96 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OP ALASKA. 



eluding all the Aleutian Islands. The localities of greatest abundance are Attu, Atkha, Kiska, 

 Unalashka, Saunakh and Unga. 



71. Hexagrammus ORDiNATUs'(Cope) Beau. 



This species was not obtained at Saint Michael's by me. It is extremely abundant among the 

 Aleutian Islands. It has the same habits as the other species, and is known by the same name 

 among the people of that region. 



72. Hexagrammus superciliosus (Pall.) Jord. and Gilb. 



This species does not differ in life habits from the other two. It is abundant throughout the 

 Aleutian Islands. During the months of August, September, and part of October, the old men of 

 the Attu take their wives and repair to some favorite haunt of these fish and while there they 

 catch a supply, which is dried for winter use. The boys and girls go at low tides along the beach 

 and with their hands search among the sea-weeds and rock crevices for these and other fish which 

 are to be used as food. This species of fish is quite variable in coloration. The -ground-color is 

 black, varying to light brown, with blotches on the sides and abdomen of deep vermilion, shading 

 to light umber. 



This species is rarely over sixteen inches in length. 



75. Pleurogrammus monopterygius (Pall.) Grill. 



When I arrived at Unalashka in 1878 I heard much talk about the "Mackerel." During the 

 summer of that year I had an opportunity of conversing with those who frequented the western 

 islands of the Chain where these fish were said to abound. Several persons referred to these fish 

 as " Spanish Mackerel," others called them " Horse Mackerel" and "Alaskan Mackerel," and under 

 several scientific names. They were served at the table on several occasions, and all who ate of 

 them highly praised their good qualities and spoke of their great resemblance in taste to the 

 Atlantic Mackerel. It was not until in May, 1879, that I had an opportunity of visiting the locality 

 where they were said to be abundant. 



During the summer of 1879 I was at Atkha Island, and soon made inquiry concerning the 

 fish. I was told that they make their appearance in the narrow pass between the islands of Atkha 

 and Amlia about the 1st of June; and, that the fish invariably come from the Pacific Ocean, which 

 here mingles its waters with that of Bering Sea. 



The first arrivals of fish are the males of largest size and beauty of color. They arrive a few 

 days before and await the arrival of the females and immature males. 



By the 18th of June the fish have come in countless thousands. They arrange themselves 

 with their heads toward the tide currents which rush violently through the pass. The flood tide 

 sets in from the Pacific, while the ebb flows toward the Pacific, or, in other words, a southerly 

 directed current for the ebb and a northerly directed current for the flood tide. The pass is very 

 rocky, with numerous sunken rocks in the middle and on the eastern side. The western side of 

 the pass has the deepest water and is three fathoms deep in the channel. On the north side of 

 the pass numerous ledges of rocks, hidden rocks, kelp patches, and small islets of but few feet 

 above the water's edge are to be found. It would be very difficult navigation for a vessel of over 

 twenty ton's to go through there with safety. The natives of the present day cross pretty well 

 to the north side of the pass until they get under Amlia Island and then run near the shore of 

 Amlia with their small bidari or open boats. 



Among the sea weeds or kelp patches on a cloudy day of clear lower atmosphere the. fish may 

 be seen in the following order : 



The young males and immature females form a stratum of three or four fish deep and several 

 feet wide, beneath these a second stratum of older males and females, whose roe is not yet de- 

 veloped, and will later, in the spawning season, take their place with those in the third stratum, 

 which is composed of vigorous males and females. The latter are the most abundant. The 

 female deposits her eggs on the kelp, though much of it must doubtless be lost by the swift cur- 

 rents washing it off. These males and females remain in this place until the spawning season is 

 over, generally by the 20th of July. After which they gradually disperse and quickly find their 



