Juvenile Rogue River spring Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) reared at two temperatures and photoperiods for a 2-yr period were examined for cyclic changes in gill (Na + K)–ATPase specific activity. Three peaks in activity were observed: a peak in October of the first year, a second higher peak the following May, and a peak in October of the second year. Exposure to photoperiods artificially advanced 3 mo (July–October) suppressed the October peak during the first year, but did not greatly alter the subsequent two peaks in activity. The temperature at which the fish were reared did not directly affect the changes in enzyme activity. However, growth rates varied in response to water temperature. Altered growth rates resulted in differences in the cyclic changes in gill (Na + K)-activated ATPase activity in the two temperature groups. A threshold of 8 cm was suggested as the minimal size at which the fish could respond to the appropriate photoperiod by altering the gill (Na + K)–ATPase activity. Key words: (Na + K)–ATPase, chinook salmon, temperature, photoperiod, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha.