INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 41 



In 1881 fbe Alaska Commercial Company, tlien lessees of tliese 

 islands, imiiorted 15 reindeer from Siberia and turned them loose on 

 Bering Island; there were 5 bulls and 10 cows. They soon became 

 acclimated, increasing to about 300 by the spring of 1892, and it is 

 expected that the average ratio of increase will bring their numbers to 

 1,000 in about five years. The herd has been carefully protected by the 

 governoi', and it is his Intention eventually to make it a regular source 

 of food supply. 



The natives have small herds of Siberian cattle which find subsistence 

 on the island the year round: the milch cows are stabled during the 

 wintGr, as it not only increases the milk supply but insures their being 

 within reach at milking time. This hardy breed of cattle is small, short- 

 horned, covered with a thick coat of long hair, and has proven self- 

 supporting on the Commander Islands. The officers and crew of the 

 Albatross can attest to the excellence of their flesh as an article of food. 



It seems to me that these sturdy cattle might be advantageously 

 introduced into the Aleutian Archipelago. The climate is not unlike 

 that of Bering Island; there is ample food for them on most of the 

 islands; no wild animals larger than a fox would interfere with them, 

 and in fact there is no apparent reason why they should not thrive and 

 increase rapidly, eventually furnishing the natives a much-needed food 

 supply. The extinction of fur-bearing animals which have heretofore 

 aftbrded them means of purchasing provisions is already making it 

 exceedingly difficult for the hunters to procure the necessaries of life 

 for their families; a few years more and another source of supply must 

 be nuide available to them or they will disappear from the face of the 

 earth. It would involve but little expense for the Government to place 

 a couple of bulls and from four to eight cows ou the principal islands of 

 the archipelago, whether inhabited or not; if near a settlement the 

 cliief could be given charge of them and on uninhabited islands they 

 could take care of themselves. 



Mention has been made of the regulations concerning seal life on the 

 Commander Islands, and the following translation of the sea-otter laws 

 may be of interest, in view of the fact that under them this valuable 

 fur-bearing animal has not only retained its numbers, but is reported to 

 be actually increasing: 



Translation of the sea-otter laws in vo(jne on the Commander Islands, June, 1892. 



TIi(! date on which sea-otter hunting commences each year is Fehruary 1 ; the sea- 

 son hists until June 1, by the Russian mode of computing time. It is unlawful to 

 kill or hunt the sea-otter at any time other than that specified al>ove. 



In the vicinity of and on the sea-otter rookeries spears and nets only shall be 

 used in taking sea otter. 



Notice: Any person is permitted to use rifle or shotgun in pursuit of the sea-otter 

 when 5 or more Russian versts (2^^ English miles) removed from the rookeries; but 

 any person or persons using firearms wlicn hunting sea-otter at a distance loss than 

 5 versts from a rookery is liable to imprisonment and the confiscation of his personal 

 and real property by the Imperial Government. 



