THE FUR-SEAL ISLANDS OF ALASKA. 147 



or by the year, but in general for each thing taken by them or standing or put to their credit by the company; for 

 instance, especially the skins of animals, the teeth of walrus, barrels of oil, etc. These sums, whatever they might 

 be, were placed by the company to their credit, for all general hunting and working was established or fixed for the 

 whole year fairly. The Aleuts, in general, received no specific wages, though they were not all alike or equal, there 

 being usually three or four classes. 



In these classes, to the last or least, the sick and old workmen were counted, although they were only 

 burdens, and therefore they received the smaller shares, about 150 rubles, and the other and better classes received 

 from 220 to 250 rubles a year. Those who were zealous were rewarded by the company with 50 to 100 rubles. The 

 wives of the Aleuts, who worked only at the seal-hunting, received from 25 to 35 rubles.* 



Animals on the Pkibylov islands. — Foxes and mice. Sometimes the ice brings bears and red foxes. 

 The bears were never allowed to live, since they could not be made useful ; and also the red foxes, as they would 

 only spoil the breed already existing, with regard to color of the fur. 



Fur-seals, sea-lions, hair-seals, and a few walrus are the only animals that may be said to belong to the Pribylov 

 islands. 



Birds. — The guillemots (or arries); gulls; puffins; crested, horned, and white-breasted auks; snow-finches; 

 geese (two kinds); a few kinds of Tringa ; sea-ducks, black and gray. Most of these birds come here to lay, and 

 with them jiigers, hawks, owls, and "chikees" (big Larus glaucus), and the albatross is frequently to be seen 

 around the beaches. 



Sea-otters became scarce generally in 1811, and in the next thirty years extinct. 



The fur-seals ("sea-cats") astonish us by their great numbers, as they gradually come up on to their breeding- 

 places, notwithstanding harsh and foolish treatment of them, continued almost half a century (until 1824), without 

 mercy. 



Russian waste and slaughter.— In the first years, on St. Paul island, from 50,000 to 60,000 were taken 

 annually, and on St. George from 40,000 to 50,000 every year. Such horrible killing was neither necessary nor 

 demanded. The skins were frequently taken without any list or count. In 1803, 800,000 seal-skins had 

 accumulated, and it was impossible to make advantageous sale of so many skins ; for in this great number so 

 many were spoiled that it became necessary to cut or throw into the sea 700,000 pelts. If G. Resanov (our minister 

 to Japan) had not given this his attention, and put himself between the animals and this foolish management of 

 them, it appears plainly to me that these creatures would have long ago changed for the worse. 



No records prior to 1817: Early driving. — Of the number of skins taken up to 1817, 1 have no knowledge 

 to rely upon, but from that time and up to the present writing, I have true and reliable accounts, which I put in the 

 appendix to this volume. From these lists it will be seen that still in 1820, on both islands, there were killed more 

 than 50,000 seals, viz, on St. Paul, 39,700 ; and on St. George, 10,250. There were eye-witnesses to the reason for 

 this diminution of tbe seals, and it is only wonderful, beside, that they are still existing, as they have been treated 

 almost without mercy so many ,years. The cows produce only one pup each, every year. They have known deadly 

 enemies, and also are still exposed to many foes unknown. From this killing of the seals they steadily grew less, 

 except on one occasion, which was on St. George island, where an opportunity was given suddenly to kill a large 

 number; but the circumstances do not seem to be important. On one occasion a drive was made of 15,000 male and 

 female seals, but the night was dark, and it was not practicable to separate the cows from the males, and they were, 

 therefore, allowed to stand over until daylight should come. The men put in charge of the herding of the drove were 

 careless, and the seals took advantage of this negligence, and made an attempt to escape by throwing themselves 

 from the bluffs over the beach near by into the sea ; but, as this bluff was steep, high, rough, and slippery, they 

 fell over and were all injured. Now, for the first time, great numbers of seals were missed, and why, it was not 

 significant or apparent ; but in the following year, instead of the appearance and catch of 40,000 or 50,000, less 

 than 30,000 were killed and taken, and then, too, the numbers of seals were known to diminish, and in the same 

 way, only greater, on the other island. For instance, in the first years, on the island of St. George, the seals were 

 only five or six times less than on St. Paul, but in 1817 they were only less than one-fourth; but in 1820 they 

 were almost one-sixth again. 



The diminution of seals there (St. Paul) and on the other island, from 1817 to 1835, was very gradual and 

 visible every year, but not always equal. 



The killing of seals in 1834, instead of being 80,000 or 60,000, was only 15,751 from both islands (St. Paul, 

 12,700; St, George, 3,051). 



Sum total of fur seals taken. — In the first thirty years (according to Veniaminov's best understanding), 



* Compare this annual payment of the Russians with the cash settlement made every year by the Alaska Commercial Company, the 

 present lessee of these islands, as indicated by a prior chapter on the condition of the business there. — H. W. E. 



