38 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



immediately for Unalaska. We regretted not seeing the settlement of 

 this, the wealthiest community in all tlie Bering Sea islands, but the 

 lack of coal and the prescribed limit of the cruise admonished us of the 

 necessity of promptly starting homeward. 



The following notes concerning the Commander Islands may not be 

 out of place, as, outside of x>arties interested in the sealing industry, 

 they are almost unknown. 



The group consists of two principal islands, Bering and Copper, with 

 numerous outlying rocks and islets. Bering Island, the largest and 

 most imi^ortant, is about 50 miles in lengtli, northwest and southeast, 

 and 17 miles in breadth near its northern end, narrowing to a point at 

 its southeastern extremity. A range of mountains extends through 

 the center, reaching a height of 2,000 feet or more in the southern part, 

 while they are much lower tojs^ard the northern extreme. 



Copper Island is about 30 miles in length northwest and southeast, 

 from 2 to 5 miles in width, and has a central mountain range upwards 

 of 2,000 feet in height. The group belong to the Kamchatka system. 

 Copper Island resting just within the 100-fathom curve from the Asiatic 

 coast. 



Neither island has a secure harbor for vessels of any size, Preobra- 

 ienski furnishing protection to small craft only. The "port," as Nikolski 

 Bay is called, is open to westerly winds, subject to heavy ground swells, 

 and is altogether an undesirable anchorage under the best conditions, 

 and dangerous unless a vessel is prepared to go to sea at any moment. 



The climate is not very severe, although the group lies in 55° north 

 latitude, the benign influence of the Japan stream being evidenced by 

 the absence of intensely cold weather. Heavy snows are not infre- 

 quent, and during the winter months northwest winds frequently bring 

 in great fields of ice from the Asiatic shore. Driftwood from Kam- 

 chatka and Japan is depended upon for domestic purposes, and timber 

 is reported to have drifted ashore which grows only on the American 

 continent. Nutritious grasses grow over a large portion of Bering 

 Island, and the natives cultivate some of the more hardy vegetables. 

 Copper Island, on the contrary, has little level or arable land. 



The population of Bering Island on Jul}' 1, 1892, was 351, 336 natives 

 and 18 whites, the latter being members of the families of the governor 

 and agent of the lessees. 



Copper Island has a population of 300 natives and 2 Avhites, the agent 

 of the lessees and the assistant to the governor. 



The entire population of Bering Island is concentrated at Nikolski, 

 and of Copper at Preobrajenski. They all came originally from the 

 Aleutian Islands. They are housed in comfortable wooden cottages as 

 a general rule, although a few still live in primitive " barabaras." The 

 Greek church is the most prominent feature of the village. 



Nikolski is admirably situated on a narrow strip of level land on the 

 south and east shores of the bay of that name. Bluffs about 100 feet 



