340 GAME FISH OF NORTH AMERICA. 



roe in the spawning season, from October to January. These she 

 bears in two sacs near the vent, which are connected by an open- 

 ing- with the cloaca. Though slow in movement and apparently 

 dull, this species destroys large numbers of whitefish, and others 

 of less importance. The grayling, {Thymaltis signifer) is very 

 abundant. Of the whitefish, there are several varieties or species, 

 the larger portion being allied to the southern prototypes, the 

 greater difference being in their numbers. There are the nulato 

 — nidatoski of the Russians — a small bony and comparatively use- 

 less fish ; the morskoi, or whitefish of the Russians, a highly edible 

 variety, which weighs between two and four pounds, and has firm, 

 succulent flesh. It is readily recognized by its small head and fins. 

 The hump-backed species, the corabati of the Russians and 

 Ko-lak-ah of the Yukons, is quite abundant, but bony and insipid, 

 the coregonns 7iasiis, or round fish — the Russian krug, and Yukon 

 hiituen — with its long subfusiform body and lean muzzle, is a denizen 

 of several streams, and is often caught for food ; the Coregonus 

 muksun, or broad whitefish, the tel-ih-ynh of the Yukons, with its 

 large scales, broad body, short head and weight of thirty pounds, 

 is readily distinguished from the others, and as it is excellent for 

 the table, large numbers are caught at all seasons by the Indians. 

 The largest of this genus is the great whitefish, {LiiciotriUta 

 Icucichthys,) which excels its congeners not only in size but flavor. 

 It is very abundant in the Stikine and Yukon Rivers — and is 

 found in all the streams throughout the year. It measures between 

 two and four feet in length, and its weight ranges from twenty to 

 forty or fifty pounds. It is full of eggs from October to the first 

 of January, so is in the best of condition from May to August. It 

 has a fine outline, being slender and long ; and its color is bright 

 silvery above, somewhat darker beneath. Despite the abundance 

 of this fish and its excellent edible qualities, it is not used as an 

 article of commerce. It certainly seems plausible to suppose that 

 its size and numerical strength would render its capture and ex- 

 portation a successful enterprise if the limited fishing-grounds of 

 Lake Superior can be worked with profit. 



The profusion of salmon and whitefish in Alaska should make 

 that region the supply depot of the world, for they are certainly 

 abundant enough to feed the people who use fish as a portion of 



