among their island homes, and lays up for the winter is Alaskain 
harbors, ready for the whaling grounds at the earliest opening 
of spring. If this be done, with the increased knowledge of the 
whale’s habits and the aptitude of the Aleuts, the American 
whalers can sweep the field of foreign competition.” — Davidson . 
Sardines, smelts, candlefish, and other small but valuable fish 
congregate in vast numbers in and around Alaska. In sailing 
along that coast the treasures of the deep are ever present; the 
untold wealth there latent surpassetli knowledge. This bound- 
* less and inexhaustible nursery of commerce fairly puzzles the 
will and completely captivates the thinking mind in contem¬ 
plating a theme so grand. The fishing resources bordering on 
Alaska are five times more extensive and ten times more valua¬ 
ble than those now available in the North Atlantic Ocean. 
This important acquisition to our national wealth is richly 
worth one hundred millions of gold dollars , and is destined to 
nurture a great commerce in those regions, and cover the North 
Pacific Ocean with swift clipper vessels. 
Population of Alaska comprises various tribes of Indians, 
and a remnant of Russians. They are found in communities 
along the entire coast, and it is difficult to ascertain their num¬ 
bers, as they are migratory in their habits. The interior re¬ 
gions of the territory are as yet unexplored, and little is known 
concerning the tribes remote from the shores. In every part of 
this boundless coast, open to navigation, people are found in 
considerable numbers ; they have been computed as ranging in 
numbers from fifty to sixty thousand. Those domiciled near 
the shore have been reared under the iron heel of Russian des¬ 
potism. They are docile and subservient. They have been 
nurtured in the admonition of the Greek Church, and are gen¬ 
erally devoted to the doctrines and discipline of that venerable 
institution. In the more prominent towns they have had the 
benefits of schools, and the rudiments of education have been 
disseminated among them. In their relations with strangers 
they are kind and hospitable, and very honest; in mechanical 
ingenuity commendable progress is manifest. They build sub¬ 
stantial boats and make tight fish casks. They display some 
craftiness in capturing the sea otter and the larger monsters in 
those waters; in developing the fisheries the expert Aleutes 
will render valuable services. “ The Aleutes are very distinct 
in their looks* manners* language and customs from all other 
