THE RUSSIAN FUR-SEAL ISLANDS. 33 



enougl). The liaiig-ear dogs arc fiirtliennorc distiuguislieil by having the reguhir dog 

 bark, while the Kainehatkau dogs eaii only howl. 



The recent introduction of reindeer into Bering Island seems to have been a 

 success. Hutchinson, Kohl, I'hilippeus & Co., in 1SS2, by the efforts of Dr. B. 

 J)ybowski, secured 4 male and 11 female reindeer in Kamchatka, which were safely 

 landed on Ilering Island 'Inly 15. During the following winter 2 females were killed 

 by natives, but the herd increased by the birth of G or 7 calves. The reindeer took 

 up pastures in the southern, mountainous part of tlie islaiul, and are said to have 

 multiplied rapidly. I did not see them in l.S!)5, but 1 heard estiiiuxtes of their number 

 varying between 0(10 and 1,000 deer. A careful selection of bucks for killing woidd 

 add to the fresh meat supply, and at the same time ])romote the rapid increase of 

 the herd. 



It is not iin|)robable that the reindeer iniglit do well on Copper Island, in spite of 

 the smaller size of the island, but I am inclined to the belief that the introduction of 

 a Huitahle, hardy race of (joais would be a better investment. 



A few hens and tame ducks are kei)t in the villages on both islands. 



A glance at the meteorological tables, pages 13-17, will show that any agricul- 

 ture, in the i)roi)er sense of the word, is out of the question. On Bering Island there is 

 a half-hearted, half-successful attempt at raising a few vegetables. Formerly most of 

 the native families had " gardens" at Staraya Gavan, where turnips and ])otatoes were 

 raised with varying success. The place was entirely too far from the main village, 

 however, and new gardens have been started at Fedoskia, on the west coast, a few 

 miles south of Nikolski. In 1S95 there was oidy one man who still Lad a vegetable 

 patch at Staraya Gavan. I believe that this industry could be made more successful 

 if the natives were taught proper methods. One common error now committed is that 

 all the vegetables are planted entirely too close together. It would also be necessary 

 to look out for hardy plant seeds and seed potatoes raised in a northern climate. 



The fuel used by the natives consists of coal and birch wood, the latter brought 

 from Kamchatka and sold by the company, and of driftwood collected by the natives 

 along the beaches. The latter article is very uncertain and is now often very scarce, 

 though formerly abundant enough. Coal, on account of the long transportation, is 

 expensive, and, like the birch wood, requires cash to purchase it. A couple of ship- 

 loads of the latter are required every year, and while the supply in Kamchatka is 

 almost limitless at the present time, yet it is not so accessible now at places where 

 there are people to cut it and where it can be loaded into a vessel. With the 

 decreasing number of seals affecting the revenues both of the natives and of the 

 conqiany, the day does not seem distant when the former will be unable to buy, while 

 the latter may find it unprofitable to have a steamer constantly plying between the 

 islands and Kamchatka. Knowing, moreover, that the fuel question was a grave one 

 on the other Aleutian Islands and that peat bogs may be expected to be found on 

 many of the latter, as they occur on Bering Island, I undertook, in 1883, to investigate 

 them and to bring samples of peat home for analysis. East of Nikolski, behind the 

 shelteriTig hills and sand-dunes, a large swamp extends back to the foot of the three 

 Saranna Baidar Mountains, covering several square miles. In suitable localities large 

 beds of peat of excellent quality are found. On June 15, 1883, 1 had a couple of men 

 cut about 350 pieces of peat from near the surfiice. The pieces, averaging about 2 

 by 1() by 8 inches, were spread out on a hillside to drain, and ten days later they 



F. C. B. 1896—3 



