FUR SEALS AND OTHER LIFE, PRIBILOF ISLANDS, I914. I25 



causes it to be much desired by museums, and as it is practically impossible to obtain 

 the species elsewhere, the collection of specimens for scientific purposes should be allowed, 

 but it is believed that the killing of unlimited numbers for food should be prohibited. 



In the case of this or any species which future investigations may show to be in need 

 of special consideration it would be well for the agent or naturalist to be given authority 

 to prohibit entirely the killing of such species, or to extend to it the benefit of such 

 restrictive measures as would meet the requirements. 



FISHING. 



Since early times the natives of the Pribilof Islands have obtained a part of their 

 subsistence by fishing. The stormy and inclement weather which obtains during the 

 greater part of the year, and the fog which almost continually enshrouds the islands, 

 have prevented this industry from being prosecuted to the extent that the abundance 

 of fishes probably warrants. Notwithstanding the unfavorable conditions and the lack 

 of systematic effort, however, large quantities of fish have been taken, the aggregate 

 food value of which has been very great. 



The species taken are mainly halibut {Hippoglossus hippoglossus) which here appears 

 to attain as large a size as is usual in other parts of its range. Examples weighing 100 

 pounds or over are frequently taken, and one of 350 pounds is recorded. The Alaska cod 

 {Gadus macrocephalus) which does not attain a large size, usually not exceeding 10 or 15 

 pounds, is also taken in large numbers. Sculpins, perhaps of several species, are also 

 abundant, and are frequently caught about both islands. Because of the weather con- 

 ditions it follows that most of the fishing is done in the summer, but it can be successfully 

 conducted in some seasons as late as the last of October, and in some cases even into 

 December. 



So far as known, the best places for fishing have never been searched for systematic- 

 ally, though the places now selected by the natives are of course in accordance with the 

 experience gained in former years. The place usually resorted to by the people of St. 

 Paul is a mile or two off East Landing, where both cod and halibut are taken. Off St. 

 George there are two principal fishing banks, one about 3 miles to the eastward of the 

 village landing, and about half a mile from shore where only cod are taken; the other is 

 2 miles west of the village, and half a mile from shore, and here the principal catch 

 is halibut. This species is said to be seldom caught here during the winter. It is 

 probable that other fishing banks await discovery. In former years the natives fished 

 largely or entirely from their small skin boats or bidarkas, but they have now entirely 

 abandoned the use of this craft, in the management of which their ancestors were so 

 proficient, and now fish only from large rowboats. 



In order to give a clearer idea of the extent of the fishery than it is possible to gain 

 from general statements, it may be well to set forth a few examples of the success which 

 has attended fishing parties in past years. The following entries in the St. Paul Island 

 log are selected from a very large number of records of fishing trips, very few of which 

 were not to some extent successful: Parties were very successful in taking halibut 

 on August 9, lo, II, and 12, 1876; on August 14, 8 large ones were caught, and on 

 August 23, seven bidarkas took 30 halibut, some of them very large. On August 25, 

 1880, between 1,000 and 1,500 pounds of halibut were taken, and on August 31, one 6 



