There are large numbers of smolt (young salmon) moving through the Ballard
locks fish ladder and the "smolt slides" right now, also usually a dozen or
so sticklebacks in the viewing windows, it's a good place to take a look at
them. The sticklebacks are tiny, 2 to 3 inches with translucent fins and
three very small spines on their backs. The smolt are 3 to 5 inches, except
the steelhead smolt, they are much longer, 8 to 10 inches and very skinny
and much rarer.

At 12:51 AM 5/17/2002 -0400, DidjKid at aol.com wrote:
>Irene and Tweeters -
>
> While rowing form the Mt. Baker boathouse, I've also noticed the
> fish. I've seen them around the boathouse, all along Seward Park, and
> even across the lake! Everywhere . . .! I was thinking maybe they're
> salmon on their quest to the sea . . .?
>
>Tyler Davis, 17
>Mercer Island, WA
>didjkid at aol.com

Cliff Drake
Seattle WA
cliff at cliffdrake.net