THE FISHES OF ALASKA. 267 



the maxillary extending to below middle of eye; mandible extending to nearly posterior edge of orljit; 

 teeth minute, numerous in both jaws and along maxillary, none on tongue; eye large, longer than snout, 

 but not equal to interorbital space. 



Scales on side about uniform in size; the caudal fin well scaled, two rows of small scales forming 

 radiating feather-like projections on some of the interradial spaces of the lobes of the fin; a naked patch 

 back of isthmus; scales of jugular region minute, becoming larger backward and upward. 



Dorsal fin long and high, the longest ray about 4 in body, its base 4.5; adipose fin small; longest 

 ray of anal 2 in head, its base about the same length; gillrakers medium length, firm, rather stout, acute, 

 6+13 and 6+12. 



Color in life, back light olive, edges of scales dark; side l>luish silvery, centers of scales brightest; 

 belly dull white, a dirty, rusty wash from base of ventral to lower part of pectoral; when scales rub off 

 an orange color is shown; anterior part of side with 11 or 12 small blue-l:>lack spots; cheek somewhat 

 rosy; membrane between rami of lower jaw black; dorsal olive, with 3 rows of rosy or purplish, lighter- 

 edged, almost coalescing sp(its at base, above these about less distinct rows of more isolated sjjots of 

 same color; distal edge of fin purplish, posterior edge blackish above; ventrals olive, with 5 longitudinal 

 purplish lines; pectoral, caudal, and anal olive, the caudal somewhat dark at base and edge. 



A 10-inch specimen and 10 others taken at Caribou Crossing, July 18, had the following colors in life ; 



Back olive, the centers of scales lighter; side silvery, underlaid with olive; borders of scales dull 

 golden; 10 inky black spots, irregularly arranged on anterior part of body, mostly below lateral line, 

 these varying much, numbering from 3 to 17 in the 10 specimens at hand; one specimen has 

 over 70 spots, rather paler, and arranged in irregular rows, extending liack to adipose dorsal; head olive, 

 with bluish luster, with some gold and brassy; a blue-black blotch under rami of lower jaw; branchios- 

 tegals brassy; dfirsal dusky olive, upper edge lilue-black. 4 rows of spots, the upper violet blue, others 

 anteriorly violet, posteriorly reddi,sh or yellowish green, a fifth partial row (G on some), the smaller fish 

 with spots less distinct; adipose dorsal dusky olive; caudal dusky with a submarginal paler streak; 

 anal olive, dusky at tip; ventral dusky anteriorly, with 3 lengthwise strips of bright cream color; pectoral 

 greenish; inside of opercle bluish. 



Color in alcohol (No. 2928). back and upper parts of side pearly lilue. .somewhat paler below, nearly 

 everywhere finely punctulate with minute l.ilack dots, Init especially so in a streak on each side extending 

 from the base of the pectoral to origin of ventral fin; a black or dark blue streak each side of chin, almost 

 concealed by fold of jaw; a few (5-10) roundish blue spots along anterior part of side; dorsal fin highly 

 colored, the ground-color dark blue, interrupted by elongate elliptical pink or red spots, these extending 

 in rows between rays, their long axis parallel with those of the rays, the spots also in rows parallel with 

 the back, almost forming continuous lines near the base of the fin; ventrals bluish dusky, with longi- 

 tudinal bright dashes; other fins dusky. 



• Most of the grayling from Cari1)ou Cro.ssing were taken with a fly from a small pier at the mounted 

 police station a few rods below the railroad bridge, in water 2 to 5 feet deep. A very small fly (black 

 gnat) was used. The fish took it either at the surface or when it was sunk a foot to 3 feet. The local 

 anglers usually fish with the artificial fly and, of course, without any sinker, simply whipping the sur- 

 face or allowing the fly to float down. Some, however, use a very light sinker and find that the grayling 

 will sometimes take the fly even better when i't is sunk 2 or 3 feet. Very small bits of fresh red meat 

 are sometimes used and found attractive. 



Considering the small size of these fish they were quite good fighters and afforded much sport. 

 Those taken in the swift water of Kilbourne Creek seemed decidedly more gamy, partly, doubtless, 

 on account of the current, but they were really better fighters. 



The 15-inch example from Lake Bennett was caught while we were still-fishing from a pier near 

 the hotel. This fish was seen in water 4 feet deep and was repeatedly tried with various kinds of flies, 

 but it paid no attention to any of them. As a last resort a small piece of fresh, icd meat was placed 

 on the fly, when the fish rose at once and took it greedily, proving very energetic and vigorous, and 

 making a very pretty fight. 



Family 15. .\RGENTIN1D.E. The Smelts. 



38. Mallotus villosus (Miiller). Capelin. 



Eight (4 male. 4 female) specimens 3.5 to 5 inches long, collected by the Albatross at Port Cliester, 

 September 26, 1900, and one 4 inches long from Loring. 1904. 



