Book excerpt: This updated and greatly expanded edition of Inland Fishes of Washington describes all the known native and introduced fishes found in freshwater habitats of Washington State. The authors have created a valuable reference for anglers, biologists, teachers, students, and environmentalists in the Northwest. This wide-ranging study summarizes current knowledge on the appearance, distribution, growth, reproduction, food habits, and longevity of these fishes. The descriptions range from the ubiquitous salmon and steelhead to the Olympic mudminnow, a fish found only in the state of Washington. All are here placed within the context of the many mutually supporting species that together make up the ecological network that sustains them. An overview of Washington's topography and natural provinces clarifies the influence of geographical, historical, economic, and political forces on the existence of freshwater fishes today. The book provides instruction on the basic methods of fish identification, with keys and illustrations that bring together the traits and forms most useful in distinguishing species and subspecies. The authors are well known to fisheries professionals in the Pacific Northwest for their studies of fish, publications in professional fisheries journals, their university teaching, and first-hand experience in the field of fisheries management and research.