THE RUSSIAN FUR-SEAL ISLANDS. 
29 
ment, but ordinarily deportation from one island to tbe other, extra service at the 
South Rookery, or tines, are resorted to. Tlie kossaks liave often to arrest disturbers 
of the peace, resulting from the general spree on the great holidays, or pra.milcs ; but a 
night’s lodging in the lock up sobers them u]>, and neitlier island lias thus far needed a 
jail. As an illustration of the patriarchal ways of justice in vogue not many years ago 
the following literal abstract from the station log of Bering Island is both instructive 
and amusing: 
December 3, 1877. — A married womau was on trial for stealing a petticoat from a clothe.s-line. 
As she would not confess, the judges (natives) took two jiieces of paper, ou one of which was written 
“1 have stolen,” and on the other “I did not”; and it happened that she drew the one with the 
inscription “I have stolen.” Slie was sentenced to wash the lloor in the church. 
The moral decline of the people I attribute largely to the recent introduction of 
intoxicating liquors. In 1882 it was forbidden the natives both to import spirits and 
to brew “beer” of sugar. As a result they were tractable and contented, except as 
to this iiarticular point. I was then told a story, the literal truth of wliich I can not 
guarantee, however, but it is to the point : A “revisor” arrived at the island to inquire 
if the natives were treated well, and he called a meeting to recei\ e any complaints 
that they might have to make. The chief, after consulting with the other men, linally 
declared that they had absolutely nothing to complain of except the discrimination 
made against them, among all the children of the tsar, that they were not allowed to 
get drunk on the great church and state holidays, and that they were not conscious of 
any conduct which would merit such an unusual and severe i)unishment. 
Whether this petition had any weight, or whether the American Company, which 
had been instrumental in establishing the prohibition, was losing its influence, I don’t 
know; certain it is that at my second visit to the islands the natives were allowed 
to imj^ort and consume many hundred dollars’ worth of alcohol, the result being the 
usual one. 
Until within the last few years the condition of these natives has been the enviable 
one of being the richest and most prosperous community in Bering Sea, or along any of 
its shores. Not only the increase in the number of seal skins taken, and later on the 
increased payment for the skins when the number began to fall off, contributed to 
this end, but also the flourishing condition of the sea otter and blue-fox hunt, due to 
the enforcemeut of wise regulations for the protection and chase of these animals. 
The sea-otter long ago became extinct on Beiing Island, but ou Copper Lsland it 
is still common. The “rookeries” or breeding-places of this valuable animal, which 
furnishes the costliest of all furs,^ are guarded and protected with jeaJous care. The 
animal, which is now nearing its extermination on all the American islands and .shores, 
where it is not protected at all, is actually increasing on Copper Island, and yields, 
besides a handsome return to the Government, sufficient income to keep the natives 
in conqiarative affluence, as this island can easily lu'oduce 200 skins a year. The 
sea-otter is there hunted by the natives in common, but the individual huTiter secures 
the price for the animal he catches. Onlj'^ nets are allowed in tbeir capture. The 
Government buys all the skins from the natives at a certain fixed rate, 140 rubles for 
the first quality, 75 rubles for the second, and disposes of them to the comi)auy as per 
contract. 
’ A single tirst-class sea-otter skin brought at auction in London, spring of 189.5, $1,100. 
