The issue with books like this, when you start to question validity, is who was the writer and what was their goal. In this case the writer of &quot;The Emigrants&#x27; guide to Oregon and California&quot; is trying to entice individuals to move to the West, but also using their book. Doing this could be done by pointing to larger than life situations, beautiful landscapes and plentiful fish, surely this entices and could drive people to leave the less than 10 lb salmon on the Atlantic for the easier and more plentiful &quot;10 lbs to 60 lbs.&quot;