THE SALMON AND SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 
11 
In conversation with cannerymen it was found that those who appear to have paid 
some attention to the matter place the age of large, matured salmon much higher than 
the four-year theory warrants. Usually, when asked the question, the more intelli- 
gent state that, in their opinion, the fish are from 8 to 10 years old, but of course this 
is a matter of conjecture. 
The spawning-ground sought by salmon is a sandy and gravelly bottom in a pool or 
eddy where the water is 2 to 3 feet deep, but this is not always attained. The redfish 
is probably the most fastidious in its selection, and after the redfish is the coho; the 
dog salmon and humpback spawn anywhere. 
It is well known that the redfish enters only those streams that are lake outlets, 
and it is generally believed that it does not spawn in the lakes, but always in an entering 
stream. Elsewhere in this report it has been shown that this is not always the case. 
Usually the lakes are deep and have little shore shelf, so that the fish enter the inflowing 
streams where the proper depth and bottom is found; but when the lake is properly 
conditioned, has a sandy or gravelly bottom, gradually shelving, the redfish will spawn 
in it, though they undoubtedly prefer the conditions usually presented by an inflowing 
stream. 
Thj: Steelheau (Salmo gairdneri). Adult. 
When the fish are ready to spawn they excavate a nest by jilowing up the sand and 
gravel with the nose and sweeping it out with tlie tail. The nests are sometimes 3 
feet in diameter and 12 to 18 inches in depth. The female then deposits the eggs, 
which are quickly covered with the milt of the male. The eggs usually fall and lodge 
between the gravel on the lower side of the nest and are covered by the same process 
as adopted in building the nest. The parent salmon remain near the nest and fight 
off all intruders as long as they can maintain their position, becoming more and more 
emaciated and finally dying. Mr. Miller, of Klinkwan, who has lived in Alaska for 
some twelve or fourteen years and has noticed their habits, states that the red salmon 
spawn within six weeks to two months after they enter the streams, and he has 
observed them spawning until November, and occasionally even until December, 
under the ice. The eggs deposited late do not hatch out for three or four months, 
and early in the spring the young with the sac could be seen by taking up a handful 
of gravel from the bottom. Upon being released they wriggle back and burrow in 
the gravel again. He states that the young fish do not become free swimmers until 
some time after they are hatched; they dodge around under stones and sticks, come to 
the surface and nibble at some passing object, and dart back again. This is usually in 
the spring, and he states that they remain in the lake until the following spring and 
