The first stage of the salmon life cycle is eggs.  The female salmon digs a nest with her tail in the stream.  The male salmon puts the milt (fertilizer) on the eggs.  Then the female buries the eggs to keep them secure in the gravel and sand.  Then both of the adult salmon die.  After six weeks as an egg they hatch and become alevin.  They spawn with a yolk sac, the yolk sac holds their food for about 4 weeks. They have a tiny tail and no fins at first, but as they grow they get fins.