318 NATURAL HISTOEY COLLECTIONS IN ALASKA. 



at least, to Anvik, the largest of these salmon run during the few days just preceding and following 

 the breaking up of the ice, and thence on until the end of the season they decrease gradually in 

 size and quality. They are usually very abundant in the Yukon and run far up above Fort Yukon, 

 reaching 1500 miles or more from its mouth. Only the larger individuals, however, reach the 

 upper part of the river. At Anvik they begin running about the 12th of June, and the season 

 is virtually over the middle of July. At Andraevsky, lower down the river, the season is a little 

 earlier. At Saint Michaels their season is usually over by the 10th of July. 



The middle of June, 1879, a number of these salmon were brought into Saint Michaels and 

 were found to have from one to two half digested herrings in their stomachs. Their ovaries at this 

 time are fully developed. 



These fish attain a very large size, although specimens weighing over 60 or 70 pounds are rarely 

 taken on the coast. Charles Petersen, a fur trader living at Anvik-, told me of one example taken 

 there that weighed 140 pounds, and thinks they sometimes weigh a third more than that. 



The Anvik natives say that there are land-locked King Salmon living in Shageluk Lake that 

 are like the river Salmon, except that the lake fish are black-skinned in x^lace of the usual color. 



[Tliese are Lake Trout, Balvelinus namaycusli. — T. H. Bean.] 



44. Oncorhynohus keta (Walb.). Hyko Salmon [Nu-lai). 



29892. (223.) Saiut Michaels, July 24, lc80. 

 Abundant July 1 to 25 or 30, when the run is nearly over. The principal salmon in this vicin- 

 ity, but equaled by the preceding in the rivers. 



29894. (32,5.) Saint Michaels, July 26, 1880. Hyco, female. 

 29835. (227.) Saiut Michaels, August 6, 1880. Hyco, female. 

 ? 32844. (16.) Saint Michaels, July 20, 1877. Hyco. 

 32896. Locality not given. 

 32898. Locality not given. 



This to the Eskimo is the most valuable food-fish found about the shores of Bering Sea and 

 the Lower Yukon and Kuskoquim Eivers, owing to its great numbers. Upon its abundance dur- 

 ing the summer depends in a great measure whether the following winter shall be one of plenty or 

 of famine and scarcity. 



This species commences to run about the middle of June, and moves in great schools along the 

 coast and up the rivers for about a month, after which stragglers are more or less numerous but 

 constantly decrease in numbers until ice makes in th3 fall. The Kotzebue Sound Eskimo were net- 

 ting them along shore on July 15, 1881. On the Lower Yukon the main run is between the last of 

 June and end of July. The last of August each year many are still caught about the shore of Nor- 

 ton Sound. They are rarely taken before June 12 at Saiut Michaels. 



On July 24, 1878, 1 saw many of them breaking in a tide creek near Saint Michaels. I do not 

 know that any are taken with a hook. The usual means of capture along the coast is the gill-net, 

 and along the rivers the same net or a wicker fish-trap. Their flesh usually dries salmon-red and 

 is the nkali of the fur traders of Alaska. 



45. Oncokhynohos NEEKA (Walb.). Eed Salmon (Cra«sme i2i/&a of Eussian; 0-liogli- 



u-ltk of Esk.) 



3-^843. Saint Michaels, August 20, 1877. 

 32845. (17.) Norton Sound, July 20, 1877. 



Purple Salmon. — Length of adult female, 24. Depth, 5J. Form stout. Sides purple from just 

 over lateral line to a line extending directly back from pectorals to the tail and just missing the outer 

 border of ventrals. The purplish also covers the tail, making it a dull livid purple. The ventral 

 surface of body to outer border of pectorals and ventrals and to tail, silvery white, the outer 

 portion of this with a purplish suifusiou, especially on the caudal peduncle, where the purple of 

 the sides is much paler. Dorsal region above the purple is olive-green, rather dark. The sides 

 and back are covered with innumerable fine punctulations, which make those parts considerably 

 darker than they would otherwise be. The upper surface of head is a dark translucent greenish, 

 almost bluish-olive, which becomes lighter on the sides, where it reaches to the border of the under 



