46 FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1910. 



this bay, have been salting on a small scale during the past three or 

 four years and selling the fish at Nome and the various settlements 

 in that section of Alaska. The schools generally visit Cook Inlet, in 

 central Alaska, from July to October, and these fish are the largest 

 and finest found in Alaskan waters. In southeast Alaska herring 

 are found in varying abundance in almost every bay, strait, and sound. 

 According to the best information obtainable, the herring in south- 

 east Alaska begin to spawn during April or May and continue in some 

 localities as late as July 1. Immediately after spawning the fish 

 school in great abundance out in deep water, especially in Frederick 

 Sound and the southern end of Stephens Passage, and then reenter 

 the bays for the purpose of feeding. During July and August they 

 are filled with red feed (certain species of small crustaceans) which 

 makes them very difficult to cure. In September and October 

 apparently they change their food, for the red feed is not then notice- 

 able in their stomachs, and at this time they are in their prime. The 

 runs are usually composed of mixed sizes, although in early summer 

 there are said to be numerous bays where all the herring will be of 

 small size. In western Alaska, according to Nelson, the herring 

 spawn in the neighborhood of St. Michael in June. 



At this time these fish form a continuous line along the beach, passing from south 

 to north in unbroken succession, spawning on the seaweeds and rocks from above 

 low-tide mark to a fathom below it. They enter all the inner bays and swarm about 

 every reef and rocky point. The water boils with them along shore as they struggle 

 about in a dense mass among the short seaweed in spawning, and they can be easily 

 caught in one's hands. The females move slowly among the weeds, and press in the 

 midst of them, depositing their eggs, which adhere to whatever they come in contact 

 with, by means of a gummy secretion with which they are coated. Thrusting my 

 hand under water for a half minute was sufficient for it to be covered with eggs.° 



In southeast Alaska during the spawning season, the natives place 

 spruce boughs in the water, and after the eggs have adhered, remove 

 the boughs and dry the eggs in the sun, using them later as food. In 

 this way many thousands of eggs are destroyed each season. This 

 practice should be prohibited by law. 



USES FOR FOOD AND BAIT. 



Unfortunately, but little commercial use is made of herring as a 

 food fish in central, western, and arctic Alaska. In 1907 a herring 

 saltery was established on Simeonof Island, one of the Shumagin 

 group, in central Alaska. Owing to the low prices realized for the 

 prepared product, and the high cost of transportation, the plant was 

 closed down in 1908 and 1909, but it was reopened this year. A small 

 quantity is marketed fresh, but the great bulk of the catch is made 

 by the Indians, who consume the fish, either fresh or after being dried. 



a Report upon Natural History Collections made in Alaska between the years 1877 and 1881, by Edward 

 W. Nelson, p. 320-21 (1S87J. 



