THE FISHES OF ALASKA. 291 



The beet account of the habits of this fish is that given by Turner. It is bo interesting and 

 instructive that its republication, with some alight modification, is justified. Turner says: " 



When 1 arrived at Unalaska in 1S7S I heard much talk about the "mackerel." During the summer 

 of that year I had an opportunity of conversing with those who frequented the western islands of the 

 Chain, where these fish were said to abound. Several persons referred to these fish as "Spanish 

 mackerel." others called them " horse mackerel " and "Alaskan mackerel," and under several scientific 

 names. They were served at the table mi several nreasiuns. and all who ate of them highly praised 



their g I qualities and spoke of their great resemblance in taste t.i the Atlantic mackerel. It was 



not until in May. 1879, that I had an opportunity of vis'fting the locality where they were said to be 

 abundant. 



During the summer of 1879 I was at Atka Island, and soon made inquiry concerning the fish. I 

 was told that they make their appearance in the narrow pass between the islands of Atka and Amlia 

 about the lsi of June, and thai the fish invariably come brom the Pacific Ocean, which here mingles 



its waters with that of Bering Sea. 



The first arrivals of fish are the males nf largest size and beauty ,.f color. They arrive a few days 

 before and await the arrival of the females and immature males. 



By the 18th of June the fish have come in countless thousands. They arrange themselves with 



their heads toward the tide currents which rush violently through the pass. The tl I tide sets in 



from the Pacific, while the ebb (lows toward the Pacific, or. in other word- a southerly directed current 

 for the ebb and a northerly directed current for the Hood tide. The pass is very rocky, with numerous 

 sunken rocks in the middle and on the eastern side. The western side of the pass has the deepest water 

 and is :i fathoms deep in the channel. On the north side of the pass numerous ledges of rocks, hidden 

 rocks, kelp patches, and small islets of but few feet above the water's edge are to be found. It would 

 be very difficult navigat ton for a vessel of over 2t> tons to go through there with safety. The native of 

 the present day cross pretty well to the north side of the pass until they get under Amlia Island and then 



nil :ir the shore of Amlia with I heir small bidari or open boats. 



\.mong the seaweeds or kelp patches on a cloudy day of clear lower atmosphere the fish may be -eon 

 in the following order: 



The young males and immature females form a stratum of three or four fish deep and several feet 

 wide; beneath these a second stratum of older males and females, whose roe is not vet developed, a d 

 will later, in the spawning season, take their place w ith those in the third stratum, which is comp sed 

 of vigorous males and females. The hitler are the most abundant. The female deposits her eggs on 

 the kelp, though much of it must doubtless be losl by the swift current- washing it off. These males 



and females remain in this place until the spawning season is over, generally by the 20th of .inly, after 

 which they gradually disperse and quickly lind their way back to the Pacific. Many times I have 

 seen huge halibut lying like large flagstones beneath the lower stratum of fish, waiting tor one to come 

 within reach. Without moving a great distance I could see over a do/en halibut at a time. I estimated 

 the weight of some of the larger ones to be nol less than 350 pounds. 



The natives of Atka repair to this place and have several turf houses of small size built there. It 

 is also a garden spot where a few vegetables, such as radishes, turnips, and a few potatoes, are planted. 

 To attend to their gardens and to be near the fishing grounds the Ueuts i f many places have built 

 these summer Villages. Here assemble all the old men uot able t I hunt and the children and wi men 

 of the hunters gone "If on a summer's cruise for sea otters. These lay in a store of dried and salted 

 fish for their sons and friends. 



The natives obtain the greater number of i he fish in the foil., wins; manner: Each man has a two- 

 holed bidarka (canoe). In it a small boy sits in the front hole while the old man sits in the rear hole. 

 The man uses a pole of several feet in length (generally not less than 12 feet long), on which is lirmly 

 secured a hook of iron, having a flattened p lint with a sharp edge and a notch filed on the inner side 

 to act as a barb. When I he canoe arrives at the place the boy i- ordered to seize hold of a strong frond 

 of the giant kelp, which streams out sometimes for over a hundred feet, and among which the fish are 



-I abundant. After cumins thus to anchor the man carefully thrusts the pole into the water, ami 



if the fish are plentiful he will soon feel them surging against it. lie now begins to jerk it up and down 

 in the water to gig any fish that may come along. In a few seconds he bring- on,, out. The work 

 now becomes exciting, for scarcely has the pole been again thrust in the water than it is jerked inn. 

 another fish. A man may thus, in a couple of hour-, take 200 to 300 fish. After the canoe is loaded 

 it is taken to the shore, where the women slit open the back i f the fish, take off the head, clean ,,ui the 

 entrails, and with a cut on each side the backbone is removed to the tail. The two sides of the fish 

 are left hanging together by the tail. This is to enable the fish to be hung over a pule to dry. Often 

 the men bring the fish directly to the principal village and clean them there, though this is done more 

 often when the fish are to be salted. At the season between June 25 and July 25 the fish are extremely 

 fat from the abundance of a small crustacean, which 1ms previously come in myriads to the same places 

 as these fish. The fish which are to be dried are usually taken about the 1-t of August, as they arc so 

 fat before that time that I have seen the oil drip from the drying fish. They also, from the presence 

 ,,f the oil. b( me rancid in a short time and are said not to keep so well. 



\l Attn Island also I had an excellent opportunity for studying the habits ,,f these fish. At this 

 place the fish are most abundant at the entrance to Chichagof Harbor, on the northeast shoulder nf the 



« Contributions to the Natural History of Alaska, by I.- M. Turner, p. 96, Washington, 1886. 



