it 
is known as the Blue Back Salmon. Its range extends northward to the Yukon Eiver, 
and it makes its appearance in southern Alaskan waters early in June, the run begin- 
ning later as we proceed farther to the north. A succession of schools continue to 
arrive until August and, after tarrying a short time in the coast waters, begin to ascend 
to their spawning grounds, which are in the cold snow-fed lakes from which issue the 
head- waters of the streams that are frequented by this species for the purpose of repro- 
duction. The run is confined chiefly to the smaller streams, such as the Karluk, in 
which they crowd in numbers absolutely incredible to one who is not an eye witness, and 
actually force each other out of the water in their eager struggles to reach the sources 
of the rivers and deposit their spawn. 
THE KING SALMON 
Is the principal canning species of the Columbia and other rivers of Oregon and Cali- 
fornia, but at present it has relatively little imiiortance in the Alaskan salmon fisheries. 
It is distinctively the salmon of the larger rivers, like the Yukon, on which the canning 
industry has not yet attained much development. It is, however, an abundant species, 
and, with the growth of the canning industry ou the larger rivers, will attain great com- 
mercial importance. 
THE SILVER SALMON 
Is in great request for canning in the Puget Sound region, but is not held in much esteem 
by the cauners of Alaska, because it becomes soft very soon after its capture and can not 
be kept like the Eed Salmon. It spawns in the fall of the year, but does not make its 
appearance on the coast until shortly before canning operations close for the season, 
and, consequently, the opportunity for natural reproduction is more favorable than for 
the Eed Salmon and King Salmon. The species is abundant now, and under present 
conditions of the fisheries will doubtless maintain itself. The flesh, though not highly 
colored, is probably not inferior in table qualities to the Eed Salmon, and in the future, 
with the extension of canning operations, it will doubtless be utilized more extensively 
than at present. 
THE HUMP-BACK SALMON 
Is the smallest, the most abundant, and most widely distributed species of the Alaskan 
salmon. It arrives on the coast of Kadiak from the 1st to the 10th of July, and con- 
tinues to run for about live weeks, the height of the spawning season being early in 
August. It does not ascend far from salt water, and usually enters streams which are 
tooshallow to cover its back fins. This species is not much used at present for canning 
purposes, but is dried by the natives in large quantities for winter use, and moderately 
large quantities are salted for the San Francisco and other markets. When fresh run 
its flesh is not inferior in edible qualities to the Eed Salmon, and has a beautiful red 
color, but rapidly deteriorates after it enters the estuaries of the rivers. This species, 
from its abundance and wide distribution, will attain great commercial importance 
when its good qualities are better known. 
