88 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF ALASKA. 



them back in the water when caught. There is but little meat on them, and that is full of short, 

 strong bones. 



The Russian name of the Flounder is Kdmbal. The smaller ones are called Kambalmhlca. The 

 Eskimo name of this species is JVa tu'g riffle, and is derived from the word Nd tfflc, signifying boot-sole. 



6. Peeuronectes glacialis Pallas. (See Fig. I.) 



This species has the same habits as P. stellatus at Saint Michael's. It is smaller in size than P. 

 stellatus. The flesh is not so palatable as that of the other species. 



Both species are liable to be diseased in the summer months. Great tumors appear on the 

 sides at the bases of the fins and near the gills. They are so repulsive that one can scarcely eat 

 the fish after seeing them in this condition. 



During calm weather I have had opportunity to observe the habits of Flounders from the wharf 

 at Saint Michael's and Unalashka. The fish towards evening usually come near the shore, especially 

 when the tide is rising. The fish lie on the sandy bottom waiting for food to come in reach, or 

 else by a quick movement of their fins throw the sand over their back so as to completely hide 

 their body. After the sand has settled, a slight mark will lead to the detection of their hiding 

 place. In the course of a few minutes a single eye of the fish will be thrust out for half an inch 

 and slowly be moved round and round in search of food. Should a small fish come near it is in- 

 stantly seized by the hidden Flounder. 



At Saint Michael's I was once on the wharf where several natives were fishing. One of the natives 

 was a woman who had but a few days before come from Nulato and had never seen a Flounder in 

 her life. She soon caught one of these fish, and when she saw that it was different from any other 

 fish she had ever seen her astonishment knew no bounds. The fish gave a flop and exposed its 

 white lower parts. The woman gave a scream and shouted, " Slapjack Reba." 



The word slapjack is universally known for the pancake or griddle-cake, and reba is the 

 Russian word for fish. At the present time the Flounders are usually called " Slapjack Reba." 



Neither species of the Flounders attain a greater size than fourteen inches in length, and 

 rarely weigh over ten to eighteen ounces. 



At Unalashka Island the Flounders attain a greater size than observed at Attu Island, and 

 scarcely as large as some individuals seen at Saint Michael's. 



12. Hippoglossus vulgaris Fleming. 



The Halibut is not common at Saint Michael's, and rarely attains a size of more than 20 inches 

 in length and a weight of more than twelve pounds. It occurs in Norton Sound near the shores in 

 the months of July, August, and September. It is doubtless migratory, as I never heard of it 

 being obtained at any other time. 



Among the Aleutian Islands it is a constant resident, and there attains an enormous size 

 and weight. In some localities it has been caught weighing over 300 pounds. The larger 

 individuals are extremely difficult to kill, aud require a great amount of "playing" before being 

 brought to the surface and there dispatched with a club (" Kolotiislika" of the Russian-speaking 

 Aleut). 



The fish are often taken while fishing for cod and other fish. 



The usual method pursued by the Aleut of the present day is to make a wooden hook that re- 

 sembles a shoe with the sole detached, excepting at the heel, from the upper. Through the part 

 which I have likened to the sole of the shoe is driven a strong spike, usually three or four inches 

 in length, and set at an angle of about forty degrees from the sole, and directed inward. The 

 upper part is then fastened so that the under surface will be about an inch and a half from the point 

 of the spike. The bait is securely fastened to the lower part, and when the fish attempts to swallow 

 the bait, the upper lip is pushed on the spike by the interference of the upper part of the hook, 

 so that any attempt of the fish to withdraw from the hook is only to transfix the upper jaAV more 

 firmly on the spike. 



This hook is usually set in the early morning, and is watched from the house or shore. An in- 

 flated stomach of a seal is usually attached to the line as a float, and when it is seen to move, then 

 it is known that a Halibut is at the bait. Other fish rarely attempt to take the bait, as the wooden 



