398 FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES, [12] 



important food-fish even in Alaska, although the heads and roes are 

 used in making soup. " This fish is abundant in the Yukon and other 

 large rivers in Northern Alaska. It is of moderately large size, reach- 

 ing five pounds in weight. * * * These fish are filled with spawn 

 in April, a period when other fish appear to be out of season." * Ee- 

 cently Mr. William J. Fisher has sent us this sucker from the island of 

 Kodiak, where its existence was previously unknown to ichthyologists. 



The lamprey known from the Yukon, Ammoccetes aureus Bean, is ex- 

 tremely abundant and is eaten by the natives. 



From the foregoing account it will be seen that Alaska is well sup- 

 plied with food-fishes. All parts of the coast have an abundance of 

 edible species. Even where the number of species is small the number 

 of individuals is extremely large. Every male native of the proper age 

 devotes a portion of his time to fishing, and employs the best apparatus 

 and expedients in his possession for the capture and preservation of 

 fish, because his existence depends in a great measure upon this source 

 of food. Women and children aid the men by carrying, or half floating 

 in, salmon and other species caught in the seines. They may be seen 

 wading along near the water's edge, pulling vigorously at the great 

 strings of fish which are to be cleaned and otherwise prepared for dry- 

 ing at the villages. According to a preliminary report made by Ivan 

 Petroff, for the Tenth Census, there are about 30,000 inhabitants in 

 Alaska. More than one-sixth of these are adult males, and are to be 

 considered as fishermen. Considering the great abundance of fish every- 

 where, and the wasteful habits of the people, who learn nothing profita- 

 ble from experience, no matter how bitter, we will be prepared to form 

 an adequate idea of the vast quantities taken in the Territory. No 

 fewer than 28,000 people depend largely upon fish for their subsistence, 

 eating them fresh during their season, and in the form of uliali for the 

 rest of the year. We have no records which give the actual number 

 caught, aud must depend upon estimates made by persons who are 

 familiar with the natives and their supplies. Mr. William J. Fisher, of 

 Kodiak, has investigated this matter very carefully, and has received 

 much information from parties who are engaged in preparing tilcali (dried 

 fish) for the winter supply of the natives. According to Mr. Fisher's 

 estimate, each person will consume at least 750 fish annually, whose 

 united weight will be certainly not less than 3,750 pounds in the fresh 

 state. At this rate 28,000 people will consume 105,000,000 pounds of 

 fish, the first cost of which is about one-half cent per pound, and their 

 total value about $525,000. In my opinion this is below rather than 

 above the actual value of the yearly supply of food-fishes in Alaska. 



THE AMERICAN SALMONOIDS. 



In the series of salmonoids will be found 38 nominal species ; it should 

 be stated, however, that some of these are mentioned under separate 



*Dall, in Rep. Comr. Agric. for 1870 (1871), p. 388. 



