NO. 9 MARINE INVERTEBRATES, ALASKA — MacGINITIE 185 



The eggs are deposited in the gravel. During spawning these fish can 

 be caught in considerable quantity with hand nets from the shore, and 

 for a period of several weeks they frequent the shore waters in such 

 numbers that a few can be taken by sweeping long-handled nets 

 through the water. 



Another marine fish that is eaten occasionally by the natives is a 

 sculpin {Myxocephalus quadricornis) that was most frequently taken 

 in nets at Elson Lagoon and occasionally along the ocean shore. Dur- 

 ing the first part of September gravid females were taken, and it is 

 probable that this fish comes into Elson Lagoon or alongshore to 

 spawn. With its large head and slender tail, the sculpin offers little 

 flesh to reward one's efforts, but the Eskimos do not turn down any- 

 thing that is edible. 



The capelin and the sculpin are only seasonal visitors, or at least 

 can be obtained only seasonally. The Arctic cod is plentiful only dur- 

 ing those summers when there are large ice floes alongshore, and in 

 the winter it cannot be obtained in sufficient numbers to constitute a 

 dependable source of food. However, the fishes available from all 

 sources must furnish an important supplementary food and a welcome 

 variety to a limited diet. 



All fish are directly or indirectly dependent upon the marine in- 

 vertebrates for their food. 



Class MAMMALIA 



The marine mammals of the Point Barrow region are of great 

 importance to the native Eskimos, for their presence or absence often 

 means feast or famine. 



A population of 125 to 150 at Barrow Village was supported by 

 hunting ; but during the past 25 years or so this has increased to over 

 1,000, by reason of the additional means of livelihood created by naval 

 and other activities. 



A curious fact about the Eskimo birth rate is that it greatly in- 

 creases when the Eskimos eat "white man's" food. When hunting was 

 the only means of subsistence, Eskimo women became pregnant only 

 once in several years, but with the new diet they bear a baby about 

 every year. The writer's boatman. Max Adams, had five girls, the eld- 

 est five years ; his brother had four boys and one girl, the eldest five 

 years. One of the laboratory Eskimo employees had ten children, an- 

 other eight, and a third four, the eldest six years. What is going to 

 happen when outside support is shut off is an important and serious 

 problem. Some few fathers are training their boys in hunting and 



