34 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



the Aleutian Islands, and the first colony was established on St. George Island, near 

 Staraya Artel rookery, so called from this fact, the name meaning "old guild" or 

 association. Other villages were afterwards established on this island at Zapadui and 

 at Garden Cove. 



In the course of time men were carried in similar manner to St. Paul Island, the 

 Aleutian settlements at Unalaska and Atka being chiefly drawn upon. The first 

 settlement on St. Paul was established at the foot of the large shallow Mishalke Lake 

 at the northern end of the island. Later settlements were located at Poloviua and at 

 Zapadni of St. Paul. 



CONDITIONS IN RUSSIAN DAYS. 



When, in 1799, the Russian-American Company came into control of the islands, 

 the various settlements on St. Paul were grouped into one at Polovina. Afterwards 

 they were transferred to the present location of the village, in order to be near the 

 most advantageous landing places. In like manner, the villages at Garden Cove, 

 Zapadni, and Staraya Artel were gradually broken up and the inhabitants grouped 

 on the present site of the village of St. George, on the northern face of the island. 



Of the condition of the Aleuts in these early days of Eussian control Mr. Elliott 

 says: 



They were mere slaves, without the slightest redress from any insolence or injuries which their 

 masters might see fit in petulance or brutal orgies to inflict upon them. Here they lived and died, 

 nnnoticed and uncared for, in large barracoons, half underground and dirt roofed, cold and filthy. 



This is probably not an extreme picture of the condition of the natives in Russian 

 times. The Aleuts at the present time look back to these as their halcyon days; but 

 this feeling may exist as the memory of indulgences which they are forbidden now. 

 It is certain that but little thought or care was bestowed upon them by their Russian 

 managers beyond seeing that they did the required work. 



CONDITIONS UNDER AMERICAN CONTROL. 



Under American control matters changed. The Alaska Commercial Company 

 early in the period of its lease erected suitable frame cottages, furnished with the 

 substantial comforts of life, which took the place of the cheerless and insanitary sod 

 houses, or barrabaras. A physician with the necessary medical supplies was stationed 

 on each island to care for the wants of the people. Churches were erected and pre 

 sided over by priests of the Russian-Greek faith. Schools in which the English 

 branches are taught were established. Wood and coal took the place of the filthy 

 seal-blubber and driftwood fuel. The former exclusive diet of seal meat was supple- 

 mented by many of the staples and even luxuries of civilized living. 



THE HANDLING OF THE SEALS. i 



All the work of driving, slaughtering, and skinning the seals, as well as the curing 

 of the skins, is done by the Aleuts under the direction of the agents of the lessees. 

 They are paid by the lessees for this labor at so much per skin. Under the old lease 

 this was 40 cents, a,nd for the 100,000 skins regularly taken this gave a fund of 

 $40,000 for the support of a total population of between 400 and 450, of both sexes 

 and all ages. At the present time the price is 50 cents a skin, but the number 

 of skins taken has greatly decreased. 



