They are at the very peak of then- 
weight. 
Thousands of them move upstream to¬ 
gether. When they come to a narrow 
channel, they float in place, each waiting 
his turn to go on. They may be so closely 
packed here that they make a bridge over 
which a man could walk. 
Against strong currents and swift 
rapids the salmon make their way. 
Sometimes they must leap almost 
straight up over falls a dozen feet high. 
No one knows exactly how the salmon 
makes its great leaps. One idea is that 
it begins by moving its tail and fins very 
fast. Suddenly it bends its body, just as 
a man bends a bow to shoot an arrow. 
Then — sping! It snaps back! This 
sends it shooting from the water. If the 
salmon doesn’t make the jump at the 
first try, it jumps again. It keeps on 
trying until it either succeeds or dies 
from wounds or weariness. 
23 
