COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1905. 



31 



upper courses of the rivers emptying into the Arctic Ocean. It is 

 quite generally distributed over the interior of the Territory and is also 

 found on the Kadiak Archipelago. The land otters found upon Sit- 

 kalidak, one of the Kadiak group, are famous for their very dark fur. 

 A steel trap is generally used in capturing the animal. According to 

 Russian records 244,538 of these skins were bought by the traders 

 from 1745 to 1867, the date of American annexation. Since then the 

 supply has remained fairly constant. 



Sea otter. — When Bering and his party first explored the Aleutian 

 Islands in 1760-1765 they found the sea otters exceedingly numerous 

 all along the Aleutian chain . They are now almost unknown around 

 a greater part of it, their principal resort at present being among the 

 reefs and outlying islets surrounding Sannak Island, near the eastern 

 end and on the Pacific side of the chain. The Aleutian hunters are 

 brought to this point in vessels belonging to the trading companies 

 and to private individuals, and landed with their bidarkas or skin 

 canoes and hunting equipment. Here they remain for months, scour- 

 ing the sea in all directions or lying upon rocky points and islets await- 

 ing the approach of an otter within long rifle shot. The fur of this 

 animal is the most valuable in the world. Even as far back as 1880 

 from $80 to $100 in cash were paid by the traders to the Aleuts for 

 particularly fine skins. At the London sales in 1888 the average 

 price received for these skins was £21 10s.; in 1889, £33; and in 1891, 

 £57. A single skin, however, has sold for as high as $1,400, and in 

 1905 a trader at Nome valued one skin which he had secure 1 at $2,000. 

 During the Russian occupation (from 1745 to 1867) 260,790 sea otter 

 skins are reported as having been shipped from Alaska. 



The following table shows the number and value of the aquatic furs, 

 other than seal, obtained in Alaska and shipped from the district 

 from 1868 to 1905, both inclusive: 



a The values given, except in 1905, are the prices realised in London. 



Fur seal. — It would be superfluous to go into any detail in regard 

 to the general subject of the fur seal, as the existing literature devoted 

 to this animal would constitute a large library in itself. The only 

 breeding grounds are on the islands of St. Paul and St. George in Ber- 

 ing Sea. From about 1745 until the district of Alaska was annexed 



