Fish
Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain
Common Names
Common Salmon / King Salmon
Habitat
Open ocean and large river systems of the Pacific Northwest
First Observed
1805-10-16
Observed At
Confluence of Snake and Columbia Rivers, near present-day Pasco, Washington
Lewis and Clark first encountered massive runs of chinook salmon near the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers in mid-October 1805. Clark was confused by the enormous numbers of dead salmon lining the riverbanks, writing “The Cause of the emence numbers of dead Salmon I can’t account for” — he was witnessing the post-spawning die-off. Salmon were a critical food source traded from Native peoples throughout the Columbia Basin. The chinook is the largest Pacific salmon species.
Journal Excerpt
Clark, October 16, 1805: "Took our Canoes and all baggage over by land to the other Side of the rapid, and down to the river… I observe great numbers of dead Salmon on the Shores and floating in the water. The Cause of the emence numbers of dead Salmon I can't account for."
Journal References
15 journal entries mention Chinook Salmon
Aug
13
1805
Lewis: August 13, 1805
...of the flesh of an
antelope boiled, and a peice of a fresh salmon roasted; both which I eat
with a very good relish. this was the first salmon I had seen and
perfe...
Aug
14
1805
Lewis: August 14, 1805
...om S. E. to N. W. which was navigable but afforded
neither Salmon nor timber. that beyond this plain thee or four days march
his relations lived in a country tolera...
Aug
19
1805
Lewis: August 19, 1805
...in fishing they employ wairs,
gigs, and fishing hooks. the salmon is the principal object of their
pursuit. they snair wolves and foxes. I was anxious to learn whet...
Aug
20
1805
Lewis: August 20, 1805
...e encampment for himself and party. here they
gave him one salmon and some cakes of dryed berries. he now repeated to
them what had been said to them in council at ...
Aug
21
1805
Lewis: August 21, 1805
...by these
people, who gave himself and party as much boiled salmon as they could
eat; they also gave him several dryed salmon and a considerable quantity
of dryed c...
Aug
23
1805
Lewis: August 23, 1805
... provision
they had brought with them, as well as the five salmon they had procured
yesterday were consumed last evening; there was of tours no inducement for
his ...
Oct
24
1805
Clark: October 24, 1805
...ly trac'd around the falls. at that
Stage of the water the Salmon must pass up which abounds in Such great
numbers abovebelow those falls are Salmon trout and great...
Jan
10
1806
Clark: January 10, 1806
...mble in Dress, Custom, manners &c. they
brought Some Dried Salmon, Wappato, Dogs, and mats made of rushes &
flags to barter; their Dogs and part of their wappato th...
Jan
14
1806
Clark: January 14, 1806
... anually prepare about 30,000 lbs of pounded fish (Chiefly
Salmon) for market, but whether this fish is an article of Commerce with
their neighbours or is exclusive...
Mar
31
1806
Lewis: March 31, 1806
... rapids I
presume to prepare for the fishing season as the Salmon will begin to run
shortly.this morning we overtook the man who had visited our camp
last night he...
May
22
1806
Lewis: May 22, 1806
...towards the mountains. they also brought with them
two red salmon trout which they had purchased from some indians whom they
had met with on their return to camp.Tw...
May
25
1806
Clark: May 25, 1806
...shing, & the women out digging roots. he saw
Several fresh Salmon which the nativs informed him Came from Lewis's river
and were fat and fine. one of our men purcha...
May
25
1806
Lewis: May 25, 1806
..., diging roots or
fishing on Lewis's river. he saw several salmon in their lodges which they
informed him came from that river these fish were remarkably fat and fi...
May
26
1806
Clark: May 26, 1806
...ome roots for our Selves if
possible. one of our men Saw a Salmon in the river to day. and two others
eat of Salmon at the near Village which was brought from Lewis...
May
26
1806
Lewis: May 26, 1806
...ch the Indians have
given us to kill. one of our men saw a salmon in the river today. in the
afternoon we compleated our canoe and put her in the water; she appears...
