94 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF ALASKA. 



the sods of grass that may wash into the sea from the shore or cliff ledges into pieces to eat. My 

 attention was once directed to a floating sod a short distance from the shore, going through strange 

 motions. I called the attention of the native with me. He informed me that it was a Koo choo tliluk 

 eating it. I well knew that that name was applied to this species. I directed the canoe toward 

 the sod and saw the fish tearing it. It was with difficulty that we made the fish leave its food, and 

 only after several thrusts at it with the paddle did it swim off. The natives told me how to catch 

 them. I afterward saw them set their hooks, baited with grass-roots, and was assured that a fish 

 would be taken by morning. 



The upper parts and sides are uniform dark chocolate-brown in life. The abdomen is lighter, 

 sometimes gray, clouded with brownish. 



The natives strip the skin from this fish and tan it, to be used in inserting between the seams 

 of boots and other waterproof garments. The skin of the fish is said to swell when moistened, and 

 thus draw the threads tighter together. The dried skin is totally different from the fresh skin, in 

 that it is nearly black and beautifully mottled with black and silvery dots. 



I have not seen this species in any other locality, though it doubtless occurs in other portions 

 of the waters of Bering Sea. 



A full description of this species is given in Proc. U. S. National Museum, Vol. II, pp. 212-214, 

 1879, by Dr. Tarleton H. Bean, of the U. S. Fish Commission. 



LIPARIDIDJE. 



Lipabis calliodon (Pallas) Giinther. 

 This small fish was collected by me at Saint Michael's, Alaska, in the early part of October, 

 1876. They are usually found attached to rocks by the sucker-like disk on the thorax. They 

 rarely attain a greater length than three inches and are not common in that locality. The Eskimo 

 name of this species is Niip e' clink, meaning sticker. They are of no economic importance. 



38. Lipaeis cycloptjs Giinther. 

 A single specimen of this species was obtained by me June 28, 1879, at Atkha Island. It is 

 quite small, rarely attaining a length of over two and a half inches. It inhabits the shallow de- 

 pressions in the rocky shelves of the beach where the tide overflows. It was not a common fish, 

 as I saw but two specimens during the four months of my stay at the place. 



AG-ONIDiE. 



40. SiPHAGONUS barbatus Steindachner. 

 A single specimen of this species was picked up dead on the beach at Iliuliuk village, Una- 

 lashka Island, in August, 1878. It was the only specimen seen there. 1 could obtain no informa- 

 tion concerning its habits, excepting that the natives asserted that it is "a seaweed fish," leading- 

 me to infer that it frequented the patches of fuci and other algce. It was shown to several persons 

 at Attu Island. Those natives assured me that it is frequently found there. It is a small fish of 

 only five and a half inches in length. It is not used for food. 



COTTIDiE. 



43. Cotttjs t^nioptertjs Kner. (See Fig. VI.) 



This species occurs abundantly throughout that part of the Territory north of the Aleutian 

 Islands. It is a constant resident of Norton Sound. During the summer months they are ex- 

 tremely abundant. The Eskimo prize the flesh very highly, though they have so many subcuta- 

 neous parasites that I could not induce myself to touch the flesh. 



They attain quite a large size, though the average is about a foot long. The head is so large 

 that the body is quite small when prepared for the table. 



The general form of this species is much more slender than the others. The colors of the fresh 

 fish are much varied, principally shades of gray and brown with large blotches of yellowish on 

 the fins. 



