THE FISHES OF ALASKA. 227 



Family 2. PETROMYZONID/E. The Lampreys. 



2. Entosphenus tridentatus (Gaiidnei). 



Foiii' specimens 16 to IS inches long, collected by Mr. Chamberlain in Naha River near Loring, 

 June 23, 1903, and a 6-inch specimen seined by him in McDonald Lake, August 24, 1905. Mr. Cham- 

 berlain reports that lampreys were quite abundant June 22 at the foot of Dorr Falls in Naha stream. 

 More than 50 were observed attached to the rocks. They were first noticed June 20 and all had dis- 



FIG. 2. — Entosphi'nus tridentatus (Gairdner). 



appeared in a week or ten days. Five males and 5 females were examined. Of the latter all but one 

 appeared to have done spawning, and it is believed they were there for spawning purposes. 



At the Yes Bay hatchery a number of young were caught in the flume which brings water to the 

 hatchery from a point on the creek below the falls. It is believed that the lamprey spawns among 

 the rocks at the foot of that falls. 



This species was recorded at Unalaska, by Ciilbert in 1895. 



3. Lampetra aurea (Bean). Lamprey Eel. 



This species, originally described from Anvik, Yukon River, and recorded from Fort Yukon by 

 Bean in 1882 as Ammoaxttts aureus, was not seen by us. Recorded from Mission, Yukon River ^Nelson 

 1887), as Ammoceetus aureus. 



Fig. 3. — Lampetra aurea (Bean). 



Mr. V. L. Derby, formerly a school-teacher at St. Michael and Point Barrow, in a letter dated 

 Januaiy 19, 1907, furnishes the following interesting note on this species; 



In the spring — I believe during the month of April — the eels start up the river in one large school, 

 presumaljly to spawn. I am not enlightened upon this point, but suspect they live in the salt water 

 through the greater portion of the year and as spawning season draws near they enter the lYesh water 

 streams. I am in the dark whether they are found in other streams in Alaska besides the Yukon. 



As the time approaches for the arrival of the "snaky" forms, the Indians keep close watch for the 

 first arrivals. Rememljer that the great river is covered with ice from 4 to 5 feet in thickness at this 

 time of the year, and it is no small task for the young boys to keep a number of large holes open and 

 occasionally dipping with their large dip nets. These nets are also used by the natives to catch salmon 

 diu-ing therunning season. Saw several Indians in their kyaks using their dip nets, but during the 

 short time I was in sight of them aboard the United States transport did not have the pleasure of seeing 

 a fish caught. 



A\'lien the eels are reported as having come, the whole village — men, women, and children— go out 

 f|uirkly and gather in a harvest of these fish while the school is passing, and when the rear guard has 



