58 



THE JEANNETTE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



in December, and the survivors, thanks to the invincible en- 

 ergy and sanguine disposition of Steller, the physician of the 

 expedition, escaped to Kamchatka, the next summer, in a 

 little ship which they built from the wreck of the St. Paul. 

 Bering Island lies to the northeast of Avatcha Bay, and, 

 together with Copper Island and some small islands and 

 rocks lying round about, forms a peculiar group of islands, 

 separated from the Aleutian Islands proper, named, after the 

 rank of the great seafarer who perished there, Commander's 

 Islands. Though belonging to Russia, the American Alaska 



SLAUGHTER OF SEA-BEARS. 



Company has acquired the right of hunting there, and main- 

 tains on the main islands two commercial stations, which 

 supply the inhabitants, several hundred in number, with 

 provisions and supplies ; the company buying of them in ex- 

 change, furs principally the skin of an eared-seal (the sea- 

 cat or sea-bear), of which from 20,000 to 50,000 are killed 

 annually in this region. Some Russian officials are also set- 

 tled on the island, to guard the rights of Russia, and pre- 

 serve order. 



Leaving Petropavlovsk, July 24th, the vessels in the har- 



