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A great quantity of Holotouriae are found and serve 

 as food to the natives and some fish (not large ones), the 

 small specimens of this kind living at the boundary of 

 the tide, when it is either in or out, are of no importance 

 as food for fish. The Holotouriae might be prepared for 

 Chinese markets. 



Ccelenterata and Protozoa are not at all studied, though 

 the latter are of great importance as food for a mass of 

 inhabitants of the sea. 



From land animals only the Arctic fox is of conside- 

 rable importance in the economic life of the Commander 

 Islands. Photographs give a good idea of this animal. It 

 is supposed, that this fox made its appearance onto these 

 Islands, separated from the mainland, by getting onto the 

 floating ice, which in former times went far more south. 

 Blocks of ice emerging from the bays of the Kamtchatka 

 peninsula rarely appear near Behring Isl. not going further 

 south, than the northern point af the afore named Islands. 

 In former times, judging by Steller's description, they 

 were exceedingly numerous on the Island. The expeditions 

 of Kamtchatka hunters have diminished the number of 

 Arctic foxes, they were saved from total extermination 

 by the Russ. Amer. Co. which at the beginning of the 

 XIX century did not keep constant hunters on the Islands, 

 but only sent out small hunting parties for the capture 

 of sea-otters and afterwards for foxes. In 1826 a resident 

 population of married people settled and regulations were 

 made, as to the quantity and time of year for hunting. 

 This regulation, which is even more severe, is kept up 

 until now, which appoints not only the order, but also 

 the manner of hunting. The latter is allowed only every 

 alternate year and at a certain time, namely in December, 

 beginning a little sooner on Behring Isl. At this time, 

 when the weather is worst and there is no hunting effected. 

 In January there is no hunting carried on, though the skin 

 is rather satisfactory. In February they begin to pair off. 

 The young ones appear in July; the first fur is shed in 



