FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 67 



cbiklreu bad to have an English school. The matter was talked over 

 and finally the men who were opposed — at that time they had no regular 

 priest — and these old men talke<l the matter over, ai)d we made this 

 compromise with them, that the children shoidd go to the English 

 school from 9 to 12 o'clock, and at 1 o'clock they should have the use of 

 the buildiug and fuel in order to teach them Russian until the next 

 morning at 9 if they wished. In tliat way we removed all sense of 

 newness and suspicion from the children and had a very good school 

 from that time out. 



Q. They ended by learning both languages'? — A. It will end by the 

 Eussian giviug place to English and I think there have been some steps 

 taken by the church there to have the church services printed in English 

 and Aleut. 



Q. Is the Aleutian language a written language? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Do the natives generally speak Aleutian as well as Russian ? — A. 

 Generally both. In 18G9, when I went there, Aleut was the most com- 

 mon language and it will never be relinquished. The Russian was used 

 in trade. At i)resent every native on the island speaks that language 

 and very little Russian. 



Q. What is the sentiment of that people towards the Government of 

 the United States as compared with it previously during the Russian 

 administration? — A. It is very good. The teaching of the priests that 

 come there is very good. 



Q. Do they seem to realize that they have bettered their condition by a 

 transfer of allegiance f — A. Yes, sir ; the only complaint that I had was 

 that when the Russians were there they could have intoxicants and while 

 the Americans were there they could not ; but upon being asked, " Will 

 you go back to the old Barrabrica and old straw covers for the sake of 

 intoxicants?" they said "No." 



Q. As a matter of fact what do you say as to their condition under this 

 Government and the Russian Government; has it been improved! — A. 

 Very much. 



Q. What would become of them if the seal rookeries were to be de- 

 stroyed and the seal they live on on the islands? — A. They would have 

 to be removed where they couhl obtain fish the year round or be sup- 

 ported on the island by the Government. 



Q. What are produced on the islands except seals? — A. There is 

 nothing there. 



Q. What is the conformation or topography of these islands? — A. 

 They are mountainous, hilly, and rocky. 



Q. Does anything grow there? — A. There is grass, flowers. There is 

 good food for cattle during certain mouths of the year, but you could 

 not maintain a stock farm on either island. There is about three years, 

 jjossibly, out of five that your cattle would live during the winter. 



Q. How much summer do you have there ? — A. We have a fair tem- 

 perature during the months of June and Jul}', August, September, and 

 October. 



Q. Do you know about the average range covering those months ? — 

 A. It averages about 41° during the summer, with a maximum of 00° 

 and a minimum down to 30°. 



Q. How many clear days do you have during the year? — A. I could 

 not say that. 



Q. During the sealing season, which is generally until August, the 

 weather is not so that the sun is visible ? — A. Not shining, but so you 

 could place it through the clouds. 



