74 FISHERIES OF ALASKA, 1908. 



MISCELLANEOUS AQUATIC PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES. 



Hair seals. — This very useful animal is fairly common and quite 

 generally distributed along the coasts of Alaska. To the natives it 

 is very important, as from the flesh and oil is secured a considerable 

 part of their winter food, while the skins are highly prized for covering 

 the kyacks and umiaks (types of boats) and for boot soles, trousers, 

 mittens, clothing bags, and caps, and when cut into strips make a 

 very strong and durable cord. The coast natives barter the flesh, 

 oil, and skins with the interior tribes for reindeer hides and furs. 

 Probably but a small part of the total catch is sold to the white 

 traders, who ship them out of the district. This year 6,472 skins, 

 valued at $3,350, were so shipped. 



Walrus. — This enormous mammal, which is not found south of 

 the Bering Sea shore of the Aleutian chain, is now becoming scarce, 

 and practically none are secured south of Bering Strait. The white 

 hunters seek it solely for its ivory tusks, but the natives eat the flesh 

 and put the hide to various domestic uses. A few heads and hides 

 are shipped out each year, principally as natural history specimens. 



Black hass (Sehastodes melanoys). — This species is found scattered 

 along the Pacific side of the district, being, so far as knoAvn, most 

 abundant in southeast Alaska, especially around Sitka, where it is 

 sometimes called redfish and red snapper. It is now quite generally 

 eaten, and in most of the towns can be purchased at the markets. 

 It is caught with hook and line, which it takes quite freely. 



Blade cod (Anoplopoma jimbria). — As this fish becomes better 

 known the demand for it increases, not only outside of the district, but 

 also in the local markets. It is not only sold fresh, but it is also frozen 

 and pickled. Nearly all of the catch is made incidentally by the 

 halibut fishermen operating trawls for halibut, and when shipped 

 with the halibut brings as much as the latter. 



Capelin {Mallotus villosus). — This choice little fish has not become 

 a commercial commodity as yet. It is quite abundant in the coastal 

 waters, especially on the cod banks, where it forms a considerable 

 part of the food of the cod. For about a week in October immense 

 numbers are washed up on the beach in the neighborhood of Sitka, and 

 large numbers are then consumed. 



It is reported from Latouche Island, in Prince William Sound, 

 that in May there is a run of small fish which strand upon the beacli 

 in large numbers and are gathered and eaten by the natives, who 

 cook numbers of them in a pot at one time. They are also eaten by 

 the whites. No one seems to have a name for tliis fish, but it is 

 possible that it may be the capelin. The same informant reports 

 a run of fish called locally " bait," which comes in before the herring. 



