48 THE ASIATIC FUK-SEAL ISLANDS. 



great importance of this question, both for Bering Island and the other Aleutian 

 Islands, I think it well to submit it in full: 



BEPOKT ON PEAT FROM BERING ISLAND. 



As reccivefl, tlie sample consisted of about 30 slabs of the peat, most of them of considerable size, 

 so that it can be considered as a fairly average sample; since, however, it had been collected several 

 years, it was unusually dry. It was first tested by building a fire under a small boiler. It ignited with 

 great ease and gave oft' its volatile matter at a low temperature, forming a good, solid flame vrithout 

 much smoke and giving oft: a good amount of heat. It required only a small amount of kindling wood 

 to thoroughly start the fire, and after it was once started and had been thoroughly observed it was 

 left to itself, and at the end of five hours it still had vitality enough to ignite fresh material, showing 

 that it had good staying power. If there had been sufficient material on hand to build a large fire, it 

 would probably have held its fire for fifteen to twenty hours, but only a small fire could bo built, and 

 the result is very satisfactory. A small piece was cut off from each large piece and the small pieces 

 properly ground and sampled for a chemical analysis, which yielded the following results : 



Water 7. 60 



Volatile matter 51. 97 



Fixed carbon 22.06 



Ash 18.37 



100. 00 



As might be expected from tho time since the sample was collected, the analysis shows an unusually 

 small amount of water, and while the ash is rather high, the whole analysis shows the peat to be above 

 the average in its contents of actual combustible material, and that, therefore, it would undoubtedly 

 form a very valuable fuel in the country where it is found. 



As prepared for use by simply air- drying, peat frequently contains from 15 to 25 per cent of water, 

 and unless artificial heat is used in drying it is not probable that this one could be dried to less than 

 20 to 25 per cent of water; and on this basis its composition would be — 



Water 20.00 to 25. 00 



Volatile matter 45. 00 42. 19 



Fixed carbon 19. 10 17. 90 



Ash 15.90 14.91 



100. 00 100. 00 



These results compare favorably with the following analysis of a peat from Devonshire, England, 

 which has been used extensively for fuel : 



"W^ater 25.56 



Volatile matter 35. 41 



Fixed carbon 29 30 



Ash 9 73 



100. 00 

 Should it be necessary to use artificial heat, it could, of course, readily be obtained by the com- 

 bustion of a portion of the peat itself in a suitable .designed furnace. 



I am satisfied that this peat will make .in excellant fuel, and that the proper steps should be taken 

 to introduce its use among the natives of the region. 



Most of the natives on both islands live in neat frame houses, built and presented 

 to them by Hutchinson, Kohl, Philippeus & Co., instead of the damp and filthy sod 

 huts (here called yurt) which they formerly lived in. If properly located and built, 

 however, the sod house is well suited to the climate and the needs of the people, and 

 the munificence of the above company ceasing with the expiration of the lease, the 

 Zholti Mys natives, as well as many a new- wed young couple, have erected new sod 



