62 PISHEKIES OF ALASKA IN 190*7. 



Smelt (Hypomesus olidus). — There is an annual run of smelt in 

 most of the streams of western Alaska, especially the Yukon, where 

 it is of considerable importance, but the fish is taken only for local 

 consumption. The smelt enter Port Heiden, on the Bering Sea side 

 of the Alaska Peninsula, in large numbers about October and remain 

 until the early part of the following June. There is no information 

 available as to what rivers, if any, they frequent in central Alaska. 

 In southeast Alaska they are found quite generally distributed. In 

 the fall there is quite a large run in Wrangell Narrows. In 1906 

 one of the halibut dealers at this point made a trial shipment of 500 

 pounds to New York City, with such success that the consignee tele- 

 graphed for a carload, but as the run was over it was impossible to 

 comply. The smelt appears to frequent the waters of southeast 

 Alaska from about October until the following June; it is frequently 

 found in the stomachs of king salmon. 



Trout. — There are 5 species of trout known from Alaska — namely, 

 steelhead, Dolly Varden, cut-throat, rainbow, and lake. Of these 

 the Dolly Varden, rainbow, and steelhead are handled commercially, 

 the latter being sold fresh, frozen, and pickled. The Dolly Varden 

 trout is especially abundant throughout the greater part of southeast, 

 central, and western Alaska. Several fishermen at Wrangell Narrows 

 began catching and shipping Dolly Varden trout this summer, but the 

 fishery authorities of Washmgton, classing it as a game fish, objected 

 not only to the sale in that State, but also to the shipment into it, 

 and the steamship companies consequently refused to receive them 

 for shipment to Puget Sound. These trout are in such abundance in 

 southeast Alaska that they have become a very serious menace to the 

 salmon, many millions of whose eggs they consume each year, and 

 if an outside market could be provided the salmon interests would be 

 benefited, at the same time that a new industry would be created. 

 Steelhead and Dolly Varden trout are reported as being found in Port 

 Heiden, in Bering Sea. 



Other fishes. — In addition to the above, a number of species of fish are 

 found in Alaska, which form, in some instances, a very important portion 

 of the food supply of the natives, and occasionally of the whites. Among 

 the more important of these may be mentioned the following: Lam- 

 preys (Lampetra aurea), which are quite abundant on the Yukon 

 River; tomcod or waclma (Microgadus jjroximus), very abundant in 

 Bering Sea; whitefish (Coregonus), of which 7 species are reported, 

 mainly from the tributaries of Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean; pike 

 (Esox lucius) ; Arctic grayling ( Thymallus signifer) ; the inconnu 

 (Stenodus mackenzii) , a very large fish; burbot or losh {Lota macu- 

 latus); sucker {Catostomus catostomus) ; sculpins (Cottidse); Atka 

 mackerel {Pleurogrammus monopterygius) , an excellent food fish, with 

 a flavor like mackerel ; blackfish (Dallia pectoralis) ; Boreogadus saida, 



