204 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 
but they are thinner, less fat, and more pot-bellied, and weigh rather less when dressed—80,000 
Shumagin fish, dressed, weigh 260,000 pounds; 80,000 Okhotsk fish, dressed, weigh 220,000 pounds. 
The latter are poorer, perhaps, because they are caught so early in the spring. They are fatter in 
July. Fishing, however, begins in June.” For the dressed Shumagin fish this gives an average 
of 34 pounds each, and for the Okhotsk 23 pounds. The average for the Shumagin fish agrees 
substantially with that given by most persons who have furnished information about the Alaska 
cod. Professor Jordan’s information was obtained from the foremost fish merchants in San Fran- 
cisco, and mine from captains of fishing-vessels. The average size of the Shumagin fish is higher 
for 1880. There are many large fish averaging 6 to 8 pounds, or even more, when prepared for the 
market. ; ‘ 
SHAPE AND COLOR.—With reference to the Shumagin cod, Capt. J. C. Caton informed me that 
most of them have black napes, but in some the nape (peritoneum) is white. Some of the fish which 
we caught on Portlock Bank July 8, 1880, had the nape black, and in others it was white. Mr. Devine, 
of Pirate Cove, Shumagin Islands, reports there black napes generally, with white or gray occasion- 
ally. Capt. H. R. Bowen, of Kodiak, says “they very seldom find cod with white napes—they are 
generally black.” Oapt. D. C. Bowen, of the same island, told me that white-nape and black-nape 
fish both are caught, black-napes being most plentiful. He says that young cod generally have 
white napes, and the big ones are almost always black-naped. Captain Haley informed me that 
the Hoochenoo cod have black napes. These statements coincide with my own observations at . 
various points along the coast of Alaska, and it seems to be true that the peritoneum of the 
Alaskan cod is generally dark. The two large ones already referred to as having been canght in 
Port Chatham, July 5, 1880, had black napes. 
The same variations in the external colors of the fish exist as are observed in the Atlantic. 
The shore fish are generally darker than the bank fish, and a reddish tinge is very common. Rock- 
cod are as well known as in the east. Mr. Devine states that very pretty yellow cod are some- 
times taken. Capt. H. R. Bowen says that the deep-water fish are ‘generally light in color. Mr. 
Devine informed me that the winter fish are whiter than those of any other season. 
The same gentleman mentions peculiarities of shape among the cod, as, for example, “ bull- 
eyed” fish, or those with very prominent eyes, probably due to their sudden removal from very 
deep water, and “seal-head” fish, distinguished by a short snout and wide space between the eyes. 
The shore fish which were brought to us by Indians from Old Sitka were always dark colored, 
with long heads and eyes far apart, and with conspicuous blotches, in general appearance often 
resembling the small cod taken in shallow water off South Greenland—the ogae form of the 
common cod. 
There are no differences as far as general appearances go between Alaskan and New England 
cod. It would be impossible to tell one from the other if they were mixed in a tank without tags 
or some other means of identification. 
MIGRATIONS.—Mr. B. G. McIntyre, Mr. D. C. Bowen, and Capt. H. R. Bowen all agree in 
stating that cod remain throughout the year around the island of Kodiak. They were scarce last 
winter on account of the extreme cold, and up to the time of our arrival at Saint Paul (July 9, 1880) 
the customary summer run had not yet begun. Between that date and July 14, however, we saw 
schools of them around the vessel where she lay at anchor. According to Mr. Bowen, they made 
their first appearance at Saint Paul May 7, 1880. Captain Bowen states that they are always 
found in the same places. Mr. McIntyre informed me that they were so scarce about Saint Paul 
last winter that the natives could not catch enough of them for their own use—an illustration of 
the influence of temperature in determining the movement seaward of cod. 
