SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 
35 
length is about 14 inches and the weight 1£ pounds. The following extracts have 
been rearranged from Dr. Yarrow’s description: 
In shape there is very little difference between the male and female, though near the breeding 
season the female is the larger and more brilliant in color. This increased brilliancy of color affects 
both sexes, but is noticeable in a more marked degree in the female. About breeding time the eyes 
are brighter, scales more brilliant, and the superficial blood vessels more fully engorged than ordi- 
narily ; the movements are more rapid, a celerity being displayed quite at variance with its usual 
somewhat sluggish habits. As far as could be ascertained, the spawn has not been observed to run 
from this fish when captured, either by the line or net, for the reason, most likely, that the gravid 
female is seldom taken j ust prior to or during the time of spawning. It first enters the mouths of 
mountain streams and rivers to spawn about the middle of March, remaining until the middle of May, 
by which time the majority have fulfilled their reproductive functions. In coming on to the breeding- 
grounds all sizes are found together, young and old, little and big. During the spawning season no 
very observable changes take place in the trout, except those mentioned above, and also that the 
under part of the cheek of the female becomes very bright. As a rule, it may he stated that in 
general appearance the male is much less bright than the female at this season, and smaller. 
Before spawning, the nests are made in the sand or gravel by a rotary motion of the tail of the 
male. The eggs are exuded by the female into this cavity, which is sedulously guarded by the male 
until the process is completed, when the latter deposits the milt which is to impregnate the eggs. No 
further care is taken by either after the deposition of the impregnating substance. Most of the 
spawning is done in the rivers, hut the process takes place in the lakes also to some extent. It is not 
known at what age this fish begins to breed nor what period of time the process continues. The act 
of spawning exerts an injurious effect on the flesh of the fish, rendering it poor and insipid. In addi- 
tion, many of the fish seeking the upper parts of the rivers to fulfill their reproductive duties do not 
survive the severe bruises and other injuries they meet with in their journey past the rocks and 
through the rapid currents of the mountain streams. The water in the locality in which the trout 
spawns has never been noticed to be whitened by the milt, hut it does present a translucent pinkish 
appearance after the event. 
The temperature of water most favorable for hatching appears to he the coldest obtainable, the 
eggs in many cases being laid directly on the bottom of ice-cold mountain springs. The color of the 
spawn is whitish pink, each egg j ust previous to spawning being the size of No. 4 shot. In July the eggs 
are not larger than No. 12 or dust shot. The eggs when spawned always sink to the bottom, where 
they remain unless eaten or carried away by the swift current. The eggs are hatched in March, April, 
and May, but the number of days required by the process is not known. The spawn and young fish 
suffer greatly from the attacks of other fish, aquatic reptiles, and even from the large fish of their 
own species, these seeming to have no affection for their young. Mr. Peter Madsen states it as his 
opinion that the female in spawning ejects only a portion of her eggs, as he has found, on dissecting 
the trout after the spawning season, eggs of various sizes, some very small and others full grown. 
After spawning the trout invariably swim in schools from one part of the lake to the other in 
search of food, a solitary fish at such time being seldom seen. In traveling the trout is nearly always 
accompanied by its friendly companions, the mullet, sucker, etc., which share with it the danger of 
attack by man and birds. It is rather a singular fact that the very young trout is seldom seen or 
taken either by hook or net, and I am unable to account for the same unless it is that it resorts to 
unknown localities until a larger growth is obtained. Its food, so far as known, consists principally 
of small insects. 
The trout is very voracious, devouring other fish smaller than itself, particularly a species locally 
known as “ silversides,” or “leather-sided minnows” ( Clinostomus lamia, Cope), of from 2 to 6 inches in 
length; on dissection, I found the stomach of the trout crammed with these little fish. Grasshoppers, 
too, are a source of diet to the trout, with flies and other insects, while they do not disdain even 
snakes and frogs of tolerably large size. The favorite localities for feeding in the summer are close to 
the mouths of rivers, the water of which from the mountains is ice cold, from 10 to 12 feet deep, and 
the current very swift. 
This fish winters in the deepest waters of the lakes, as most of the mountain streams to which it 
resorts in spring and summer are shallow and very cold. In summer it swims low in the water — it is 
thought, to avoid the extreme heat of the sun. The male and female, large and small, run indiscrimi- 
