FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 357 



The condition of the natives on the two islands is \[xi\t(i as good as nsual after a long 

 winter of idleness, during which time they shut themselves up in their close houses, 

 without permitting any ventilation whatever, keeping the house warmed up to an 

 unhealthy temperature, taking only such outdoor exercise as is required of them in 

 attendance on their church service, emerging in the spring in time to clean up and 

 prepare for the arrival of the vessel. When it is damp and cold they are as im- 

 prudent and careless as during the winter, consequently take cold easily, resulting 

 in many cases fatally. Bronchitis and pneumonia are the spring diseases. This year 

 has heen an unusually fatal one, there having been 17 deaths in June and up to I'Jth 

 of July. When ouce an Aleut makes up his mind to die, having no recuperative pow- 

 ers, he baflles the skill of the physician and calmly awaits the inevitable. With 

 proper care they would be much longer lived, as there is nothing in the climate or 

 sanitary condition of the islands to invite disease. 



The white population on both islands, some of whom have remained continuously 

 for live years, are always remarkably healthy. It is a notable fact that not a sivf/le 

 death from disease has occurred among them since the transfer of Alaska to the 

 United States, whilst the percentage of mortality among the natives is much greater 

 thau can be found in any State or country of which we have statistics. It is only a 

 question of time when the Aleuts will become extinct. 



The census taken January I, 1887, is as follows: 



St. Paul Island. 

 Number of families >. 67 



Male adults 58 



Males from five to seventeen years old 24 



Males under five years of age 17 



99 



Female adults 79 



Females from five to seventeen years old 42 



Females under five years old 20 



138 



Total native population 237 



Females in excess of males , 39 



Widows 11 



Marriages 5 



Births 14 



Deaths 14 



Note. — Seventeen deaths from 1st of June to 12th of July, including five sealers, 

 almost 7 per cent, in forty-two days. 



St. George Island. 

 Number of families 28 



Male adults 29 



Males from five to seventeen years old 12 



Males under five vears old 7 



48 



Female adults 40 



Females from five to seventeen years old 15 



Females under five years old 9 



64 



Total native population 112 



yemales in excess of males 16 



Widows 7 



Marriages 3 



Births 4 



Deaths •. 5 



Note. — One death since June 1. 



The cause of the excess of females uu the islands is owing to a regulation of the 

 Greek Church which forbids the marriage of parties where the most distant relation- 

 ship exists; it even extends to the relatives of the contracting parties' god-mothers 

 and god-fathers. This absurd obstacle makes it almost out of the question for real- 



