Fish 



es 



Forty-eight species of fish were collected in the Aleutian Islands 

 proper. These were identified by Dr. Leonard P. Schultz, and two 

 of them were described by him as being new (1939). The fol- 

 lowing list, alphabetically arranged, includes remarks on the 

 noteworthy species only. A few descriptive notes in quotation 

 marks from Evermann and Goldsborough (1907) are included. 



Alepisaui°us ferox, the lancet fish, is a fearsome species with 

 large, glassy eyes and an array of needle-sharp teeth. The only 

 specimen taken was one that had been caught in a crevice of 

 rock between tide levels on Amchitka Island, where it had been 

 badly eroded. (Murie also saw a beach-worn specimen in 1936.) 

 The body was about 2 feet long and scarcely larger in diameter 

 than a broom handle. Schultz says that there is only one species 

 of Alepisaurus in the North Pacific and that the usual length is 

 4 to 5 feet. 



Ammodytes tobianus personatus is very common along the 

 beaches and was often taken in large numbers with the seine ; it is 

 a bright silvery little fish that is called locally ''needlefish". Ever- 

 mann and Goldsborough (1907) say, "they quickly bury them- 

 selves in the sand when disturbed. . . more delicious little fish 

 probably do not exist. They are usually prepared by rolling in 

 fine cornmeal or cracker crumbs and frying in butter." 



Aspicottus bison is one of the smaller sculpins reaching a length 

 of about 10 inches. (See Hemilepidotus.) 



Atheresthes stomias, one of the flounders, is called locally 

 "turbot." It swims with its right side up. 



Bathymaster signatus, a beautiful little fish, was taken once in 

 the Bay of Waterfalls, Adak Island. It is reddish-brown with 

 blue-green spots ; also it has a blue line along base of ventral fin, 

 a reddish line adjoining, and then another blue line near tips of 

 fin rays. 



Chiropsis decagrammus. Only small specimens of this greenling, 

 or rock trout, were taken, at Unimak Island. 



Clupea pallasi. Pedler, agent of the Alaska Commercial Co. 

 at Unalaska, told us of the herring industry near Unlaska and 

 Dutch Harbor. In 1938, the first run was from June 26 to July 27, 



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