The King Salmon Wildlife Conservation 3 cent Stamp, Scott # 1079, was issued by the United States in November of 1956. This beautiful stamp is shown above on a first day issue.
The King Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) , also know as the Chinook salmon, is the largest species of salmon found in the Pacific Ocean. The King Salmon is an anadromous fish native to the Pacific Ocean and the river systems of western United States, northern Japan and Siberian. This spectacular sport fish has also been introduced to New Zealand and the Great Lakes of North America.
King Salmon lay their eggs in freshwater streams. King salmon eggs take 90 to 150 days to hatch, depending upon water temperature. The baby salmon usually stay in fresh water for 12 to 18 months before traveling downstream to estuaries, where they remain as smolts for several months before entering the Pacific Ocean. King salmon may spend from one to eight years in the Pacific Ocean, although three to four years is more common, before returning to freshwater rivers to spawn. King Salmon spawn in larger and deeper waters than other salmon species, usually between September and December. After laying its eggs, the female King Salmon will guard the nest from up to 25 days before dying.