44 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1905. 



infrequent periods. It has been reported at times as occurring in 

 great abundance in the Stikine, Unuk, and Chilkat rivers, and in the 

 rivers entering into Cook Inlet. It is much prized by the natives 

 because of its oiliness. 



In the (for Alaska) densely populated delta between the mouths of 

 the Kuskoquim and Yukon rivers a small black-fish ( Dallia pectoralis) 

 is exceedingly abundant and forms the principal food of the natives 

 during the winter months. This fish does not exceed 5 or 6 inches in 

 length, but is very fat, and, in addition to using it whole as food, the 

 natives try out from it a pellucid oil of which they are excessively 

 fond. 



Among the sea fishes not described elsewhere in this report and 

 at present of commercial importance to the natives along shore or 

 to the whites living in the vicinity of the fisheries are the fol- 

 lowing: 



Atka mackerel (Pleurogrammus monopterygius) , which are not 

 mackerel at all, merely resembling them in flavor, are quite abundant 

 along the southern shore of the Aleutian chain, especially around the 

 island of Attu. They run from May to December, being most plenti- 

 ful in June, July, and August, and are found in greatest abundance 

 among the kelp in from 3 to 40 fathoms. They retire to deep water 

 in the winter. In length the fish average about 18 inches, with an 

 average weight of about 2\ pounds. They are an important article of 

 food to the Aleutians, who also salt a few barrels annually which they 

 sell to vessels calling at Dutch Harbor and Unalaska. The North 

 American Commercial Company has experimented with these fish for 

 some years and reports them as good food fish. In 1903 the Alaska 

 Attu Mackerel Company was formed at Seattle, Wash., to engage in 

 fishing for and curing this species, and during the same year put up 400 

 half barrels as an experiment. There is no record of any subsequent 

 operations of the company. The fishery will doubtless be a very 

 important one some day. 



Black cod (Anoplopoma fimbria) and the cultus cod (Ophiodon 

 elongatus) are very common in Southeastern Alaska and the Gulf of 

 Alaska, and are excellent food fishes. The well-known redfish of 

 Sitka (Sebastodes melanops) is one of several other species of rockfish 

 found in Alaskan waters, and is exceedingly abundant in the Gulf of 

 Alaska. Flounders seem to be abundant nearly everywhere. Scul- 

 pins, capelin, and lance, or lant, are exceedingly abundant along the 

 shore and make excellent bait for the better species. 



Along the shores of Norton Sound occurs the tomcod ( Microgadus 

 proximus), or wachna of the natives. This fish, which is very abun- 

 dant in the fall and spring, is of immense importance to the natives, 

 as they depend quite largely upon it for their winter's supply of food. 



