192 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
nearer the schools break up. There is no salt-water fishery for this salmon in Alaska, 
except along the beaches. 
No falling off has been observed in the supply of the King Salmon; in fact the 
number used is very small in comparison with that of t he Eed Salmon. 
The only destruction of King Salmon known to me was incidental to the efforts to 
prevent Red Salmon from ascending certain streams by an impassable fence, and this 
no longer exists. 
The Dog Salmon [Oncorhynchus keta). 
(Plate XLVi, fig. 2.) 
This is one of the least important of the Alaskan salmon to Americans, but one 
of the most valuable to the natives. It is found chiefiy in the small rivers and creeks, 
and is usually very abundant in all xiarts of the Territory as far north as Hotham Inlet, 
and probably Point Barrow. Its flesh is comparatively pale, and it deteriorates so 
rapidly in fresh water as to prove very unattractive to white people. The jaws be- 
come enlarged and distorted, and the flesh unpalatable. 
In the rivers of California and British Columbia it is said to appear seldom or 
never in the spring, but in Alaska it makes its appearance on the coast in great schools 
about the middle of June and continues abundant for nearly a month, after which it 
decreases rapidly in numbers, disappearing usually about the time of the forming of 
the ice. 
The average size of the Dog Salmon is about 12 iiounds, but I have seen individuals 
that would weigh 20 pounds. On the 30th of August, at Karluk, a haul of a large 
seine yielded forty Dog Salmon and only one Red Salmon. Early in July the fish-drying 
frames of the natives on the shores of Cook’s Inlet are red with the flesh of the drying 
Dog Salmon, or Hylco. 
The natives cut off' the head, split the fish in halves, and remove the back-bone, 
allowing the two halves to remain fastened at the tail. The sides are gashed at short 
intervals in order to facilitate the drying. The fur traders lay in a large stock of this 
dried salmon, which is known to the trade as ukali. In the fresh-run condition the 
flesh has a beautiful red color, resembling that of the Red Salmon, but not so brilliant. 
In the small sti'eams falling into Alitak Bay, with only a few exceptions, this 
fish and the Little Humpback are the principal salmon, and the natives dry them for 
winter use in large quantities. The Sturgeon River, according to Mr. Charles Hirsch, 
never contains anything but Dog Salmon and Humpbacks. In the Karluk the Dog 
Salmon is only an occasional visitor. At St. Paul, Kadiak, Mr. Washburn says that 
the Eyko arrives about July 1, and there is only one annual run. 
Early in July the red color of the skin of the Eyko, or Dog Salmon, is somewhat 
remarkable in being interrupted at intervals along the sides, causing a sort of resem- 
blance to bands. 
The Silver Scdmon (Onco7~liynclms kisutck). 
(Plate XLVi, fig. 3.) 
The Silver Salmon is considered an excellent fish in the Puget Sound region, but 
is not so highly esteemed in the northern part of Alaska. It is used to some extent 
for canning, but is far less important for this purpose than the Red Salmon. It 
reaches a weight of about 30 pounds ; the average weight in Alaska is less than 15 
