62 THE FISHEBIES OF ALASKA IN 1906. 



representing an amphipod crustacean, and armed with a barbless 

 hook. Later in the season the fish have retired to the deeper water 

 and are not seen again until early in Febniary, when they become 

 exceedingly abundant in about 15 fathoms of water. The natives 

 Hock to the ice in great numbers then, and, selecting the level por- 

 tions of the ice fields, dig holes and fish through these with jigs that 

 are kept close to the bottom. Bushels of fish are said to be taken 

 in this way each day when fishing is practicable. 



Eulachon (Thaleiclithys imcijicus). — This species, a near relative of 

 the smelt, is the well-known candlefish. It is highly prized by the 

 natives for its excellent food qualities, and as it is exceedingly oily, 

 by simply inserting a piece of pith through the axis of the fish when 

 (h'ied, it may be used as a candle or torch, the pith burning like the 

 wick of a well-filletl lamp. The oil and a grease extracted from the 

 fish are favorite condiments mth the natives. 



The eulachon is not abundant in Alaska, only occasional runs 

 appearing in the Stikine, Unuk, and Chilkat rivers in the Southeast 

 Alaska region. Large schools frequent the larger rivers of Cook 

 Inlet, in Central Alaska, but their stay is exceedingly brief. The 

 great runs occur in the British Columbia rivers, especially the Nass, 

 in March and April. 



Lampreys {Lampetra aurea) are abundant in the Yukon River in 

 the spring, especially at Anvik, it is said, where they are used for food. 

 The Indians catch them chiefly for food for their dogs, but eat them 

 themselves when other food is scarce. 



Smelt (Ilypfimesus olidus). — There is an annual run of this species 

 in most of the streams of Western Alaska, especially the Yukon, 

 where it is of considerable importance, but it is taken only for local 

 consumption. On Puget Sound the drjdng of smelt for export to 

 Japan is becoming an important industry, and there is no doubt that 

 the Alaska smelt would serve this purpose as well were it properly 

 prepared. 



Tonicod or Wachna { Microgadus vroxirnus). — This is an important 

 species locally. It is reported abundant in Yes Bay, Southeast 

 Alaska, in the spring, and is also said to appear in other sections of 

 Alaska, but its chief center of abundance is Bering Sea, particularly 

 Norton Sound. It is said to be a permanent inhabitant of the shores 

 of this sea, but is most abundant in the fall of the year when the ice 

 begins to form in the rivers and along the shores. According to Dall, 

 "the wachna fishery commences about the middle of October. At 

 first the fish are caught from boats anchored close inshore, but later 

 the natives cut holes in the new ice, set up two or three stakes with 

 a mat hung upon them to keep off the wind and sit there all day, 

 hauling them in as fast as the line is dropped into the water. The 

 hooli is made of white walrus ivory, furnished with a sharp pin set 



