130 EXPEDITION TO POINT BARROW, ALASKA. 



to tliis field nearly every cliiy :iiid cauglit tlie.se fish literally by tin- bushel. Tlie method of winter 

 fishing is as follows: A hole about 18 inches square is cut through the iee, and through this is let 

 down a long line made of strips of whalebone, and provided with a sinker of lead or copper and 

 two small pear-shaped "jigs" of bright copper or walrus-fvory, armed with four barbless copper 

 hooks. The reel on which the line was wound and which is a stick about 18 inches long serves as 

 a, rod, being held in one hand, while a long-handled seoop is held in the other hand and is used to 

 keep the hole clear of ice. The jigs are kept close to the bottom and the line is continually jerked 

 up a short distance and allowed to sink again. The fish are attracted by the bright "jig,'' and 

 "nosing" round ir are cauglit by the upward jerk. The line is reeled up on the two sticks, held 

 one in each hand, so that it never has to be touched with the lingers, and the fish is adroitly 

 jerked off the hook on to the ice. . 



No such field, or "fishing ground," as we were in the habit of calling it, was formed in 1883, 

 and only comparatively few fish were caught. 



Early in July, when open holes of water form along the shore at the outlets of the lagoons, 

 the (ish arc again to be found in considerable abundance. The young fry were first noticed about 

 the middle of July, and were quite plenty in the shallow water at the edge of the beach. 



Young fish, two to three inches long, were taken at the head of our lagoon, which is brackish, 

 about the first of September, and at about the same time the full-grown fish were plenty along the 

 beach in about 3 fathoms of water, swimming about in large, loose schools. 



3. TILESIA GRACILIS (Tiles.) Swairison. 



We found this species abundant along the shore at St. Michael's, and caught a good many 

 with hook and liue. 



4. LOTA MACULOSA (Le S.) Ricl> 

 (Titdle.) 



This species was abundant in Meade River and Kuaru. The natives catch many large ones 

 through the ice with hook and line. 



They are exceedingly voracious, and Captain Ilerendeen caught one in his net which had 

 swallowed a white fish already caught in the net and then managed to entangle himself. 



The season for catching them is in October and November, and again in February, March, and 

 April. They are generally considered rather a refuse fish, and worthless for food, but we found 

 that they made a very palatable chowder. 



LYCODID.E. 

 5. GYMNELIS VIRIDIS (Pabr.) Reinharat. 



A small specimen was fouud washed up on the beach September 13, 1882. Its colors when 

 fresh were two shades of orange, with the spot at the beginning of the dorsal fin black, edged with 

 white. 



6. LYCODES TURNERII Bean. 

 (Kuxrav nil.) 



Two specimens were obtained, having been cauglit by the natives while "jigging" Polar cod 

 through the iee. 



The following color-notes were made while the fish were fresh. Collector's No. (metal tag) G; 

 Museum No. 33,922 9 : Ground-color a rather light-reddish chocolate, shading into a reddish brown 

 on the belly. Head, underneath, white. Lower edges of pectorals and ventrals, rufous red. In- 

 terrupted band from eye to edge of operculiim, brownish cream-color edged whth chocolate, des- 

 cent-shaped band on top of head, same color. Ten lateral bands of the same color with dark edges, 

 broken on the side of the body and appearing as spots. "Indistinct tip to caudal. Creamy spot on, 

 pi-eiorul, near root. 



