304 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 

 THE ATKA MACKEREL. 



The few persons wlio are familiar witli this fish pronounce it one of 

 the best of the numerous food-fishes found in the waters of Ahiska. 

 Its name is misleading in that the fish has no relation to the mackerel 

 family and does not resemble it in looks or flavor. While found at 

 numerous places in Alaskan waters, it has so far been observed most 

 plentifully around the fiir-distant island of Attu. This island is the 

 outer one in the Aleutian chain, and is the most western land belonging 

 to the United States. It is so far west that it might, with almost equal 

 l)ropriety, be called east, being nearer the Asiatic shore than to any 

 other mainland. San Francisco vessels engaged in trading or seal 

 hunting have from time to time brought back larger or smaller quan- 

 tities of salted Atka mackerel, usually taken in the vicinity of Attu. 

 One of these vessels, the schooner Rosa Sparls, of 42.11 tons, with a 

 crew of 20 men, which was engaged during the season of 1891 in fishing 

 and sealing, returned with 148 seal skins and 324 barrels of Atka mack- 

 erel. The latter found a ready sale at $15 a barrel. The captain of the 

 vessel, Mr. S. L. Weatherbee, reports that his catch was made at Attu 

 Island, and furnishes the following statements on the subject : 



Atka mackerel are reported by the natives as remaiuiug in the vicinity of Atka 

 all winter, hnt do not reach Attu before April 10, from which date up to September 

 they are found among the kelp in great abundance. Up to July they are very fat 

 and in their best condition. The spawning season is in July, at which time they 

 grow thin and poor. The fish are taken in 25 fathoms of water by jigging, no bait 

 being required. Three or four hooks are fastened together and placed in a mold, 

 into which lead, pewter, or some similar composition is run, welding the hooks 

 together and leaving a shank that is polished up brightly to attract the fish; this 

 also serves as a sinker. These lines and hooks are put down tlirough the kelp, 

 amidst which the fish are feeding. Being attracted by the bright metal, to which 

 the hooks are attached, they swim around it in such numbers that their capture is 

 easy by simply drawing the hooks up through them, and repeating the act so long 

 as a catch is desired. From 8 to 10 barrels a day have been taken by two men in a 

 single dory. Cod follow the Atka mackerel to this place to feed on them. The few 

 Atka mackerel that have occasionally reached San Francisco are always eagerly 

 sought after, and some fish have been sold at $20 a barrel. Seines or nets of any 

 kind could not be used to advantage, owing to the abundance of the large kelp 

 among whicli the fish are always found. 



