. California fish and game. Fisheries -- California; Game and game-birds -- California; Fishes -- California; Animal Population Groups; Pêches; Gibier; Poissons. REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. 105 The superabundance of enemies is probably the most important factor in limiting the number of salmon. Their enemies during the egg and alevin stage have been mentioned above. After beginning to swim, the young salmon is a very active fish, and during his migration down the rivers to the ocean, when the young from the hatcheries are first exposed to the same dangers as those from the nat
. California fish and game. Fisheries -- California; Game and game-birds -- California; Fishes -- California; Animal Population Groups; Pêches; Gibier; Poissons. REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. 105 The superabundance of enemies is probably the most important factor in limiting the number of salmon. Their enemies during the egg and alevin stage have been mentioned above. After beginning to swim, the young salmon is a very active fish, and during his migration down the rivers to the ocean, when the young from the hatcheries are first exposed to the same dangers as those from the natural spawning beds, he is in no great danger from birds or fishes, with the exception of the Dolly Varden trout. While in fresh Avater the young salmon is too small to receive the attention of fish ducks, which feed largely on sculpins or minnows, while the cormorants feed on carp and (in Alaska) on trout that are larger than the young salmon. We do not know the enemies in salt water, except that the quinnat feeds to some extent on young salmon. But other enemies are numerous enough. I recently examined 500 adult salmon for the pur-. QUINNAT, OR SACRAMENTO RIVER, SALMON. pose of determining the number that had been injured in any way, as shown by scars, scratches, and scale abrasions, with the result showing that 11 per cent had received at least some slight injury, and that 5 per cent carried scars indicating that they had had really close calls for their lives. When 11 per cent have been in danger, and when 5 per cent have barely escaped with their lives, how many must there have been that did not escape? It seems certain that the salmon taken by the fishermen, numerous though they may be, are only a few in com- parison with the number that perish before they meet the fishermen. Artificial propagation must not be held responsible for the safety of the fish among these dangers. And whatever the output of young from the hatcheries or from natural spawning beds, there are sure
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