22 ALASKA FUR-SEAL ROOKERIES, 1910. 



It is highly desirable that a museum be installed on the islands, 

 containing, so far as is practicable, specimens of all the animals and 

 plants. And equally desirable is a library, comprising all works that 

 in any way are concerned with the biology of the country. 



Finally, one word relating to the natives. Considering their ante- 

 cedents, and especially their former mode of life and lack of advan- 

 tages, these people have made truly remarkable strides, and yet there 

 is obviously room for improvement. By nature conservative, they 

 are somewhat nonplastic, but at heart they are anxious to better their 

 condition, and they do respond with comparative readiness to all 

 uplifting influences. In matters relating to personal hygiene there is 

 much to be desired, and, improved, their span of life will doubtless 

 be lengthened to a very noticeable degree. And, again, it is highly 

 desirable that during the long and confining winter both the men and 

 women have something to occupy their time — something profitable 

 and yet agreeable, and if possible with a resulting value in some 

 larger community. It is difficult to decide what is best. Numerous 

 plans have suggested themselves, but none of them are free from cer- 

 tain inherent difficulties, and I earnestly hope that those more com- 

 petent may give the subject their serious, consideration, for certainly 

 this species of missionary work carries a rich reward. 



In addition to the questions here outlined are others of deep import. 

 Years ago Darwin called attention to the remarkable similarity of 

 the animals on the Galapagos Islands to those on the western 

 slope of South America, and on the basis of this likeness formulated 

 his theory of evolution. Doubtless on the Pribilof Islands the same 

 conditions exist when compared with others of the mainland. Exten- 

 sive breeding experiments are being carried on in several sections of 

 our country, but it is by no means certain that new species are cre- 

 ated in the period measured by a man's life or even in a hundred 

 years. On the islands, however, in a normal habitat, evolutionary 

 agencies have doubtless made their influence felt, even though the 

 islands are geologically young. It seems therefore wise to make 

 extensive collections of the island fauna and flora, to study these 

 critically, and, finally, to compare them with related species on the 

 mainland. These results might be very interesting when considered 

 in connection with the newly formed island of Bogoslof. On this 

 body of land, forced above the sea within the memory of man, we 

 already find plants thriving, and there are doubtless animals on the 

 land or along the shore. Even if there are no visible differences 

 between organisms on this island and those of the Aleutian chain, 

 we may gain some insight into the means whereby their transporta- 

 tion has been accomplished, and if collections and careful notes 

 are kept in the near future the evolutionary side of the subjects may 

 be studied sometime in the years to come. 



