PART IV.-FISHES 



The collection of fishes made by me was not large, owing to insufficiency of preservative mate- 

 rial. Among those obtained were several new species and other interesting forms. 



Under each species is given such notes as I was able to obtain ; other species are included in order 

 to give a general list of the principal food-fishes of those waters. 



The systematic names aud order of the list are taken from the Preliminary Catalogue of the 

 Fishes of Alaskan and Adjacent Waters, by Dr. Tarleton H. Bean, of the U. S. Fish Commission, 

 in the Proceedings of the IT. S. National Museum, pages 239-272, 1880. 



To Dr. Bean was given the labor of identifying the species obtained by me, and to him are due 

 my kindest acknowledgments for the care with which he has performed the task. 



GASTEROSTEIDiE. 



1. Gastbrostbus cataphractes (Pall.) Tilesius. 



This species is quite common in the small streams which form the outlets of the lakes on the low 

 grounds. They usually lie under the overhanging banks of the stream, and often will scarcely move 

 when touched. The specimens taken by me were collected July 14, 1878, at Sannakh Island, the 

 great sea-otter ground of Alaska. 



2. Gasterosteus micro cephalus Girard. 



This species was taken at Sannakh Island, Alaska, in the same stream from which G. cataphractes 

 was taken. There is no special difference in their habits. 

 Of the two species the former was the more abundant. 



3. Gasterosteus pungitius L. subsp. Braohypoda Bean. 



This species is quite common in the fresh-water lakes and small streams on the low lands in 

 the vicinity of Saint Michael's. They are more abundant in the brackish lakes formed by the over- 

 flow of high tides aud waves. Where a small stream of fresh water falls into one of these brack- 

 ish lakes these fish collect in great numbers, so that a handful may be taken at one time. The 

 spines on the body can be depressed or elevated at will, and when the ventral spines are pressed 

 a small stream of water is spurted out of them. A wound produced by the spines is extremely 

 painful. 



The natives eat these fish either raw or cooked. 



The specimens obtained by me were collected in June, 1S76, at Saint Michael's, Alaska. 



PLEURONECTID 2Z. 



5. Pletjronectes stellatus Pallas. 



At Saint Michael's the Flounders are quite numerous. They appear near the shores as soon as 

 the winter's ice has left the shallower waters. During calm weather and toward the close of the 

 day is the best time for taking these fish. They bite readily at the hook baited with any kind of 

 flesh. The natives prize the flesh of these fish very highly. 



During stormy weather these fish seek the deeper portions of the bays and coves. As soon 

 as ice forms in the fall they retire to the deepest parts of the bays, where the water does not freeze. 



Among the Aleutian Islands this species is extremely abundant and in some particular local- 

 ities is the only fish to be found. The Aleuts care but little for this fish, and will often throw 



87 



