The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-10-19
SALMON FROM JAPAN
An Ichthy illogical Phenomenon from
Coos Ray.

Fish and Game Protector Mcclure re-
ceived a letter yesterday from A NJ
Twomh,ey. superintendent of cannery al
Empire City. which contained the Jaw
bones of TWO chinook salmon. taken N
Coos bay, that are branded In very pecu-
liar manner. says the 0regontan. IN sew
erai places on each ~ The specimens seAt
are small circ.es. evidently burned into the
bone with a hot instrument, each circle
containing what appears 10 be Chinese or
ia panese characters. Mr.. Twomhley says
in the letter that he thinks the FISH thus
branded must have crossed the Pacinc
from Japan. since no such markings have
ever been made IN this country.
II this theory is correct. 1t exTlodes those
advanced by piscatoTial experts that the
salmon always return 10 the stream where
they were incuhated. But, whether X IS
correct or not. ihe discovery is a remark
able one. and will De carefully investi-
gated.
Mr.. MCGUIRE examined the markings on
the Jaws with glass yesterday afternoon.
Each brand consisted of a we.l-deiined cir
Gle, impressed into the substance of the
bone, and each circle contains characters
which are clearly those OF tho Chinese or
Japanese race. 1t IS bis intention 20 maze
the matter widely known. so as 10 DIS
cover, II possible. whether any OF the -is.-
attic salmon have ever been So marked
IL takes salmon nearly d week 70 come
from Astoria 20 Portland and If they cross
the broad Pacific, as i appears from these
developments that they do. Il is possible il
takes them several years 20 make the trip.
Mr.. Mcclure thinks IL possible that the
fish, after leaving the fresh water rivers OF
Asia, drift into the warm waters OF the
Japan current. and. finding the tempera-
tare congenis,. follow Ii til they reach the
shores OF America.
The course of salmon. after they leave
fresh water streams. although long made
the subject of careful study by scientists.
is SUI matter of conjecture. and this dis
covery at Coos bay may throw consider
able light on it,
The salmon released from the Clackamas
hatchery last year were all marked so that
they wiz be Immediately recognized II taxi
en- again. but It is yet too soon to expect
the return OF any of them
The theory held at present concerning
what the salmon does with himself after
ne starts on his cruise in the brinv ,laep
is set forth In an article recently published
in Forest and Stream, by A n Cheney.
an eminent authority on ict1yology He
says:
Ihere are two theories as 10 where the
salmon go when they have left the stream
Vi theiF nativity One is that they run
southward TIL they reach location where
the temperature and food are suitable and
lie tnere. growing fat. untr the spawninr
instinct warns them to return northward
lheh they go up In a body. the salmon
from me different rivers leaving the main
ooay as their native streams are reached
me other theory Is that the salmon
from each stream go out TO sea In a sena-
rate oody. and return to their stream with
ou' having mingled with the fish from 9th
er rivers. As the salmon are krou-, =,
ways 10 return to the stream wbera r.,
were matched. the latter theory seems the
more tenabie." ms tue
ar. McGuire has received word from,
Acting Fish Commissioner W. u 9 pa,
ehel. stating that car bad OF oysters ,.,,,
De shipped to the Pacific coast the latter
par q ,his week A part OF these oysters
and the first thorough exper1ue,,t =
begun. 'eis VIII DC