'Submitted By'

I cannot for the life of me find in any of the forums any useful info on where I might locate the code in any of the files whether core drupal files or theme files. Using Salamander Skins 12 White Page, trying to change the "Submitted by user on date/hour" to "Submitted on date/hour."

The global theme settings removes the whole string out of the story posts. So it doesn't list the submitted info at all, just the title and the content.
I've tried searching for the formatting for the $submitted variable in all docs in the drupal folder including the theme folder. Doesn't give me any formatting line, *or I'm missing it, unlikely*.
Salamanderskin is the rare skin without the custom theme settings in the configuration area where this could of been made easier. (Default installed themes have these options, also aqua_marina which we was previously using had the extra custom options which allowed just the name to be removed from the "Submitted by" string on the story posts).

I've searched the forums for any help, one post was up suggesting I edit the template.php file and add in a phptemplate_node_submitted function. but it didn't work for me other than the *red box array error* on the page after it's reloaded. :(

So if anyone has had any luck with the above requested info I would like to know how.

Thanks!

www.nmegroup.ca