It may be used differently in Alaska, but the term "saltchuck", as used along most of the coast, is a Chinook jargon word combining the Salish "chuck", or water, with English "salt", and was used to describe any saltwater, as opposed to freshwater, area. Other examples of the use of "chuck" include Hyas Chuck (big water, for Lake Washington), Tenas Chuck (little water, for Lake Union), Pilchuck (red water), Whitechuck (white water), and Skookumchuck (strong or powerful water). The Chinook jargon was a sort of trade language in the Northwest and combined elements of Salish, French and Boston (English).
