Pink Salmon
by Joshua

There are five Pacific salmon species. Pink salmon are also known as " humpback"' or "humpy," because of the hump on their backs. Like many fish, salmon have 300-degree vision. Salmon travel about 18 miles a day. Pinks are mostly found in Alaska rivers to the Pacific Ocean.

Life History:

Pink salmon feed on plankton, larval fishes and insects. Between late June and mid-October, adult pink salmon enter Alaska spawning streams. Pink salmon spawn within a few miles of the coast, within the tidal zone and at the mouth of streams. The females like to spawn in shallow waters and downstream ends of pools. After laying about 1,000 eggs only about 50 live. During early to mid- winter the eggs hatch. The young fry is called Alevins. In late winter to early spring the fry migrate downstream into salt water. At the age of about 1 year the young salmon are 4-6 inches. They mature in 2 years. All salmon die after spawning.

A Note from Mr. Larson

Dear Joshua,

I have seen pictures of the pink salmon mount, but I have never seen it in real life. Isn't that a nicely done mount? I like the other fish, too. Get Mr. Richardson's permission to contact Mr. Neslund. He could tell it all.

Your friend,

Mr. Larson

This is not a real salmon. It is a fiberglass model. It was purchased through a fund raising project by students in classes of Mr. Peter Austad and Mr. Ken Neslund.

Click here to see spawning salmon!

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