Page:The Pacific Monthly volumes 1-3.djvu/88

 silverside averages 2,000 eggs to the fish.

The dog salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) reaches an average weight of 12 pounds. It is the least valuable of the five species. In the spring it is of a dirty silvery color, or sprinkled with small back specks; the fins dusky. In the fall the male is of a blackish color, and its jaws greatly distorted, giving the fish a very repulsive look. Just after entering fresh water from the ocean the flesh has a beautiful red color, but deteriorates rapidly, and is then inferior to the other species as an article of food. They ascend the rivers but a short distance before spawning. Formerly none of this species was canned on the Columbia, but owing to the scarcity of other species a few packers of late years have canned these fish, but have carefully avoided labeling them "dog salmon."

The steelhead salmon (Salmo gairdneri) is also known as Gairdner's trout, so called in honor of Dr. Gairdner, who first recognized and classified it. It is also known as hardhead, winter salmon, square-tailed trout and salmon trout. It is, strictly speaking, a trout, but under the laws of Oregon is protected as a salmon. Its spawning season is from February to May. In appearance it greatly differs from any of the regular salmon. It is more slender than the Chinook, and its flesh is light colored. The average weight of the steelhead in the Columbia is about 10 pounds; individuals, however, are sometimes taken weighing as much as 30 pounds.

The steelhead is found in the Columbia during the entire year, and under the provisions of the law in force during the last eight years has been subject to the operations of the fishermen for 10 months of the year. Under this continued drain there has been a steady and constant decline in the abundance of this fish running in the Columbia. I have repeatedly called attention to the necessity of providing a winter close season, if this valuable fish is to be preserved from extinction.

The Astoria Progressive Commercial Association, realizing the importance of doing something for the preservation of these fish, undertook, in the early part of the present year, to operate a hatchery for their artificial propagation, the funds for carrying on the work being raised through private subscription. This was