BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 227 



Indians take them in considerable quantities on the west coast of the 

 group of islands, in the deep waters of the inlets and harbors, for the 

 purpose of extracting the oil or grease, which is used as food by the 

 natives, and is similar in appearance to the eulachou grease, which is of 

 the color and consistence of soft lard. 



From Monterey to the Arctic Ocean the Anoplopoma are found, but 

 when young they are not considered as good for the table. They are 

 caught, according to Professor Jordan, "from the wharves at Seattle 

 on Paget Sound, by the Chinese at Monterey with set lines, and in San 

 Francisco with sweep nets. It feeds on crustaceans, worms, and small 

 fish, and reaches a length of 40 inches and a weight of lo pounds; 

 those usually seen rarely exceed 2 or 3 pounds. As a food-fish it is gen- 

 erally held in low esteem, although sometimes sold as Spanish mack- 

 erel. The large specimens taken in deep water about Vancouver Island, 

 known to the Makah Indians as 'beshowe,' are highly valued as a food- 

 fish, according to Mr. Swan" (Proc. \J. S. Nat. Museum, 1881, vol. 4, 

 p. 54). Hitherto the black cod have not been introduced among the 

 whites as a food- fish, owing to a prejudice of some tribes against fishing 

 for them to sell, of which I will make mention in auother portion of this 

 paper. 



The officers and employees of the Hudson's Bay Company have known 

 of the existence of the black cod for many years ; but as salmon and 

 halibut have been so exceedingly plentiful, no steps have been taken 

 to engage in the fishery -to develop it. 



Alexander C. Anderson, Esq., inspector of fisheries for British Co- 

 lumbia, in his report to the minister of marine and fisheries, Ottawa, 

 Canada, for 1860, says (pp. 286 and 287), while referring toMassett Har- 

 bor and the adjacent waters near North Island, Queen Charlotte's group, 

 British Columbia: 



"A species of fish is caught in these waters which I have frequently 

 heard mentioned in terms of high praise, but of which I have never met 

 with a specimen. I am therefore unable to say to what variety it may 

 belong. For want of a better name it has obtained that of coal-fish, 

 though, it is said, not from any real resemblance to a fish of that name 

 found in Atlantic waters. Mr. McKenzie, Hudson's Bay Company's 

 agent at Massett, says of the coal-fish : Length about 24 inches ; back dark 

 color; belly gray. Inhabits very deep water, and said to abound iu the 

 vicinity of Virago Sound. Indians fish with a long line, with about teu 

 hooks, and generally haul up as many fish. This fish yields a large 

 quantity of oil, which is used as an article of food and highly esteemed 

 by the natives, but is not much fished for. Obstacles to prevent In- 

 dians from making it a business, depth of water, difficulty of anchoring 

 canoes, strong curreuts, and necessity of calm weather. From others, 

 now and in times past, I have learned that, from the richness and firm 

 consistence of its flesh, this fish would bear salting equally well with 

 the salmon, which fish, indeed, with doubtless exaggerated praise, some 



