Clark: March 13, 1806
Hunters Drewyer, Joseph Fields, and Frazer returned with two elk and two deer, and Collins killed two more elk while Sergeant Pryor's party unsuccessfully searched again for a lost canoe. Sergeant Ordway's party retrieved meat from one elk, while Reuben Field and Thompson remained out hunting near Point Adams. Two Cathlamet visitors came and left, and Drewyer was sent to the Clatsop village to try to buy canoes. Taking advantage of the rare fair weather, Clark took equal altitudes and recorded detailed observations on local fish, including porpoise, skate, flounder, salmon, red charr, salmon trout, and mountain trout.
Thursday March 13th 1806. This morning Drewyer Jos. Fields and Frazer
returned; they had killed two Elk and two deer. Visited by two
Cath-lah-mars who left us in the evening. we Sent Drewyer down to the
Clatsop Village to purchase a couple of their canoes if possible. Sergt.
Pryor and a party made another Serch for the lost Canoe but was
unsucksessfull; while engaged in Serching for the Canoe, Collins one of
his party killed two Elk near the Netul below us. we Sent Sergt. Ordway
and a party for the flesh of one of the Elk beyond the Bay with which they
returned in the evening; the other Elk and 2 Deer were at Some distanceR.
Field and Thompson who Set out on a hunting excursion yesterday morning
towards point Adams have not yet returned. took equal altitudes to day
this being the only fair day for Sometime past.
The Porpus is common on this coast and as far up the river as the water is
brackish. the Indians Sometimes gig them and always eat the flesh of this
fish when they Can precure it; to me the flavour is disagreeable. the
Skaite is also common to the Salt water, I have Seen Several of them that
had perished and were thrown out on the beach by the tide. The flounder is
also an enhabitent of the Salt water. we have Seen them also on the beach
where they had been left by the tide. the nativs eate the latter and
esteem it very fine. these Several Species are the Same of those of the
atlantic Coasts. The Common Salmon and red charr are the inhabitents of
both the Sea and river. the former is usially largest and weighs from 5 to
15 lbs. it is this Species that extends itself into all the rivers and
little creek on this Side of the Continent, and to which the nativs are So
much indebted for their Subsistence. the body of this fish is from 21/2 to
3 feet long and perpotionably broad. it is covered with imbricated scales
of a moderate Size and is varigated with errigular black Spots on its Side
and gills. the eye is large and the iris of a Silvery colour the pupil
black. the rostrum or nose extend beyond the under jaws, and both the
upper and the lower jaw are armed with a Single Series of long teeth which
are Subulate and infleted near the extremities of the jaws where they are
more closely arranged. they have Some Sharp teeth of Smaller Size and Same
Shape on the tongue which is thick and fleshey. the fins of the back are
two; the first is placed nearer the head than the Venteral fins and has
____ rays, the Second is placed far back near the tail is small and has no
rays. The flesh of this fish when in order of a deep flesh coloured red
and every Shade from that to an orrange yellow, and when very meager
almost white. the Roe of this fish are much esteemed by the nativs, who
dry them in the Sun and preserve them for a great length of time. they are
about the Size of a Small pea nearly transparrent and of a redish yellow
colour. they resemble very much at a little distance the Common Current of
our gardens but are more yellow. this fish is Sometimes red along the
Sides and belly near the gills; particularly the male of this Species.
The Red Charr are reather broader in proportion to their length than the
Common Salmon, the Skales are also embricated but reather large. the
nostrum exceeds the lower jaw more and the teeth are neither So noumerous
or large as those of the Salmon. Some of them are almost entirely red on
the belly and Sides; others are much more white than the Salmon, and none
of them are varigated with the dark Spots which mark the body of the
other. their flesh roe and every other particular with respect to their is
that of the Salmon. this fish we did not See untill we had decended below
the Great falls of the Columbia; but whether they are exclusively confined
to this portion of the river or not at all Seasons, I am unable to
determine.
The Salmon Trout are Seldom more than two feet in length, they are narrow
in purportion to their length, at least much more So than the Salmon &
red charr. their jaws are nearly of the Same length, and are furnished
with a Single Series of Subulate Streight teeth, not so long or so large
as those of the Salmon, the mouth is wide, and the tongue is also
furnished with Some teeth. the fins are placed much like those of the
Salmon. at the Great Falls are met with this fish of a Silvery white
colour on the belly and Sides, and a blueish light brown on the back and
head. in this neighbourhood we have met with another Species which does
not differ from the other in any particular except in point of Colour.
this last is of a dark colour on the back, and its Sides and belley are
yellow with transverse Stripes of dark brown. Sometimes a little red is
intermixed with these Colours on the belly and Sides towards the head. the
flesh & roe is like those described of the Salmon. the white Species
which we found below the falls were in excellent order when the Salmon
were entirely out of Season and not fit for use. The Species which we
found here early in november on our arival in this quarter had declined
considerably, reather more so than the Red charr with which we found them
asociated in the little riverlets and creeks. I think it may be Safely
asserted that the Red Charr and both Species of the Salmon trout remain in
Season longer in the fall of the year than the common Salmon; but I have
my doubt whether of the Species of the Salmon trout ever pass the Great
falls of the Columbia. The Indians tell us that the Salmon begin to run
early in the next month; it will be unfortunate for us if they do not, for
they must form our principal dependance for food in assending the Columbia
above the Falls and it’s S. E. branch Lewis’s river to the Mountains.
The Speckled or Mountain Trout are found in the waters of the Columbia
within the Rocky mountains. they are the Same of those found in the upper
part of the Missouri, but are not So abundent in the Columbian Waters as
in that river. The bottle nose is also found on the waters of the Columbia
within the mountains.
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Thursday March 13th 1806. This morning Drewyer, Jos. Fields, and Frazer returned; they had killed two elk and two deer. We were visited by two Cath-lah-mars who left us in the evening. We sent Drewyer down to the Clatsop village to purchase a couple of their canoes if possible. Sergt. Pryor and a party made another search for the lost canoe but were unsuccessful; while engaged in searching for the canoe, Collins, one of his party, killed two elk near the Netul below us. We sent Sergt. Ordway and a party for the flesh of one of the elk beyond the bay, with which they returned in the evening; the other elk and 2 deer were at some distance. R. Field and Thompson, who set out on a hunting excursion yesterday morning towards Point Adams, have not yet returned. We took equal altitudes today, this being the only fair day for some time past.
The porpoise is common on this coast and as far up the river as the water is brackish. The Indians sometimes gig them and always eat the flesh of this fish when they can procure it; to me the flavor is disagreeable. The skate is also common to the salt water; I have seen several of them that had perished and were thrown out on the beach by the tide. The flounder is also an inhabitant of the salt water. We have seen them also on the beach where they had been left by the tide. The natives eat the latter and esteem it very fine. These several species are the same as those of the Atlantic coasts. The common salmon and red charr are inhabitants of both the sea and river. The former is usually largest and weighs from 5 to 15 lbs. It is this species that extends itself into all the rivers and little creeks on this side of the continent, and to which the natives are so much indebted for their subsistence. The body of this fish is from 2 1/2 to 3 feet long and proportionably broad. It is covered with imbricated scales of a moderate size and is variegated with irregular black spots on its sides and gills. The eye is large and the iris of a silvery color, the pupil black. The rostrum or nose extends beyond the under jaw, and both the upper and the lower jaw are armed with a single series of long teeth which are subulate and inflected near the extremities of the jaws, where they are more closely arranged. They have some sharp teeth of smaller size and same shape on the tongue, which is thick and fleshy. The fins of the back are two; the first is placed nearer the head than the ventral fins and has ____ rays; the second is placed far back near the tail, is small, and has no rays. The flesh of this fish when in order is of a deep flesh-colored red, and every shade from that to an orange yellow, and when very meager almost white. The roe of this fish are much esteemed by the natives, who dry them in the sun and preserve them for a great length of time. They are about the size of a small pea, nearly transparent, and of a reddish yellow color. They resemble very much at a little distance the common currant of our gardens, but are more yellow. This fish is sometimes red along the sides and belly near the gills; particularly the male of this species.
The red charr are rather broader in proportion to their length than the common salmon. The scales are also imbricated but rather large. The rostrum exceeds the lower jaw more, and the teeth are neither so numerous nor large as those of the salmon. Some of them are almost entirely red on the belly and sides; others are much more white than the salmon, and none of them are variegated with the dark spots which mark the body of the other. Their flesh, roe, and every other particular with respect to them is that of the salmon. This fish we did not see until we had descended below the Great Falls of the Columbia; but whether they are exclusively confined to this portion of the river or not at all seasons, I am unable to determine.
The salmon trout are seldom more than two feet in length. They are narrow in proportion to their length, at least much more so than the salmon and red charr. Their jaws are nearly of the same length, and are furnished with a single series of subulate, straight teeth, not so long or so large as those of the salmon. The mouth is wide, and the tongue is also furnished with some teeth. The fins are placed much like those of the salmon. At the Great Falls are met with this fish of a silvery white color on the belly and sides, and a bluish light brown on the back and head. In this neighborhood we have met with another species which does not differ from the other in any particular except in point of color. This last is of a dark color on the back, and its sides and belly are yellow with transverse stripes of dark brown. Sometimes a little red is intermixed with these colors on the belly and sides towards the head. The flesh and roe are like those described of the salmon. The white species which we found below the falls were in excellent order when the salmon were entirely out of season and not fit for use. The species which we found here early in November on our arrival in this quarter had declined considerably, rather more so than the red charr with which we found them associated in the little riverlets and creeks. I think it may be safely asserted that the red charr and both species of the salmon trout remain in season longer in the fall of the year than the common salmon; but I have my doubt whether either of the species of the salmon trout ever pass the Great Falls of the Columbia. The Indians tell us that the salmon begin to run early in the next month; it will be unfortunate for us if they do not, for they must form our principal dependence for food in ascending the Columbia above the falls and its S. E. branch, Lewis's River, to the mountains.
The speckled or mountain trout are found in the waters of the Columbia within the Rocky Mountains. They are the same as those found in the upper part of the Missouri, but are not so abundant in the Columbian waters as in that river. The bottle nose is also found on the waters of the Columbia within the mountains.
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