300 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



skins, I examined carefully the books and papers of tlie company, both 

 at its office in San Francisco and upon the island; also the record kept 

 by the Government agents, and talked privately with the most intelli- 

 gent of the natives, but ^yas unable to discover that there has been any 

 fiaud practiced toward the Government, or want of compliance with 

 the terms of the lease. 



The natives keep ajealous watch upon the seals, being fully impressed 

 with the fact that their welfare depends upon the safety of the fisheries, 

 and are well informed in regard to all laws and contracts which have 

 been made by the Government concerning them. 



THE SEA OTTER. 



During the Russian occupation of Alaska Territory the trade of sea 

 otter skins was of greater value and importance than any other branch 

 of the fur trade, both from the high prices obtained for them, and also 

 from the numbers which were taken. They were sent to China, where 

 they were advantageously exchanged for tea and cloth. One sea otter 

 skin brought as much as 10 seal skins, and from 10 to 20 times as much 

 as any other skins found in Alaska. Fur seals, beavers, and foxes 

 were the only animals taken in greater numbers. The demand for this 

 fur and the improvident manner of taking the animals have greatly 

 diminished their numbers, though the value of the skins is perhaps 

 even greater than formerly. 



In early times sea otters were found along the outer seacoast from 

 California to the westernmost of the Aleutii;n Islands, also about the 

 Prybilof group, and Cook mentions having seen a few of them at St. 

 Matthew Island. It does not appear that they have ever been fouud 

 on the coast of the mainland north of the Alaskan peninsula. They 

 were more abundant along the coast of the Aleutian Islands and along 

 the coast as far as Sitka. South of that point they were less numerous, 

 and were taken mostly from Queen Charlottes Islands, Greys Harbor, 

 firth north of the Columbia Kiver, and the coast of California in the 

 viciuity of Russian River. For more than a century they have been 

 hunted almost incessantly, and killed without regard to age or sex, 

 wherever found, yet they still frequent some of their favorite haunts, 

 though in comparatively limited numbers. At the present time a few 

 of them are killed at Greys Harbor by white hunters and Indians, and 

 along the coast to the northward as far as Cooks Inlet by the Indians, 

 but they are very scarce. 



The Aleutian Islands and those south of the Alaska peninsula, 

 including Kodiac, are the only places where any considerable numbers 

 are found. The yearly catch averages al)out 3,500, of which from 400 

 to 500 are from Kodiac and that vicinity and the remainder from the 

 islands to the westward of these. About one-twentieth are i^rime skins, 

 one-sixth pups less than one year old, and the rest middling and ordi- 

 nary. The finest are taken near Otter Island, the most westerly of the 

 Aleutians, and Kodiac; the greater number about Leauak Island and 

 the "Chenabour Rocks." 



The full-grown animal is from 3.J to 4 feet long, exclusive of the tail 

 (which is from a foot to 14 inches long), and is in the shape of its body 

 something like a beaver; the head is rather small and the nose pointed, 

 with whiskers on each side like the sea lion and seal, but shorter and 

 fewer in number. Their legs, four in number, are short and small, and 

 the toes are connected by a membrane. The skin is very loose upon 

 the body J so much so that by seizing it about the middle of the back 



