FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 121 



devoted indeed have I found tlie native mind to this haphazard sport 

 that frequently I woukl detect groups of them standing out in pelting 

 gales of wind and rain "shying" their silver coin at the little dirt-driven 

 pegs. A few of them, men and wojnen, play cards with much skill and 

 intelligence. 



The attachment which the natives have for their respective islands 

 was well showi^ to me in 1S74. Then a number of St. George people 

 were taken over to St. Paul temporarily to do the killing incidental to 

 a reduction of the quota of 25,000 for their island and a corresponding 

 increase at St. Paul. They became homesick immediately : and, were 

 never tired of informing the St. Paul natives that St. George was afar 

 handsomer and more enjoyable island to live upon; that walking over 

 the long sand beaches of "Pavel" made their legs grievously weary; 

 and that the whole effect of this change of resideiice was "ochen 

 scootchnie." Naturally the ire of the St. Paul people rose at once, and 

 they retorted in kind, indicating the rocky surface of St. George and 

 its great inferiority as a seal island. I was surprised at the genuine 

 feeling on both sides, because, as far as I could judge from a residence 

 on each island, it was a clear case of tweedle-dee and tweedledum 

 betW' een them as to opportunities and climate necessary for a pleasurable 

 existence. The natives themselves are of one and common stock, 

 though the number of Oieoles on St. George is relatively much larger 

 than on St. Paul; consequently the tone of the St. George settlement 

 is rather more sprightly and vivacious. 



This question is often asked. How do these people employ themselves 

 during the h)ng nine months of every year after the close of the sealing 

 season and until it begins again, when they have little or absolutely 

 nothing to do? It may be answered that they simply vegetate: or, in 

 other woTtls, are entirely idle, mentally and jdiysically, during most of 

 this i^eriod. But to their credit let it be said that mischief does not 

 employ their idle hands. They are passive killers of time, drinking tea 

 and sleeping, with a iew disagreeable exceptions, such as the gamblers. 

 There are a half dozen of these characters at St. Paul, and perhaps as 

 many at St. (George, who pass whole nights at their sittings, even during 

 the sealing season, playing games of cards taught by Russians and 

 peisons who have been on the island since the transfer of the territory. 

 But the nuijority of the men, women, ami children, not being com- 

 pelled to exert themselves to obtain any of the chief or even the least 

 of the necessaries of life, such as tea and hard bread, sleep the greater 

 portion of the time, when not busy in eating and in the daily observances 

 of the routine belonging to the Greek Catholic Church. The teachings, 

 pomj), and circumstance of the religious observances of this faith alone 

 preserve these people from absolute stagnation. In obedience to its 

 teachings, they gladly attend church very regularly. They also make 

 and receive calls on their saints' days, and these days are very numer- 

 ous. I think some IGO of the whole year's calendar must be given up 

 to the ceremonies attendant upon the celebration of some holy birth or 

 death. 



In early times the same disgraceful beer-drinking orgies which pre- 

 vailed to so great an extent and still cause so much misery and confu- 

 sion, seen elsewhere in the Territory, prevailed hei-e: and, I remend)er 

 very well the ditticulty whicli I had in initiating the first steps taken 

 by the Treasury Department, to suppress this abominable nuisance. 

 I)uring the last fourteen or fifteen years, it gives me pleasure to say, 

 since the new order of things was inaugurated, the several agents of the 

 De])artm<'nt have faithfully executed the law. 



The natives add to these entertainments of their saints' days and birth 



