SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 
23 
The red-spottecl brook trout of California, also known as the dolly varden ( Salvelinus 
malma , PL yi, Fig. 2), is one of the best known and most abundant fishes of Alaska. 
In the sea-run condition, when its sides are uniform silvery and do not show the red 
spots, it is called the salmon trout, and, preserved in brine, forms a staple article of 
commerce. In Alaska the species increases in size northward. Individuals measuring- 
30 inches in length and weighing 8 or 10 pounds are frequently obtained. Natives of 
northern Alaska make waterproof clothing from the skin of this trout. The dolly 
varden abounds in all parts of the Territory, even in the Aleutian Islands and in the 
extreme northern limits. It is known to occur also in the Mackenzie and in the tribu- 
taries of the Saskatchewan — this basin apparently representing its eastern limit. The 
dolly varden trout takes the artificial fiy very freely. On one of the islands of the 
Shumagin group several hundred were so captured in one hour by a party from the 
United -States steamer Albatross in 1889. Salmon eggs prove, very effective also in 
taking this trout. The species is very destructive to the eggs of the various kinds of 
Pacific salmon. The young trout are destroyed in enormous numbers by gulls, terns, 
and other aquatic birds. 
The lake trout (Salvelinus namaycusTi) or namaycush, tuladi, togue, lunge, etc., of 
the Great Lakes, New England, Labrador, Idaho, and British Amei’ica (PI. Vi, Fig. 1), 
has been obtained in the Putnam or Kuwuk River, where it reaches a fine state of 
development. The southern limit of this species in Alaska is not known. This is 
the largest trout of North America and the most widely distributed. Its great size 
and the good quality of its flesh render it a very important species wherever it is 
known. This is one of the most variable of the North American trout in color, and 
much confusion has arisen from this circumstance. Individuals from the Kuwuk are 
t similar in appearance to Labrador specimens, differing only in being slightly darker. 
The rainbow trout of California (PI. v, Figs. 2 and 3) appears to exteud north- 
ward into southeastern Alaska, but is very little known in the Territory, and, conse- 
quently, is not of much importance there. One specimen of this trout was taken at 
Sitka by Capt. Beardslee ip. 1880, and is now preserved in the U. S. National Museum. 
Gairdner’s trout (PI. v, Fig. 1), known also as the steelhead salmon, or u soom- 
gah” of the Russians (Salmo gairdneri) : reaches a very large size in Alaska, and ex- 
tends northward at least to the Bristol Bay region. At Sitka this species is called 
u Ali-slmt ” by the Indians. We found gravid females at that place in June. This trout 
generally finishes its spawning before the arrival of the salmon, and is charged with 
the destruction of salmon eggs in large quantities. The species has not much impor- 
tance commercially, although it reaches so large a size, attaining to the proportions 
of the Atlantic salmon, which it resembles in shape and color; but small quantities 
are dried by the natives and at the various fishing stations. This is the trout which 
is shipped from the Columbia River early in the spring to markets on the east coast, 
and sold in the fresh state under the trade name of u Kennebec salmon.” Its dis- 
tinction from the rainbow trout is difficult, and the two may prove to be identical. It 
will undoubtedly become an important species before many years. At the present time 
it is practically a waste product of the salmon fisheries of Alaska, and the same may be 
said of the dolly varden. 
Clark’s trout (PL iv, Figs. 2 and 3), recently styled the red- throat (Salmo my lass), 
is very abundant in Alaska, extending northward at least to the Bristol Bay region. 
In the streams it can be readily taken with various baits, and greatly increases the 
