392 FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. [6] 



The cod-fishes ( Gadidce) are equally represented in Northern and South- 

 ern Alaska, those of the latter division excelling the others in size. 

 The most important species, commercially, is the common cod (Gadus 

 morrhua), which is exceedingly plentiful on certain banks in the Gulf 

 of Alaska and in the vicinity of the islands of the Aleutian chain. This 

 fish will some day be as valuable in the Pacific as it is now in the 

 Atlantic ; it must wait until the west coast rivals the east in population, 

 and then its importance will be appreciated. The Alaskan pollock 

 (Pollachius chalcogr animus) has no value as food, but is one of the best 

 baits for the cod. The "wachna" (Tilesia gracilis), though compara- 

 tively small, seldom exceeding a foot in length, is a very useful fish in 

 Northern Alaska, where it is caught by natives in immense numbers. 

 The burbot (Lota maculosa), though reaching five feet in length, is not 

 a food-fish of much consequence. 



Of the sculpins (Cottidce) about a dozen species are used for food. 

 The scaled sculpins (Eemilepidotus) are especially good. 



Seven species of Sebastichthys are now known to inhabit Alaskan 

 waters, being confined, so far as we are informed, to the Gulf of Alaska. 

 All of these are excellent for food, and they seem to be sufficiently 

 common. 



The " rock cods" (species of Hexagrammus) are quite as good as the 

 Sebastichthys, and they are more widely spread. One species has been 

 found as far north as Port Clarence, and either the same or a closely 

 related form frequents the entire coast southward to Sitka. Hexagram- 

 mus superciliosus extends westward to Attu. In the Gulf of Alaska at 

 least three species are extremely abundant and constitute an important 

 part of the food supply. A marked peculiarity of H. ordinatus, which 

 is very common at Unalashka, is its green flesh, from which it has de- 

 rived the name " green fish; " the green color disappears in the process 

 of cooking, and the flesh is excellent. The same fish is remarkable for 

 its beautiful smoky brown ova. Another very important, and perhaps 

 the most important, member of this family of Chiridw is the "Atka fish," 

 "Atka Mackerel," or "Yellow fish" (Pleurogrammus monopterygius), a 

 species which is extremely plentiful off Atka and the Shumagin islands 

 and elsewhere in Alaska. This species is a good substitute for the 

 mackerel (Scomber scombrus), resembling it in taste after salting, as well 

 as in size and movements. It can be taken in purse seines and treated 

 in nearly all respects just like the common mackerel. As a bait for cod 

 it has no superior at the Shumagins. A small market is beginning to 

 develop in San Francisco for this estimable fish, and in the future it 

 will achieve the commercial importance which it so richly deserves. The 

 largest species of this family, Ophiodon elongatus, reaches a weight of 

 30 pounds, and is valued for food. In Alaskan waters Anoplopoma 

 fimbria is said to possess good qualities, while in the markets of San 

 Francisco the same fish is considered quite inferior. 



Bathymaster signatus, a little-known species of the family of Trachi- 



