ALASKA INDUSTRIE!^. 73 



A census taken on January 1 shows the whole number of native pop- 

 ulation on the island to be ii22, divided as follows: 



Whole number. 



Males. 



103 



8 



Females. 

 119 



17 



28 



9 



Children under 5 years 



Between 5 and 15 ' 17 



Births during the year 5 



Infants less than 1 year old living January 1, 1875 3 | 6 



Deaths during the year | 3 7 



These people are divided into 64 families living in 58 houses, 44 of 

 them built of wood and all above ground, and 14 are turf huts built 

 partially in the ground. The past year 21 cottages have been built and 

 the church advanced as far as the material on the island permitted. 

 This is the first year since I have had charge of the island in which the 

 births have exceeded the deaths, and there is a marked improvement 

 in the health of the population, partly due to the mild weather, but more 

 to the advantages of improved houses and the facilities thus furnished 

 for cleanliness, ventilation, and other comforts. The supplies have been 

 abundant and the prices reasonable, except the article of coal. Had 

 the winter proved severe there would have been some suffering. With 

 the new houses this becomes one of the greatest necessities, and arrange- 

 ments are now made to secure the landing of an ample sujjply for the 

 present year. The 40 tons provided for distribution gratis by the lease 

 was stored until January, when it was distributed proportionally to 

 each family weekly, and the supply lasted until tlie end of March. 



The school was commenced in the first week of October and kept 

 continuously, except public and church holidays. The first month a 

 very general attendance was secured, but with the commencement of 

 the church holidays the attendance fell off, and it was difficult, without 

 actual compulsion, to secure so great an attendance as was desirable. 

 Mrs. C. P. Fish labored diligently and perseveringly to accomplish her 

 task, and a few who have become attached to her have made good 

 progress in reading, writing, and simple arithmetic. The strong prej- 

 udice that exists among some of the more bigoted against their chil- 

 dren learning English, lest it should weaken their attachment to the 

 Russian Church, prevents a cordial action on the part of many. 



In regard to the suppression of the making of beer, or quas, from fer- 

 menting sugar and fiour together, some progress has been made, and 

 there has been less drunkenness than in any former year. 



During the month of September berries were very plentiful. With 

 their juice fermented with sugar the evil became so serious that I found 

 it necessary to restrict the sale of sugar to 4 ounces per week for each 

 person, and this sufficed to check the evil. This regulation was main- 

 tained until the berrying season had passed, when, on the promise of 

 better behavior, the former ration was restored of one-half pound 

 weekly to each j)erson. But with this allowance some save theirs until 

 sufficient is accumulated with which to brew a quantity of quas, and 

 then the consequence is they drink it secretly until drunk and make a 

 disturbance, when I find and destroy it. 



The civil government of the natives has been administered by their 

 own chiefs, or tyones, as they are called. There are three of these who 

 exercise both the judicial and executive functions, and I have always 

 made it a point not to interpose my authority in their private affairs 



