The morning call., 1891-09-13
FISHING.
Small Species of UncIassIfied Eel River
Salmon.


A Small Species of UncIassified Eel River
Salmon.
Judging from the many reports arriving
from Eureka, Humboldt of the killing of
fish and game out of season, the Commits
sioners would be DUNG a good thing to ap-
point competent deputy in that section to
look after the fish and game interests.
Tons Of salmon come annually to this city
from Eureka
There appears to be a small species of the
salmon, which ascend the Eel River. Hum
boldt County, at this season OF the year.
whose classification puzzles anglers and
fishermen who reside in the vicinity Of the
river. Although evidently salmon of the
smaller species, some contend that they are
trout.
A gentleman named E. Robinson made a
special journey from Eureka to this city on
Thursday with six of these fish. all of
which were in splendid condition, and pre-
sented them to Fish Commissioners Wilson
and MoriZO The latter were reluctant to
pass an opinion on the fishes, which aver
aged about three-QuarterS OF pound each.
fhe classification of these fish is matter
Of much Importance to net fishermen who
ply their vocation on Eel River. Professor
JOrdan's attention will be called to them
and IL is probable that at the next meeting
of the Fish and Game Commissioners de-
cisiOn will have been arrived at as regards
the proper classification of these handsome
and thoroughly game fishes.
In regard to the species of fish referred to
an article was read before the American
Fishermen's Society by TarletOn III. Bean
aud published in full in the Shooting and
Fishing of Boston on August 18th. EX-
tracts from the letter read:
"The smallest known of the Pacific salnOns
was first described by DIR. George Suckley
in 1861 under the name OF Sdlmo Kennerlyi
-Keunerly'S trout or Chiloweyuck red
salmon. In 1862 DR.. Theodore Gill pro-
posed for this species the new generic name
BypsifariO, because of its compressed body.
projecting snout, etc. The remarkable
changes in the genus OncOrhynchus during
the course of spawning were at that time
less known than at present About 1882
DIR. David ). Jordan examined the salmon
ida in the National Museum, in Washing
ton, d. c., and came to the conclusion that
Kenner!y's salmon is Identical with the
common red salmon, or blue back of the
region (OncorhynchuS nerka), and this be-
lief was generally accepted as final.
'Siuce the time of DR.. Jurdan's study of
the museum specimens, we have received
new material and recent information which
enables us to place the species, | think. in
different light and TO contribute some
thing of interest to its life history. In 1888
ard 1889, Professor o. B. johnson of the
University of Washington, Seattle, Wash,
collected for the Smithsonian Institution a
large series of these small salmon in little
stream tributary to Lake Washington, near
Seattle. This recent material includes only
salmon in or near the Sp wnlng condition :;
yet it seems to me now sufficient to warrant
the separation of Kennerly's salmon from
the red salmon as sub-Species at least, aad
l would write its name Oncorhynchus
nerka, sub-species kenneryi.
SIN the first place kennerly's salmon be-
comes seXually mature when only eight
inches long, and seldom exceeds ten inches
at any time of life. 1t has about thirty gill
rakers, while red salmon has about forty.
Its fms are much larger than those of the
red salmon. 1t lives permanently in fresh
water-noSt of the year in deep parts of
lakes, from which it runs up small lribu-
taries to spawn.
In DR.. Suckley's original description the
size of adults is stated TO rarely exceed ten
or eleven inches. Among the examples for
warded by Professor Johnson We're mature
males and females little more than eight
inches long; the spermaries of the males
we're well developed, ana the oyaries were
full Of large and apparently ripe eggs. Dr.
Dawson wrote as follows: This salmon is
probably seldom over foot in length, gen.
orally about ten inches"
DR.. Suckley described the color In the fol-
lowing terms: General color of body red,
dingy along the back. paler on the sides,
and fading into pure white on the belly.
Small. irregular black spots above the lat
eral line. Pecturals blush. their tips
slightly grayish. Dorsal and ventrals red.
Tail spotted DR.. Dawson's description
states: The back is dark gray, slightly
reddish; the belly bright silvrry, shaded
with gray. Flesh red, about the same as
that of the saw-qui (0hcorhynchus nerka).'
In June and July, when captured by Pro-
fessor Macoun, the back was a steel-gray
color, with no trace Of red"