22 FISHING WITH THE FLY. 



dam which the Russians built across the mouth of a 

 deep and wide ravine, thus forming a large lake of the 

 river which here empties into the sea. The dam is 

 provided with a number of salmon gates and traps. 

 From the first run to the last, every passing school leaves 

 here its tribute, seduced by the proximity of the beau- 

 tiful lake; which tribute, duly smoked or salted, is 

 barrelled for the San Francisco market by a very " lone 

 fisherman," a Russian who for many years, without 

 other companionship than his klootchman (Indian wife) 

 and dogs, has devoted his life to the business. 



If in this paper I make an occasional blunder, by 

 transposition, or misapplication of the terms "specie" 

 and " variety," or fail on a scientific nomenclature, I beg 

 that it will be remembered that my claim is not to be 

 an authority on icthyology, when such names are neces- 

 sary, but on Alaska fish, which get along very well 

 with their English, Indian, or Russian names. 



I find in my note-book memoranda of the capture of 

 bathyrnaster-signatus, chirus deccagramus, and even a 

 cotlus-])olyacant7ioce2jhalous, but had not Professor 

 Bean instructed me, I should have continued (and I 

 believe I did) to call the first two after the fish they 

 most resembled, viz., rock cod and sea bass; and of 

 the last named I have lost and forgotten the descrip- 

 tion. But we can spare him ; the salmon and trout 

 will, I feel sure, furnish all the material needed, and I 

 will confine myself to them. 



