The Wrangell sentinel., 1936-04-17
Notes On PACIFIC SALMON
By H. H. HUNGERFORD

The five varieties of Pacific sal mon belong to the genus Oncorhyr- chus. most of them somewhat re sembling the Atlantic salmon. Sal no-salar which is recognized as the only true salmon by scientists and has only one closely related species Fl Pacific waters. the Salmo-Gar- deni or Steelhead salmon. whose spawning habits are identical with those in the rivers tributary to theI Atlantic ocean. That is, spawning in streams and returning to the sea, repeating this function at intervals as long as they survive, while the Pacific salmon is physically capable of spawning only the one time
 The age of all salmon is determ- ined by the annual growth rings as shown on it's scales. 4 number of scales taken from each fish and mounted on microscopic slide will tell the story of their life, and can be read as easily as the annual growth rings of tree.
 or the Pacific salmon the Hum l back or Pink CO-Gorbuscha) are the most abundant In numbers. and are also the smallest in size averaging about four pounds each, though in diyiduals weighing up to Il pounds are taken occasions fly They feed almost exclusively on copepods and their ocean range is no doubt in areas where this type of food is most abundant They do not enter streams in any numoer south of Put get Sound. but from there on to the north and west are plentiful along the Pacific ocean shores but very few enter Behring sea rivers.
 This variety reaches maturity al the age of two years. None have yet been identified as being older on the spawning beds These fish when in the ocean are of a conyen | tional salmon shape. a silyery green | color with a number of black spots along the back. Upon coming in l contact with the fresh water of the spawning stream they experience a decided change in color and appear | ance called their nuptial phase. The | scales are absorbed, the skin turns to a yellowish green with a white belly The body of the female To- mains nearly normal in shape but that of the males flattens and forms a grotesque bumped back. The jaws lengthen into q beaklike form with large caninelike teeth totally l changing the form of the fish, giy- ing this variety of salmon its coln- mon name.
 They do not seem to be very pa'- ticular as to the type of stream | they enter as long as there are suitable grayels and sufficient wat CT. The first of the run commence | spawning near the mouth of the | streams and only frequent the up- per reaches when forced 10 do so by the lack of space lower down. Late corners often spawn, seemingly through choice. on the creek flats, covered at high tide with salt wat CT.
 It is probable that a certain )er- centage of these eggs hatch. for, while it is true that undulated sea 1 water will kill salmon eggs, there are areas on such tidal flats where the upward flow Of fresh waters. | through the gravels is sufficient to develop the eggs, which have prop erly developed some immunity to slightly brackish waters.
 The fry migrate to the sea at once after they emerge from the gravel. Owing to- their small size, anless nature has provided AZ abundance nearby. they will perish | through their inability to travel any great distance to seek food.