ZOOLOGY. 
313 
through the British Possessions; but short of those points vast numbers turn off into its numerous 
tributaries, the Yakima, Snake, Okanagan, and other rivers. During the course of an expedi¬ 
tion against the Snake Indians, in 1854, the writer saw vast numbers of salmon in the small 
tributaries of the Snake, Boise, Powder, Burnt, Peyette’s, and other rivers, at points nearly 
250 miles from the mouth of Snake river, and a,bout 650 from the Pacific ocean. This was in 
September and October, when the fish were all engaged in spawning. Passing by the multi¬ 
tudes and multitudes of these fish, sufficiently in this repect worthy of wonder, Ave shall proceed to 
describe the act of spawning as Avitnessed at Burnt river on the southern slope of the Blue 
mountains of Oregon. Camping at a point Avhere the stream was tortuous, and its waters clear 
and rapid, we saw a female salmon, some two and a half feet in length, dart rapidly down 
stream, to a spot abreast of Avhere Ave were standing on the bank at the head of a rapid. She 
turned suddenly about, resting with her head toAvards the current, which Avas rather strong. 
Upon locking closely we observed that she was over her spawning bed, a peculiar looking cup¬ 
shaped depression, of about three feet in diameter, in the bed of the stream. This had 
evidently been produced by the lashing of the tail and fins. The fish remained stationery over 
the “bed” about half a minute, keeping herself from being forced down Avith the current by 
gentle motion of the fins, and during her stay apparently discharging a feAV ova, some of Avhich 
were probably Avashed down the rapid, the rest falling into their proper receptacle. She then 
suddenly darted up stream to a quiet resting place. Immediately upon her departure several 
males took her place over the “bed,” and remained there about the same length of time; they 
in turn retreated to a place of repose, the spaAvning “bed” being quickly again occupied by 
one or more females, followed by males as before; the same bed thus serving for about half a 
dozen individuals of both sexes. The period of repose seemed to be about two or three minutes 
for each individual. 
It was pleasing to Avitness the regularity Avith which males and females succeeded each other, 
and also the spirit of combination Avhich they manifested by depositing spawn and milt so 
frequently in couples, each sex by itself, and each sex retiring to a resting place while its 
opposite Avas engaged in his or her particular duty. The water on the spaAvning ground Avas 
about three feet deep. The females Avere invariably the largest, their lengths being betAveen 
two and three feet. They also, as seen through the water, shoAved much of the red and purple 
congestion of the skin and fins, already spoken of as a condition of exhaustion. The males 
scarcel}'' exceeded 20 inches in length, and Avere of a pale olive-gray color, very uniform Avith 
each other, and scarcely, if at all, shoAving any red. Thus Ave see that this particular species 
of salmon, at least, carries on the reproductive process by companies, and that both males and 
females in alternating with each other in their duties seem to be impelled by fixed laAvs and 
habits of custom or instinct. It AA'as also interesting to see Iioav they retreated after each 
emission of spaAvn or ova to quiet places of the stream, Avhere, totally at rest, they could 
rapidly recuperate their energies for the next endeavor. We supposed that the species Avere 
the same as those that arrive at the great falls of the Columbia at the Dalles in such vast 
quantities in April, May, and June. 
Angus McDonald, esq., for many years the officer in charge of the Hudson Bay trading post, 
Fort Colville, (situated at the Kettle Falls, on the Columbia river, but a short distance beloAV 
the mouth of Clark’s Fork,) furnished the following notes on the Salmonidte of the upper 
Columbia. The remarks AA’ere dated Fort Colville, September 1, 1854, and Avere kindly 
communicated by George Gibbs, esq.: 
40 Q 
