FUR SEALS AND OTHER LIFE, PRIBILOF ISLANDS, I914. 139 



causing dissatisfaction to those possessed of such abilities and removing in a great degree 

 the incentive which those less favored should have for striving to increase their earning 

 capacity. 



Since 191 2 less money has been available for cash payments for miscellaneous 

 labor than was contemplated. The necessities of life have been provided the natives, 

 but with the cessation of sealing on a commercial scale they have been receiving their 

 support in return for a minimum of labor. As before stated, the custom of receiving 

 this support in return for the work of sealing has become so fixed in their minds that it 

 is very difficult to make them understand that, in the absence of this work, other labor 

 should be required of them. The fact that miscellaneous work has not always been re- 

 warded, owing to lack of funds, has created much dissatisfaction, some of which is 



natural and justified. 



POPULATION. 



The native populations of the islands of St. Paul and of St. George on June 30, 

 1914, were 192 and 116, respectively. During the preceding year on St. Paul there 

 were 9 births, i arrival, and 8 deaths, 3 departures and i dropped by marriage, 

 making a reduction of two in the population. During the same period on St. George 

 there were 9 births and 3 deaths, an increase of 6. Of the 192 natives on St. Paul, 94 

 were males and 98 females; and of the n6 on St. George, 58 were males and 58 females. 

 Although the proportions of sexes are favorable for normal marriages, the regulations 

 of the church forbid marriage within such distant degrees of relationship that in restricted 

 communities such as these recruiting from outside bodies must often be resorted to. 

 Thus the population of Unalaska has frequently been drawn upon. 



In addition to the native population, there were on June 30, 1914, on St. Paul 

 Island, 10 white residents, i Chinese (cook) and 6 white visitors, and on St. George, 

 5 white residents and i Chinese (cook). 



PRACTICAL ABILITY OF NATIVES. 



It has become somewhat usual to regard the native inhabitants of the Pribilof 

 Islands as of little intelligence and practical ability, but this is by no means the 

 case. It is true that they have failed to develop along many lines as rapidly as 

 has been hoped, but to those who understand the conditions this is not surprising. 

 That they do not understand the reasons for the various changes in methods of adminis- 

 tration is only natural since some of these changes have affected them adversely, and the 

 complex conditions which have given rise to them are to these isolated beings an abso- 

 lutely unknown quantity. It is true that they are somewhat childish in their methods of 

 reasoning, but this is always true of a semicivilized people having but a limited out- 

 look. One of the most effective means of helping them to broaden their viewpoint will 

 be the more widespreiad use of the English language. This matter is discussed elsewhere. 



Regarding their practical ability along mechanical lines there is much to be said 

 in their favor. There is on the islands a good assortment of tools for working both 

 wood and iron, and many of the natives are proficient in their use. Under intelligent 

 supervision they can do practically any work necessary for the upkeep and enlargement 

 of the station. The steam and gasoline launches are run by natives. The large amount 

 of work done under the direction of James Judge in the autumn of 1911 is a good illus- 



