ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF THE BLACKPISH. 467 



a population of nearly three thousand Eskimos rely upon this fish for one of their most abundant 

 and certain sources of food supplJ^ The i5sh is caught in wicker-work traps set in its haunts — a 

 wicker-work or brush fence leading into the funnel-shaped mouth of the trap from each side. In 

 many of the muddy streams and ponds the water fairly swarms with these ''Elackflsh." Every 

 fall, especially after the ice forms, great quantities are taken and packed in grass bags holding 

 from foriy to one hundred pounds each. These bags of fish freeze into a solid mass, and are then 

 stored either in turf-covered pits, or upon platforms erected upon four posts, and thus kept for 

 future consumption. They are eaten either raw or boiled by the nativ^es, and are chopped up and 

 fed frozen to the dogs. 



Economic value of the Blackfish.— It is difQcult to estimate the amount of these fish 

 used annually. It is well within the limits, however, to state that during October, November, and 

 December at least 1,500 pounds per day are taken in tha roughly triangular region between the 

 Lower Yukon and Kuskoquim Ei\'ers. This amounts to 138,000 pounds, or 69 tons. During the 

 remainder of the year they are fished with varying success, owing to different causes, and for this- 

 period it is fair to allow one-half the amount just mentioned, thus giving 103.5 tons for the annual 

 estimated catch in this region. Over the remainder of the territory where this fish occurs my 

 data are very meager, but by a rough estimate I would allow about one-half the preceding amount, 

 or 51.7 tons, raising the entire estimated amount of these fish used to 155.2 tons per annum. 1 

 have been very cautious in making the estimate small, but I am satisfied that careful observatiort 

 over this region will raise the amount to perhaps double that given. 



The Vega expedition under the command of Baron Nordeuskjold obtained numerous spec- 

 imens of this fish, and it has since been redescribed by Professor P. A. Schmidt, of the University 

 of Christiana, under the name Dallia delicatissima. There can be little doubt that Nordenskjold's 

 specimens belong fco the species above described. 



