A Guide to the Study of Fishes, Volume 2 (of 2)Jordan, David Starr
History
A Guide to the Study of Fishes, Volume 2 (of 2)
Jordan, David Starr
Fishes; Fishes -- Bibliography; Zoology -- History
As already stated, the economic value of any species depends in great
part on its being a "spring salmon." It is not generally possible to
capture salmon of any species in large numbers until they have entered
the estuaries or rivers, and the spring salmon enter the large rivers
long before the growth of the organs of reproduction has reduced the
richness of the flesh. The fall salmon cannot be taken in quantity until
their flesh has deteriorated; hence the dog-salmon is practically almost
worthless except to the Indians, and the humpback salmon was regarded as
little better until comparatively recently, when it has been placed on
the market in cans as "Pink Salmon." It sells for about half the price
of the red salmon and one-third that of the quinnat. The red salmon is
smaller than the quinnat but, outside the Sacramento and the Columbia,
far more abundant, and at present it exceeds the quinnat in economic
value. The pack of red salmon in Alaska amounted in 1902 to over two
million cases (48 pounds each), worth wholesale about $4.00 per case, or
about $8,000,000. The other species in Alaska yield about one million
cases, the total wholesale value of the pack for 1902 being $8,667,673.
The aggregate value of the quinnat is considerably less, but either
species far exceed in value all other fishes of the Pacific taken
together. The silver salmon is found in the inland waters of Puget Sound
for a considerable time before the fall rains cause the fall runs, and
it may be taken in large numbers with seines before the season for
entering the rivers.
The fall salmon of all species, but especially of the dog-salmon, ascend
streams but a short distance before spawning. They seem to be in great
anxiety to find fresh water, and many of them work their way up little
brooks only a few inches deep, where they perish miserably, floundering
about on the stones. Every stream of whatever kind, from San Francisco
to Bering Sea, has more or less of these fall salmon.
The absence of the fine spring salmon in the streams of Japan is the
cause of the relative unimportance of the river fisheries of the
northern island of Japan, Hokkaido. It is not likely that either the
quinnat or the red salmon can be introduced into these rivers, as they
have no snow-fed streams, and few of them pass through lakes which are
not shut off by waterfalls. For the same reason neither of these species
is likely to become naturalized in the waters of our Eastern States,
though it is worth while to bring the red salmon to the St. Lawrence.
The silver salmon, already abundant in Japan, should thrive in the
rivers and bays of New England.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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