ABORIGINAL LIFE OF THE SITKANS. 



57 



opened, of semi-rotten salmon-roe. Many of the Siwashes have a 

 custom of collecting the ova, putting it into wooden boxes, and 

 then burying it below high-water mark on the earthen flats above. 

 When decomposition has taken place to a great extent, and the 

 mass has a most penetrating and far-reaching " funk," then it is 

 ready to be eaten and made merry over. The box is usually un- 

 covered without removing it from its buried position ; the eager 

 savages all squat around it, and eat the contents with every indica- 

 tion on their hard faces of keen gastronomic delight faugh ! 



The same ill-favored and heartily-hated " dog-fish "* of our Cape 

 Cod fishermen is also very abundant in these far-away waters. 



Indians Raking Oolochans and Herring. Stickeen River. 



Recently, the demand created for its oil by the tanneries of Oregon 

 and California has made its capture by the Indians an important 

 source of revenue to them ; the oil rendered from its liver is readily 

 sold by them to the white traders, who also have established a 

 fishery for the purpose on Prince of Wales Island. These traders 

 also are making good use of herring-oil, which is to be secured 

 here in unfailing, abundant supply, to any quantity required. 



The most grateful condiment to the Sitkan palate is rancid fish- 

 oil, or oolachan "butter" a semi-solid grease, with a fetid smell 

 and taste ; into this they always dip or rub their flakes of dried fish, 



Squalua acanthia*. 



