REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 130 



modes of hunting- tlie fur-sea] are soniewliat varied, includiiifi: the si)ear, 

 bow and arrow, net, and chib; but in most cases the gun is now the 

 weapon employed. 



0-J9. Aleuts. — The hunting of fur-seals by the Aleuts inhabiting the 

 eastern part of the Aleutian chain has already been referred to in con- 

 nection with the migrations of the seal. The Aleuts of lliuluik Settle- 

 ment at Unalaska, stated that they generally got twenty or thirty seals 

 iu the early part of the summer and when on tlieir way north. They 

 are engaged in hunting the sea-otter at this season, and take a stray 

 seal if they find it. Such seals are generally got along the southern 

 side of the islands, but the seal-hunting season proper is in the autumn. 

 In hunting seals, these natives employ the same methods as in sea-otter 

 hunting. They use a " bidarka," or light skin-boat, in which they some- 

 times go as far as 25 or 30 miles from land. The spear, launched by 

 means of a throwing-stick, was formerly most employed, but is now 

 being superseded by the gun loaded with buck-shot. They generally 

 shoot from a distance of 40 or 50 yards, and liave plenty of time to 

 paddle up in the bidarka and get the seal before it sinks. The dead 

 seal is taken either with the hand or by means of a gaff carried for the 

 purpose. Grey pups always float when killed, being very fat. An old 

 male, or a female over two years of age, generally sinks when shot, 

 particularly iu the autumn, when seals of these kinds are thin. A 

 female with young may sink, but more slowly. These natives, however, 

 afSrm that they never lose a seal if killed. Mr. Dirks, now agent for 

 the Alaska Commercial Company at Atka Island, states that when 

 previously stationed at Sannakh Islands, he has seen the Aleuts there 

 pursue and overtake fur-seals in their light bidarkas, a feat which would 

 be imj^ossible with any boat. 



530. Nets were formerly employed by the Aleuts of Unalaska and 

 neighbouring islands for the capture of sea-otter, fur-seal, and hair-seal. 

 These are described as having been from 20 to 30 fathoms in length. 

 Such nets were set about the rocks, generally a mile or so from shore. 

 They are still used on the Sannakh Islands, but have elsewhere been 

 practically abandoned iu consequence of the increasing wariness of the 

 sea otter. 



531. The fur-seals killed by the Aleuts afford practically the 

 92 the only flesh meat which they are, under ordinary circumstances, 

 able to obtain, and, as food, are highly prized by them. In 1890, 

 for the first time, the United States Government prohibited the killing 

 of fur-seals by the Aleuts of the Aleutian Islands, but this rule has so 

 far been practically inoperative, in consequence of the want of means 

 for its enforcement. 



532. The Aleutian Islands were originally thickly inhabited, and 

 settlements existed on nearly all those of considerable size. Soon after 

 the liussian discovery, measures were taken to concentrate the Aleuts 

 iu a few islands, where they might be more easily controlled. The 

 decrease in number of inhabitants has since then been continuous, and 

 the number of inhabited villages is now small. In the eastern part of 

 the chain the following places are still inhabited, and to all of them 

 the remarks above made, with vspecial reference to Unalaska, are equally 

 applicable. On Unalaska Island, lliuluik, Makushin, Kashega, Tsher- 

 nofsky ; on Spiskin Island, Burka; on Akutau Island, Akutan; on Akun 

 Island, Akun; and on Umnak Island, Nikolsky. 



533. The most westerly of these villages is that on Umnak Island. 

 The next permanently inhabited place is Nazan Bay, Atka Island, 210 

 miles further west, and beyond this there now exists but one ijermaneut 



