THE RUSSIAN FUR-SEAL ISLANDS. 29 



ment, but ordinarily deportation from one island to the other, extra service at the 

 South Itookery, or tines, are resorted to. The kossaks have often to arrest disturbers 

 ot' the i)eace, resulting from the general spree on the great holidays, or |*»y(.sm(7i:s; but a 

 night's lodging in the lock up sobers them up, and neither island lias thus far needed a 

 jail. As an illustration of the patriarchal ways of justice in vogue not many years ago 

 the following literal abstract from the station log of Bering Island is both instructive 

 and amusing: 



Dkcembbr 3, 1877. — A married woman was on trial for stealing a petticoat from a clothes-line. 

 As she would not confess, theJuilRes (nati%'es) took two pieces of paper, on one of which was written 

 "1 have stolen," and on the other "I did not"; and it happened that she drew tlio one with the 

 inscription "I have stolen." Slie was sentenced to wash the tluor in the church. 



The moral decline of the people I attribute largely to the recent introduction of 

 intoxicating liquors. In 1882 it was forbiddeTi the natives both to import spirits and 

 to brew "beer" of sugar. As a result they were tractable and contented, except as 

 to this particular point. I was then told a story, the literal truth of which I can not 

 guarantee, however, but it is to the point: A '-revisor" arrived at the island to Inquire 

 if the natives were treated well, and he called a meeting to receive any complaints 

 that they might have to make. The chief, after consulting with the other men, linally 

 declared that they had absolutely nothing to complain of except the discrimination 

 made against them, among all tlie childreu of the tsar, that they were not allowed to 

 get drunk on the great church and state holidays, and that they were not conscious of 

 any conduct which would merit such an unusual and severe punishment. 



Whether this petition had any weight, or whether the American Company, which 

 had been instrumental in establishing tlie prohibition, was losing its influence, 1 don't 

 know ; certain it is that at my second visit to the islands the natives were allowed 

 to import and consume many hundred dollars' worth of alcohol, tlie result being the 

 usual one. 



Until within the last few years the condition of these natives has been the enviable 

 one of being the richest and most prosperous community in Bering Sea, or along any of 

 its shores. Not only the increase in the number of seal skins taken, and later on tlie 

 increased payment for the skins when the number began to fall off, contributed to 

 this end, but also the flourishing condition of the seaotter and blue-fox hunt, due to 

 the enforcement of wise regulations for the jirotection and chase of these animals. 



The sea-otter long ago became extinct on Beiing Island, but on Copper Island it 

 is still common. The "rookeries" or breeding-jilaces of this valuable animal, wliich 

 furnislu's the costliest of all furs,' are guarded and protected with Jealous care. The 

 animal, which is now nearing its extermination on all the American islands and shores, 

 where it is not protected at all, is actually increasing on Copiier Island, ami yields, 

 besides a handsome return to the Government, suflScient income to keep the natives 

 in coin]>arative afduence, as this island can easily produce 200 skins a year. The 

 sea-otter is there hunted by the natives in common, but the individual hunter secures 

 the price for the animal he catches. Only nets are allowed in their capture. The 

 Government buys all the skins from the natives at a certain fixed rate, 140 rubles for 

 the first quality, 75 rubles for the second, and disjjoses of them to the company as per 

 contract. 



' A single firBt-class sea-otter skin brought at auction in London, spring of 1895, $1,100. 



