ALASKA. 257 



wolves, bears, deer, land-otter, and red foxes, hair-seals on all 

 sides ; sea-lions in small numbers ; on the south and northwest 

 sides, where there are some lagoons, walrus are sometimes 

 found ; on the beaches of this island sea-otters came twice^ 

 first on the north beach, and second on the west. About the 

 north shore is a considerable number of whales. From 80 to 150 

 foxes were killed per annum, 1 to 3 wolves, and a few minks 

 and land-otters constitute the real hunting. Bears are plenty, 

 but they are coarse and mostly red, (cinnamon.) The most 

 .valuable thing is the whalebone; but little, however, of this 

 is found. 



NOTES UPON THE ANIMALS OP THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS.. 

 [Translated from Veniamiuov's Zapieska, 1840.] 



(Part 1, chap, xii, p. 08.) " The numbers of several kinds of 

 animals-are growing verj- much less in the present as compared 

 with past time. For instance, the company here (Ounalashka) 

 regularly killed more than a thousand sea-otters, (annually ;) 

 now (1840) from 70 to 150, (in 1832-1833 there were 175 to 

 200, and a long time previous to this such a number was not 

 obtained ;) and there was a time (1826) when the whole returns 

 from the hunters of this Ounalashkan district were only 15 

 skins." " The company on the island of Saint Paul killed from 

 60,000 to 80,000 fur-seals per annum, and in the last season, 

 (1836,) with all possible care in getting, they obtained only 

 about 1,200. On the island of Saint George, instead of 40,000^ 

 or 35,000, only 33,000 (1,300?) were killed." 



(Part 3, p. 529.) " The kind of deer here I have had a glimpse 

 at, and I know that the large males do not weigh more than 

 three poods, * (108 pounds.) They go to several islands of the 

 Shumagin group, Oonemak, and all over the peninsula, 

 (Alaska.) 



" Bear. — Here all have patched and harsh fur, and are found on 

 Oonemak and the peninsula ; they are also very quiet and sel- 

 dom go for man. The hunters are only afraid of those which 

 have torn ears. They eat meat, fish, and roots. At the time of 

 salmon runningin the rivers,bears generally go there and capture 

 fish. The bears go into the water above their knees, stand up 

 opposite the stream, and watch a fltopportunity when they can 



• This is an error obviously ; they will weigh from 216 to 324 pounds. — H- 

 W. E. 



17 AL 



