THE PACIFIC OCEAN* 
349 
fcliadales depend for their winter provifions. Of thefe, it is 1779. 
faid, by naturalifts, there are to he found, on this coaft, t 
all the different fpecies that are known to exift, and which 
the natives formerly characterized by the different months 
in which they afcend the rivers. They fay too, that 
though the fhoals of different forts are feen to mount the 
rivers at the fame time, yet they never mix with each 
other; that they always return to the fame river in which 
they were bred, but not till the third fummer; that nei¬ 
ther the male nor female live to regain the lea; that cer¬ 
tain fpecies frequent certain rivers, and are never found in 
others, though they empty themfelves nearly at the fame 
place. 
The firft fhoals of falmon begin to enter the mouth of 
the Awatfka about the middle of May ; and this kind, 
which is called by the Kamtfchadales Tchavitji *, is the 
largeft and molt valued. Their length is generally about 
three feet and a half; they are very deep in proportion, 
and their average weight is from thirty to forty pounds. 
The tail is not forked, but ftraight. The back is of a dark 
blue, fpotted with black ; in other refpeCts they are much 
like our common falmon. They afcend the river with ex¬ 
traordinary velocity, infomuch that the water is fenfibly 
agitated by their motion ; and the Kamtfchadales, who are 
always on the watch for them about the time they are ex¬ 
pected, judge of their approach by this circumftance, and 
immediately let drop their nets before them. We were 
prefented with one of the firft that was caught, and given 
to underhand that it was the greateft compliment that 
could be paid us. Krafcheninikoff relates, that formerly 
* Confult the introduction to the Jr flic Zoology for a full account of the falmon tribes 
which frequents Kamtfcbaika, 
the 
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