ABORIGINAL LIFE OF THE SITKANS. 



57 



Oldened, 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 i^lace 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 Mithout 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, Avhich 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 gTease, with a fetid smell 

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



Squalus acarttldas. 



