Introduction

Salmon is the common name for several species of fish of the family Salmonidae. Salmon live in both the Atlantic (one migratory species Salmo salar) and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Great Lakes (approximately a dozen species of the genus Oncorhynchus).

Typically, salmon are anadromous which means they are born in fresh water, migrate to the ocean, then return to fresh water to reproduce. However, there are rare species that can only survive in fresh water. Folklore had it that the fish return to the exact spot where they were born to spawn, and in fact tracking studies have shown this to be true. The nature of how this memory works is not well understood, though it is believed their keen sense of smell is involved.

In all species of Pacific salmon, the mature individuals die within a few days or weeks of spawning, a trait known as semelparity. There are species of salmon that may survive to spawn more than once (iteroparity), however, even in those species post-spawning mortality is quite high (perhaps as high as 40 to 50%).

Salmon’s Life Cycle

A female salmon lays up to 5,000 eggs covering 30 square feet (2.8 m2) into a shallow depression she has created, called a redd. Eggs are laid in deeper water with larger gravel, and need cool water and good water flow (to supply oxygen) to the developing embryos. After the eggs are fertilized by one or more males, the female then covers the eggs by disturbing the gravel at the upstream edge of the depression before moving on to make another redd. The female will make as many as 7 redds before her supply of eggs is exhausted.

The eggs hatch into fry which quickly develop into parr with camouflaging vertical stripes. The parr stay for one to three years in their natal stream before becoming smolts. Once a smolt, their body chemistry changes, allowing them to live in salt water, and so it is at this stage that they will migrate to the ocean.

It is estimated that only 10% of all salmon eggs survive to become smolts. Mortality of salmon in the early life stages can be high due to natural predation and human-induced changes in habitat, such as siltation, high water temperatures, low oxygen concentration, loss of stream cover, and reductions in river flow. Estuaries and their associated wetlands provide vital nursery areas for the salmon prior to their departure to the open ocean. Wetlands not only help buffer the estuary from silt and pollutants, but also provide important feeding and hiding areas.

The salmon spend about one to five years (depending on the species) in the open ocean where they become sexually mature. Prior to spawning, depending on the species, salmon undergo changes. They may grow a hump, develop canine teeth, males may develop a pronounced curvature of the jaws. All will change from the silvery blue of a fresh run fish from the sea to a darker color.

Salmon can make amazing journeys, sometimes moving hundreds of miles upstream against strong currents and rapids to reproduce. Chinook and sockeye salmon from central Idaho, for example, travel over 900 miles (1,400 km) and climb nearly 7,000 feet (2,100 m) from the Pacific Ocean as they return to spawn.

Salmon feed on terrestrial and aquatic insects, amphipods, and other crustaceans while young, and primarily on other fish when older.

Salmon Species

There are many species of salmon. Clover Leaf cans and markets 4 of them. The vast majority of Clover Leaf salmon comes from the north-eastern Pacific Ocean, near the Alaskan coast.

Sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka)

Also known as Red salmon, this lake-rearing species is found south as far as the Klamath River in California in the eastern Pacific and northern Hokkaidô Island in Japan in the western Pacific and as far north as Bathurst Inlet in the Canadian Arctic in the east and the Anadyr River in Siberia in the west. Although most adult Pacific salmon feed on small fish, shrimp and squid; sockeye feed on plankton that they filter through gill rakers. Sockeye salmon can be as long as 84 centimetres (33 in) and weigh 4 lb (1.8 kg) to 14 lb (6.4 kg).

Clover Leaf wild Sockeye Salmon is prized for its deep red colour, firm texture and rich flavour. Our Sockeye salmon is packed in its own juices for natural goodness. It is packed in a solid style which means it is generally one large piece.

Clover Leaf Sockeye Salmon is perfect in salads, sandwiches, casseroles, spreads or in any recipe where you desire the great taste and quality of Clover Leaf.

Pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)

Also known as humpies, Pink salmon are found from northern California and Korea, throughout the northern Pacific, and from the Mackenzie River in Canada to the Lena River in Siberia. They are usually found in shorter coastal streams. It is the smallest of the Pacific species, with an average weight of 3.5 lb (1.6 kg) to 4 lb (1.8 kg).

Clover Leaf wild Pink Salmon has a lighter pink colour and milder flavour than our Sockeye. Our Pink Salmon is also packed in its own juices for natural goodness, and packed solid style. Offering great value, Clover Leaf Pink Salmon is perfect in salads, sandwiches, casseroles, or spreads.

Chum (Oncorhynchus keta)

Also known as Dog, Keta, or Calico salmon, the Chum species has the widest geographic range of the Pacific species: south to the Sacramento River in California in the eastern Pacific and the island of Kyûshû in the Sea of Japan in the western Pacific; north to the Mackenzie River in Canada in the east and to the Lena River in Siberia in the west. They vary in size from 4 to over 30 pounds, but usually range from 7 to 18 pounds, with females usually smaller than males.

Clover Leaf wild Keta Salmon is a light tan colour and has a softer texture and stronger flavour than our Sockeye or Pink varieties. Keta Salmon is packed in its own juices for natural goodness, and packed solid style. Clover Leaf Keta Salmon is perfect for a longstanding and traditional Quebec dish called Salmon Pie.

Atlantic (Salmo salar)

Atlantic salmon was the first salmon to be classified. It is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow into the north Atlantic and (due to human introduction) the north Pacific. Atlantic salmon range from 5 lb (2.3 kg) to 20 lb (9.1 kg). In general, Atlantic salmon usually reach 18 in (45 cm), although they can reach up to 60 in (150 cm).

Clover Leaf's Skinless-Boneless Atlantic Salmon is firm, pink and great tasting, without the work of removing the skin and bones. Packed in chunks in EZ open cans our Atlantic Salmon is perfect for salads, casseroles, fish cakes, dips, sandwiches and spreads or substituted into any of our great recipes calling for pink salmon.

Salmon in mythology

The salmon is an important creature in several strands of Celtic mythology and poetry, which often associated them with wisdom and venerability.

In Irish mythology, a creature called the Salmon of Wisdom plays a key role in the tale known as The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn. The Salmon will grant powers of knowledge to whoever eats it, and has been sought by the poet Finn Eces for seven years. Finally Finn Eces catches the fish and gives it to his young pupil, Fionn mac Cumhaill, to prepare it for him. However, Fionn burns his thumb on the salmon's juices, and he instinctively puts it in his mouth. As a result, he inadvertently gains the Salmon's wisdom. Elsewhere in Irish mythology, the salmon is also one of the incarnations of both Tuan mac Cairill and Fintan mac Bóchra.

Salmon also figure into Welsh mythology. In the prose tale Culhwch and Olwen, the Salmon of Llyn Llyw is the oldest animal in Britain, and the only creature who knows the location of Mabon ap Modron. After speaking to a string of other ancient animals who do not know his whereabouts, King Arthur's men Cai and Bedwyr are led to the Salmon of Llyn Llyw, who lets them ride its back to the walls of Mabon's prison in Gloucester.

In Norse mythology, after Loki tricked the blind god Höðr into killing his brother Baldr, Loki jumped into a river and transformed himself into a salmon in order to escape punishment from the other gods. When they held out a net to trap him he attempted to leap over it but was caught by Thor who grabbed him by the tail with his hand, and this is why the salmon's tail is tapered.

Salmon are central to Native American mythology on the Pacific coast, from the Haida to the Nootka.

Commercial Fishing Methods

Many methods for catching salmon have been used over the years. Today the three most common methods for commercial salmon fishers are gillnetting, seining and trolling.

Gillnet fishermen set fence-like gillnets across the path of swimming Salmon, hoping to catch their gills in the mesh.

The gillnet is set out in the path of the migrating salmon, one end is attached to a buoy and the other to either the boat or another buoy. The upper rope of the net has floats attached that keep the net top up and the lower rope of the net has weights that hold the net bottom down so that the gillnet drifts vertically in the water. When enough salmon have been caught, the net is hauled in using a hydraulically powered drum. The colour of the net’s mesh is chosen to blend in with the water because salmon will avoid gillnets they can see. Gillnets can be up to 1,200 feet (over 365 metres) long and 60 meshes deep.

Seine boat with net set.

Seine boats encircle schools of fish with large nets.

A small boat called a skiff holds one end of the net in a steady position, while the seine boat encircles the fish, making what is known as a 'set'. A powerful winch on the seine boat deck then draws in the purse line, pulling the bottom of the net into a huge, closed purse, catching the fish and preventing their escape. A large powerful drum then reels the net in close to the seiner where the fish are scooped into the hold. Salmon purse seine nets can be as long as 1320 ft (402 metres) in length and average 50 ft (15 metres) in depth. Seine boats are usually crewed by five to seven fishermen.

Trolling for salmon, circa 1965

Trollers use long, tall aluminum poles with plenty of lines and flashy tackle to patiently catch fish by the hook.

When fishing, trollers lower their poles to a 45-degree angle, but when travelling put their poles in a vertical position. A troller can have up to six stainless steel main lines in the water. Each main line is fitted with up to ten equally spaced leaders pulling such inviting lures as spinning spoons, wriggling hoochies or good old fashioned tasty bait. The lines and fish are hauled onto the boat with the help of power winches called gurdies.