ALASKA. 71 



Otter Island ranks tbird in the group, and lies six miles 

 south-southwest from the "Eeef Point'' of Saint Paul's Island. 

 It is about a mile and a quarter in greatest length by less than 

 half a mile in extreme width. The east, south, and west shores 

 are bold and bluffy, not to be approached by men, and hardly 

 by seals, during rough weather ; but the north shore, for most 

 of its extent, rises quite gradually from the surf; the beach is, 

 however, broken and rocky, with no sand. The highest point 

 is the summit of the bluffs on the west end, some 300 feet. A 

 small sh^low lake lies near the north shore and landing; water 

 impure and uncertain. 



On this island there is no breeding-ground occupied by the 

 fur-seals, but the non-breeding seals lie out here in large num- 

 bers off and on during the season. 



Walrus Island, fourth and last, is of little or no commer- 

 cial importance, but a very interesting spot — a mare table-rock, 

 elevated but slightly above surf-wash, a quarter of a mile in 

 length and a hundred yards in width, and, like Otter Island, 

 has bold water all around, and, better still, entirely free from 

 reefs or sunken rocks. It lies six miles south-southeast from 

 northeast point of Saint Paul's. There is no fresh water 

 on it. 



It is not resorted to by the fur-seals, but several hundred 

 male walrus (Bosmarus) are found here most of the year, and a 

 few sea-lions breed there. On account of rough weather, fogs, 

 &c., the island is seldom visited by the natives of Saint Paul, 

 and then only during the egging-season, in June and July, when 

 the island is literally swarming with breeding water-fowl. 



The opportunity afforded here of seeing the strange walrus- 

 herds to the very best advantage is not equaled by any other 

 place in the Territory. Here can also be plainly seen the move- 

 ments and habits of myriads of nesting water-fowl. 



Vegetation on these islands, with the exception of the last 

 named, such as it is, is fresh and luxuriant during the growing 

 season of June and July and early August, but the beauty and 

 economic value of trees and shrubbery seem to be denied to 

 them by climatic conditions, though I am strongly iaclined to 

 believe that any of the. hardy shrubs and trees indigenous at 

 Sitka and Kodiak would grow here if transplanted properly on 

 some of the southern hill-slopes most favored by soil, drainage, 

 and position for shelter; but they would never mature their 

 seed, owing to the want of sunlight to ripen, so that reproduc- 



