CII REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



residence of the governor. Col. K. A. Grebnitzky, whohad been advised 

 by his government of the mission of the ship, and who did everything 

 in his power to render it successful. The experienced native hunters 

 on these islands are convinced that the seals which resort to the 

 Pribilof and Commander islands do not mingle, and that those on the 

 western side spend the winter along the Kurile Islands of Japan. 

 The authorities also stated that the fur seals were fast decreasing on 

 the rookeries of the Commander Islands, which fact they attribute to 

 the indiscriminate slaughter of all ages and sexes by the pelagic 

 sealers. Specimens were obtained from one of the rookeries on Bering 

 Island for comparison with others from the eastern herds. Tlie natural- 

 ists secured from one of the natives a very nearly perfect skeleton of 

 the extinct Arctic sea cow {Rhytina stelleri), which is now in possession 

 of the U. S. J^"ational Museum in Washington. A partial survey of 

 Nikolski Bay was likewise nmde by the Albatross. The ship proceeded 

 on June 3 to Copper Island, where observations were made on Polatka 

 rookery, and some additional seal specimens were obtained. 



The population of the Commander Islands at the time of the visit of 

 the Albatross was 650, 20 being whites and the remainder natives. 

 The management of affairs here is excellent and constant employment 

 is given to the inhabitants, all of the able-bodied men and larger boys 

 being occupied on the rookeries during the sealing season and in hunt- 

 ing the blue fox in the winter. Protection for the rookei'ies is provided 

 in the following manner : 



A small guard is maintained for watching- over the rookeries. The privates are 

 selected from the native youths between the ages of 15 and 21; they serve three 

 years without further compensation than their share of the family fnnd. The non- 

 commissioned officers are Russians. While the guards are stationed at the rookeries 

 they occupy barabaras, usually situated on the bluffs overlooking the beaches, and 

 are not allowed to approach a rookery ex(^ept to repel poachers. It is their first 

 duty to give the alarm in case boats are seen approaching and warn them off. If the 

 warning is not heeded, they are to drive the seals into the water, and if the poachers 

 still persist in landing or do not depart, they are to fire upon them, using sufficient 

 force to drive them away. 



The regulations enforced on the seal rookeries of the Commander 

 Islands are more stringent than those relating to the Pribilof group, 

 and the same is also true with respect to sea-otter hunting as compared 

 with the waters within the jurisdiction of the United States. There is 

 a close season for sea otters extending from June 1 to February 1 of 

 each year (according to the Russian calendar), and during the open 

 season the number which may be taken is prescribed. On and about 

 the sea-otter rookeries only spears and nets are allowed to be used, 

 firearms being permitted only at distances of 5 or more versts from the 

 rookeries. Females and yearling puj)S caught in the nets must be set 

 free. All persons are forbidden to go on or near the sea-otter rookeries 

 during the breeding season; neither shall they make a camp on or near 

 arookery during the same period, nor build a fire, or be the cause of 

 any kind of smoke. 



