BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 220 



fishery for eulaclion, Thaleichthys pacificus (Bich.) Grd. He took a 

 quantity of salt and small kegs or half bands in which to pack the 

 eulaehon, which are a small fish, in size and appearance like the smelt. 

 He proceeded to Knight's Inlet, which makes into the mainland from 

 the southeastern portion of Queen Charlotte Sound. The eulaclion 

 run up this inlet every spring in myriads, and are followed by halibut, 

 blaek cod, green cod, cod, dogfish, and every other variety of fish found 

 in those waters, which prey upon them for food. They are taken in im- 

 mense quantities by the Indians of Knight's Inlet for food and oil, and 

 as articles of trade with other Indians. 



When Captain Brotchie arrived at the village at the head of the inlet, 

 the Iudians utterly refused either to sell, give, or allow him to catch 

 any eulaehon. In his dilemma a' friendly Indian told him he could 

 have as many of the "kwakewltk" — the name they give the black cod — 

 as he wished, for they were plenty and fat ; so with their assistance he 

 filled all his barrels and started for Victoria with his cargo. But before 

 he had got out of the inlet the old medicine men had a consultation, 

 and decided that if the white man was allowed to take away the " kwa- 

 kewlth," the eulaehon would be ashamed and never come back. So a 

 party of youug Indians followed Captain Brotchie in canoes, and having 

 boarded his vessel, they deliberately knocked in the heads of every one 

 of the barrels and emptied the fish overboard. The captain was then 

 allowed to return to Victoria with his empty barrels. 



I mention this iucident to show how abundant the black cod were 

 thirty years ago, and they are fully as abundant now, and there js no 

 fear of any Indian interference with any parties who may wish to en- 

 gage in the fishery at the present time. 



Since Captain Brotchie's unsuccessful voyage for eulaehon no one 

 has attempted to put up the black cod in any quantity for market, and 

 the lot I took to Victoria dry- salted in boxes, were the first ever seen 

 in a merchantable condition in that city, and the four boxes I sent to 

 the United States Fish Commission are the first ever exported from the 

 province of British Columbia, a fact to which special reference was 

 made by the collector of customs of Victoria in his quarterly report to 

 the minister of finances in Ottawa. 



Capture. — As the Haidah Indians seem to be the only ones who 

 make a business of taking the black cod or "skil," I will confine myself 

 to a description of the method adopted by them. 



Their lines. — The fish lines used in the capture of the black cod are 

 made of kelp, in a manner similar to that of the Makahs, of Cape Flat- 

 tery, and other tribes on the northwest coast. 



This giant kelp, the Nereocystis (Harvey) is of the order Laminar i- 

 acece, aud is of much larger dimensions than the Fucaccce, the fronds 

 being measured by fathoms, not feet. 



Harvey says:* "The ordinary oarweed, tangle, devil's apron, and 



* Nereis Boreall Americana. Harvey, 1858. 



