FISHES. 313 



grown ponds and streams the water fairly swarms with these "Blackflsh," aud during the fall 

 especially after the ice forms, immense numbers are taken and packed in grass bags, containing 

 from 40 to 100 pounds of fish, and these bags are then allowed to freeze and are then either packed 

 in a turf-covered pit or stored in a square-framed storehouse erected upon four posts. These fish 

 are afterwards used to a great extent for dog-food as well as eaten raw or boiled by the natives. 

 It is extremely difficult to form an estimate of much value regarding the amount of these fish used 

 per annum, but it is within fair limits to say that for the three months, October, November, and 

 December, an average of 1,500 pounds per day are taken by the natives of this region. This 

 amounts to 138,000 pounds, or 69 tons. 



During the remainder of winter many are taken, but the success of the fisherman depends 

 upon the character of the season, &c., and the amount secured for the remaining nine months may 

 be put at one-half that of the first-mentioned amount, or 103.5 tons for the annual catch. 



The part of the country between the Lower Yukon and Kuskoquim, where this fish most 

 abounds, is also the most densely-peopled district inhabited by the Eskimo in Alaska. 



On January 1, during a winter expedition south of the Yukon delta, I found these fish 

 swimming in the shallow rain-water that covered the frozen surface of the ponds and lakelets. The 

 females examined at this time were very large with spawn. The Eskimo say that in shallow pools 

 these fish bury themselves in the raud and lie dormant through most of the winter, but where the 

 water is deep they do not. They are the main food-supply of mink and otter in the region where 

 they abound. They are a sluggish fish and very tenacious of life. 



OSMERUS DENIES Steindachucr. Smelt {EV-liO-60-u-mlc). 



29933, 29934, 2393P, 29937, 29938. Original numbers 230-234. Smelt, Saint Michaels, 

 August 20, 1880. 1 fathom. 



(Notes on original numbers 23, 24, 25, 31, 32.) 



Rainbow Herring (Saint Michaels, Norton Sound, July 24, 1877). — The most beautiful fish I have 

 yet seen from these waters. Dorsal surface pale olive, the borders of scales outlined by darker. 

 From outer border of the olive to the lateral line the color is purple, then deep mazarin blue be- 

 coming a changeable violet and gold, then silvery with a violet tint. These colors pass from the 

 olive of the back insensibly into one another and rival the rainbow in the beauty and the delicacy 

 of arrangement. From the lateral line, about half way down to the abdomen, is a pure silvery with 

 the slightest possible shade of rose, which changes to greenish according to the angle it is viewed 

 from. Between this and the ventral surface is a band of slightly-varying width of pure satiny 

 white with a rich silvery sheen, which changes to a satiny rose color of the most delicate tint 

 when turned at a different angle. Below on the ventral surface is a pure satin white with but 

 slight luster. The dorsal and caudal are transparent, the rays only being a golden-olive. The 

 lower fins are colorless, the pectorals alone showing a slight golden tint on outer tips. All the 

 colors mentioned as occupying the body extend longitudinally the entire length from the eyes to 

 the tail. The top, front (or snout), and under surface of head being plain olive. The rich colors of 

 the sides are even present in the iris. 



32917, 32)27. (84, 85.) Saint Michaels, August, 1877. 



32939. (86.) • Saint Michaels, August, 1877. 



32837, 32838, 32873, 32926, 32916. 

 Abundant along shore from Kotzebue Sound to the mouth of the Kuskoquim, from about the 

 10th of September until into November. They are numerous in tide creeks and inner bays all 

 along shore at this time. The last of August, 1878, I found the Sea Parrots {Mormon) bringing 

 yonng smelt 4 or 5 inches long to their young on the outer islets off Stewart Island. 



Mallotus villosus (Miiller). 



32949. (270-282.) Golovina Bay, June, 1880. 

 Said to be extremely abundant. 



COEEGONUS LAURETTJE Bean. 



29901. (246.) Nulato, Yukon River, March, 1881. 



