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' 41st CoxfiKKSS, ) HOUSE OF HKP1JE.SKNTATIVK.S. i Ex. Doo.
lid ScMsion. ) \ No. 144.
^.;
FL'U-SKAL nsilEHIES OK ALASKA.
,y
LETTER
I'ltoM
THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
IX ANSWKlt !(»
A resolution of the House, of Feliruartf 1>, 1S70, tmnsmltthuj a eopii of a
portion of Vincent Colyer's report relatiny to the fur seid fisheries of
Alaska.
FKiiitr.\i!Y IH, If'Td. — l{flV;rn'(l to tlif Ci»iiiiiitt<'f <m (.'oiniiicrco and onliTcd to br inintcd.
DKrAltTMKNT or TIIK TNTEHIOK,
Washington, I). C, Feltruanf IS, 1870. »
SlK : r liiivc llic lioiutr to triuisiiiit licrcwith "m portion of" the report
of Vincent Colyer, special Indian commissioner, in reliitiou to the fur-
seiil tislieiies on St. I'iinl Island, Alaska," wiiicli contains the intbrma-
ti(»n calh'd for l»y a resohition of tin' Ilonse of Iiei>resentative», of the
J>th instant, in the foilo\vin<>- words, vi/ :
Ili'solnd. 'l'h;it tlic Scrit'tiiry of tlic Interior !»' ri'(|ncstt'(1, if not iiiconsistiMit with
))nl)lii' inti rt'st. to tiansniit to tiii.s Iionsr a t'opy of so ninrii of tiir rrport of Vint'cnt
('(dyer, Spiiiiil Indian ronnriissioncr, as rclali's to tlic fnr-si'al lisln'iicN in Aiaxka.
Very r«'spectfnlly, your obedient servant,
J. I). COX, iSceretorij.
Hon. J AS. Cr. Hlaixk,
{Speaker Ilonse of liepresentatires.
Wasiiin(JTON, 1), C, Feltruary IH, 1870.
Sm: In response to the resohition of the House of It«'preseiitatives, of
February 0, ealiino' ior so much of my rep«»rt «)n tlu' Indian tribes in
Alaskti Territory as rehites to tin' fur-seal ishinds, I have the honor to
respectfully submit tlu^ followiufj extract.
Sinc«'relv, vour obedient servant,
VINCENT COLYEI?,
Seeretary Board of Indian Commissioners.
Hon. J. I). Cox,
{Secretary of the Interior, Washington, I). C.
■ ii «
'i"
/
FUR-SKAL FISMKRIKS OF ALASKA.
A piirtioii of' the npi^rf of Viiicnit Cnlifrr, sfuviitl IiuI'kdi ciimmissiitnn^ in
irliition (o (lic/urncal Jislirriis on St. Vuiil Isloml, Ahishi.
[Kxtnicl.]
THE LAXDlNCi.
W»' iinivctl at the islaiul »»r St. Paul, in tlic I'.cliriiin' Sca.nii the imaii-
iiij,' oltlic Stii (>r October, lS(;;t. A stroii;;' ciiiifiit ii) tiic wcstwaid car-
ii«'(l lis (lilt (d'our i('ck(Hiin;i over twenty miles.
As we tlropped anein»r in S(»ntliwest llav, tlie wind <lie(l away and
there was a lijilit suit' Incaivinf, on the l>each. There is no iiaihor on
eitlier St. Paul or St. (ieoi'i^e's Island, and vessels have to wait upon
the eoiu'se of the winds to make siuM-esslul landing's. There is ^dod
anchora;;*' in several bays, and so lonj;' as the \vin<ls remain )av<»rable,
vessels ean load and discharji'e earji'o without dillicnlty. ("aplains hav«'
to keep watchful can-, however, t(» ;ivoid beinj;- caught in unfavorable
j;ales.
Alonj;' the shore of St. Taul's Island the fur-seals were jiathered in
^reat herds, called rookeries. They were evidently excileil at tlu'
approach of our steamer, and their bellowin;^' resendtled the sheep and
cattle in the ^reat sale markets neai' our larjLi'e «Mties. The noises were
varie<l. The younj;' jnips at times bark like a doj;, tln»uj;h their more
conuuon ciy resembles the bleat in j;' of a hunb ; the older ones bellow like
jM'ow. As their motion is slow over the ni'ound, and the animals smell
stronj;', they are not unlike a heard of swine, thouj;h nuu-h less olfensive,
and incom])arably more attractive and interesting'.
While the ollicers from the island were assorlin^i their letters and
exehan;;inj;' congratulations with their friends on board <»ur steamer, the
ca]>tain lowered a (juarter boat, and arian^cd for the passaj;t' of the
interpi'eter, Colonel Wickei, and myself, to the shore. On our way thither
tlie youn^' seals assembled arouml us in larj;'e numbeis. They a]»|»eare(l
deli{;hted at the ]»resence of the boat, the m(»vement of the oars, and thi!
tlutterinj>' of our United State's rev«'nue lla;", and after looking; at us
with their dark hazel eyes, larfic and beautiful as those of the <;a/.elle,
raisinji' their heads erect and stret<'hin}; their necks as far out of the
water as they could, they would dive <lown only to a;iain ajipear and
Take an(»ther look. At last they j;'ot into rejiular order and motion on
either side of us, turninv: s(»mersanlts like porpoises, and, forming.? an
escort, accoini»anied us to the shore,
I'uivATK I^TKI^VII:^vs avith tiie alki iks.
Ilavin;i' jtroviih'd myself with an interpreter in whose ability, honesty,
and truthfulness 1 could rely, while theollicers walked up to heathpmrters
on the island, I went into the cabins of the Aleutes. As this interprt'ter
had ]»reviously resided on the island, the Aleutes wannly welcomed us,
and were at once very fraidi in their (MMninunications. They said that
they were doinj; about as in y<'ais <;oru' by ; that they were now killing
seals three tinu'sa week — on .Mondays, Wednesdays, and l''ridays; that
they usually killed between two and three thousand on each of these
days, or about ei<>ht thousand per week ; that there were at the presi-nt
time about sixty thousand skins in salt on the island; that these skins
were stored in lour salt-houses on four ditVerent jxtints on the island;
that one of these salt-houses was near at hand; another a short distancM'
across the villa^ic, on Southeast J5ay ; a third about live miles to the
northwest of the village, on Southwest liay ; and the fourth lift ecu mih's
M
u\4 ^-l
FlU-SKAL riSIIERIKS OF ALASKA.
3
to \\w iioitliciist, (111 N(titlu'!ist Point. As tlic rcvcmu' (»llici'i' in cliiUf'C
on the isliiiid, in toniin;^ iisln)r<> with us in tJM' lon<;-lM)iit, IiimI said tliiit
there wcic only tliirly thoiisjind seals killed this season, and oidy tiiat
miniiter o!' skins now on the island, the ahove statement of the Aleutes,
iloiiltliiio' \\\\< :iiriiiMiit. Mi'i'i-sti'd niv :it tciit ion.
Till-} Ai-Kirn:s.
There are al)ont two Imndred and titty natives on St. I'anl's Island,
and one handled and twenty-live on St. (ieorj;e. Of the two hnndied
and tilty on S|. {'aid's, not more than titty are lelied on as active hunt-
ers. Tlie women assist lil)erally, both in carry inj^' the skins to the salt-
houses and in wait in;4 on the men, carrying' water, «S;c. All the .Vlentes
are nominal mend)ers oT the linsso-(ii'e(>k churcii. A tew of the more
intelligent can read and write, l»nt these are very W^w. \\\ of them
are intelli.m lit, peaceable, ireiierally industrious, and amliitious to iin
prove.
Thereareahout forty liouses,or huts, built of turf and f>rass on a frame-
work of timbei'like the sketch o]»posite. They are about twenty feet
loiiji' i»y tifteen feet wide, with roofs not over seven feet liiyli. Tin'y
resemble llie hilts our soldiers erected tor winter (luarters duriiij; the
war. and. like them, while warm and eonifoit^ible. are often overcrowded,
and lack Itotli li^lit and ventilation. The li<;ht is admitted throii;{h a
transparent skin or bhuider, and the door-ways are usually so small and
low that you have to stooji to jiass throiiuli them. The furniture is
scanty : a few wooden «'hairs or stools, a broad bunk of boards raised
about a foot from the }>'round, on which is usually laid a mattress of
ji'iass or straw, with a blanket or two for sleepini;': two or three mai-
motskiii frocks from Onkamok Island: some Mehrin^' Scii duck skin
shirts; water-proof jackets, made of the iiitestinesof the seal ; a har|ioon,
bunch of arrows and bow for sea otter Imiitinj;'; occasionally a Hint-lock
musket, and a copy of the K'usso (ircck.and Aleutian Island dialect trans-
laticm of St. .'Matthew's (lospel, comprehend the whole of their posses-
simis.
The .Vlentes were silent at tirst when 1 impiired if they were treated
kindly by their employers. thoii;;h tlu'y frankly acknowled^icd that
they were better otf than when under the rule of the Iviissian l"'ur('oin-
jiaiiy, and their houses were improved, but as that was a condition of
sertdom it was not sayiii;;' much.
The price they paitl for piods and provisions was not liij;'h, coiisidei'-
iiifi' the distance they wen* broujiht, it beini;' about one third iiKue
than at San I''raiicisc(».
Several of the children could play skillfully on theaeeordeoii, and this
I found to be a favorite instrument aimuiji' them. The women are very
handy with the needle, some of their embroidery and sew' •}•• being as
«'ood as that done bv auv.
'>9'^r.<)()
fi:r-skal fi.sherik.s of Alaska.
MnN(i|'«)I,li;s.
liir sciils. (N't" AlipclMlix A.)
Tliis ;n»i>iiit'iit piirtiiilit.v ill liivor (»r tilt' two nhovt- iiiiiiit'd liriiis pio-
vnkt's with' sprc:Ml dissMtisliictittii on tli*- riicitic coast, mikI proltahl.v ar
coiiiittMl lor :i j;rcnt deal of tlic scandal, so j^cncial anion;;- tlic p(;opU'
out tlicrc. in rc;;ard to tlic reported irre;;idarities supposed to l»e jirac-
tifi'il nil tliiisi' i<l:iliil<
only lioiise 111 \v!iicli sUiiis •.vcic ston'd. I lie lieutenant replied that
tiiere was one other at tlic other side of the vjlla;;e. in wliicli there was
about two thousand skins. Colonel Wicker then said. •• .\iid that is all
there are at prc-eiit on the island .'" The lieutenant answered. *' Ves."'
It was then near dark and we left the storehouse, took our yawl ami
WiMil Mil llo:il'il f)ii> sfo-inior
went on lioard the steaniei'.
went on iioanl the steaniei'.
The wide discrepancy lietwecn these two statenu'iits of the lieutenant
and the Aleutian Islanders caused me to report the same to Colonel
Wicker, and that there iiii;;lit lie no misiiiiderstandiiiu I put them
ill writiii.u and ollicially addressed the note to the <'oloiiel.
It had Ik'cu our iiiteiition to lea\e the next niornin;:, bill these con-
tradictory statements caused the colonel and Ca|itaiii ILvans to reiiiaiii
another day and make an examination of the island.
THREE SAILORS DROWMCD.
While we were en^iiiyed in cxaniiiiin^j the two liouscs near the
villa;;e, word came that two vessels, a schooner and a bark, were hover-
iii;;- olf the island. This called away Captain I'-vans. Colonel Wicker
and myself eomplctcd the ineasuremeiits. We had hardly linished this
[tart of our work before we heard the <'ry that one of our boats with ii
><'rew of live men in it was capsi/ed in the surf, and we huiiied down to
file beach (uily to s«'e them stru;;;;liii;;' lieli»lessly in the surf an ei^ilitli
of a mile away. Captain I-^vans and a crew often volunleer Aleifes
■were vainly eiideavoriii'; to ;;('t near tlu'iii in the only boat at hand.
Above the roar of the tuniultuous seas could be lieard tiie piteous cries
\
k
im:r-si:al fisiikuikh of af.aska. o
of tli(> (Intwiiin;^' iiirii, iiiitl tlinc was no iiil<'<|tiiit(' iiifiiiis at liaiitl to save
tliciii. Tlic Alciitcs. alter scvcial iiariow cHcaiM's I'idiii .s\\ani|iiii;i', yav«'
up tlic ctVoit, anil, rowinjj: iH-liiiiil tli*' It'il^)' <>■' rocks towanl wli'icli tlic
(li'ownin^rncii \v<>i')> (ll'ittin;,^ leaped tVoni tlieii' boat, and at the risk of
their lives, went thron;;h the breakers and hroiiyht tiie l»odies ashore.
Tile ollieers of the ^^overnnient and the a;;ents of the tiaders on the
island were nn rem it tin;;' in their etl'orts to save the lives of the men,
bnt three of them were dead, and we had ;;reat <lillieidt,v in r<-storin;; to
lite the two others.
THK IIU SKAI.S.
\\ aier.
There were myriads (tf yonny pups alon;;' shore and in the water, and
they are most lieantilid animals. They will not alwa>srnnat your
ai»pr(»aeh. tlioii;iii yciieraily, if they are between you ami tiie water, they
will linriy olV to the water. We saw bn! few sea lions. Our ^iuide in-
(Vil'ini'd IIS tli:it tlii>\' tVi>Miii>iifi'il tlii> Hurt lw>!i>if iwiiiit iiiiiri> tliiiiii>')i tlii'ri>
poll with distrust.
The skin of the sea lion, as well as the llesh, is hi;;lily jni/ed ; the
rUR-SEAL FISI1EKIE8 OF ALASKA.
6
rdiiiicr ibr covcriii;;' liidiiikiis or ciinot's. ;iihI tlic liiltrr fur t'ood, Tlicso
liiij^ic ;iiiitM:ils ill')' iisdiilly Uillcil uitli :i iiiiiski-t liiill.
'I'Im- sciil pup is Imh'Ii iisiiitll.v in tlic iiioiitlis ol' ,liil,v :iii(l ciirlv |)iirl of
Aiijjiist. :ii)iiiit a rmtiii^lil atlcr tlic imillicis liavc anivcfl on ilic island.
The hialfs ariixc alMuit the niiddir ol' .lunc, and tiic vtMilin;: pn|is fol-
low llicir niotlicrs tin- lattci' pari of .Inly. The yoiin;^ pnps arc said to
Itr in no linnv to in> into tin- water, tin- parents ha\ in;; lo foice them in
at lirst, when their elder Itrothers, the Itaehelors. take ehar;ie of them
•lliil tifuai tlliilii til •.:\l flu
and teach them to swim
anu leaeli mem lo swim.
In killini; the seal, the two and three year old male piijts are eliosm,
lioth for the tpialitv of theii' fiir. li^^liiness of the pelt, and to preserve
the supply. The hunters j;et hetweeii the herd and the water, which is
a very easy thin;;' to do, and drive them a short distance inland lowai'd
till' <!llt .lllllKliV ttlllill llll>\ s;i>llil>t llll'il' !lllilll:ll< !lllll willl :l lllll'll WMIllll-ll
On onr way we passed a iinmher of the slanjihter places. They were
much iicaicr the rookeries ami the shore than the <lescii|»tions, and tln^
much talked of necessary |)recaut ions a;:aiiist fri;:hlcniii,u the animal,
wtiiild Icatl yon to suppose. In some eases they were not a huiidit'd
yards fidiii tlie rookeries, ami the dead liodies were w ithin easy reach of
the ramhlini;' haehelor seals, liar^^c (piaiilities of meat was wasted, and
in many insiances even the fat was not cut olV. The meat of the seal is
of excellent llavor. I should think tpiitc eipial to miitloii. (hir sailors
eat il with relish, ami 1 have mtdonht that it could l»e salted, preserved,
shipped in casks, and soon lind a market. As if now lies rottiii;;'on the
lields. the smell is most otVeiisive, ami as one of the slaiiiiliter pens is
immediately near the villa;;*-, the inaivel is that it has not hred a con-
ta;;ious disease.
In some places where these seals have been thus killed, and the car-
casses all(»W('d to rot foi' many years, I should think the soil would Ik;
as valualtle a fertilizer as ;;iiano. The ;;reat rank yrass j^rows ahove
these slaiiiihter phu'cs in rich luxuriance. As ballast it mi;;lit pay to
transport to the southern ports.
We found tpiite a lai^c lot of skins in tliis "StMitlnvest I'.ay'' house,
ami the uiiitle assured ns that the buihliii;;' had been full and emptied
about a mcmtli belbre, the skins liavin;;' been carried on board a steamer.
The skins were packed in piles with the fui' tuined inwards, and salt
]»ut in between each skin. After bein<;' all(»Wf<l to remain awhile, they
are taken up, relblded, and with fresh salt made reatly for shipment.
A laru'c surf boat, made of the skins of the sea lion, is used to cany
tllitlii i\iit f.k til., v'l.^^.ilw:
them out to the vessels
ineiii oiil lo me vessels.
On onr return we passed by a lake of beautiful clear, cold water, fntin
which the natives obtain the snj»]»ly for thei:' villa;;*' — nearly a mile
distant. Half of this distance they carry it in boats by water. When
St. I'aul Island and its immense source of income is pi'operly cared f()r
by onr ;;<»\eriiiiient, an a(|uednet of siiui»le construction should be bnilt
to convey this watci' to the town.
There was no school worth the name on the island. The Russian
foreman t»f tuie <»!' the tratlers juofessed to call a class of liv(> or six
toyethc!' at irregular hours; but 1 found he thou;;ht but little of it, and
I'lU-SEAL FISIIF.UIKH OF ALASKA.
f?i
tlic iiiitivcs n'<,'iii(l«Ml it of still Ii'ss value. 'I'lirv asUcd lor schools iiiid
t»'il('ll('lS tMlllt'Stlv.
n'.iriK'rs r;irMt'sii\.
The piii'st \vli(» ollicialcs in a neatly Itiiill «'liiireli reeeivesone liiiihlred
and thirty dnlhirs iteranniiin. lie is not in oi'deis, an<l hardly ninUs as
a deacon in theehmu'h. The priest tVoni Onndaski occasionally conies
up and adniinislei's the sacrament.
The cliiels. of whom theie are two. ;;ct forty dollars a month extra pa,\.
and the worUnuMi are divided into three classes of ddVereiit decrees of
expertness or character. Thievin;;' and misdemeanors other than drunk-
enness are nnUiiown auH)nn' the Aleutes.
On oni' return we t'oinid oiii' j^uide ;;reatly a/itated at the |ui»spcct of
1]»nnisliiiiciit, whicii he fearetl he W(Mdd receive from the liiited States
oHicnds on the islainl for showing us the path over to the icMuoie salt
liouse. We assured him that his fears were ;;r(Uimlless, hut this did not
4|uiet his anxi<'ties.
There were s(Mn«' cattle and slu-ep on the islainl, and we foiiinl j^ood
^i'ra/.in;;; plenty of }j;rass as far as we went or could see. There are no
trees, ami the hills are not ;;t'nerally steep. A few of the lii;ihest. at
a distance, I should say wt-re not o\er two thousand feet hijih. They
aiijieared covered with verdure to their tojis. The cattle and sheej) are
reported as «loni^ well.
I'l'I'lIJi; >IANA(iF,Mi;NT OF 'I'lIF. F'I'1{ SKAI, Flsm;i!IKS.
The whole mana^ienu'iit of these islands, and the ohtaininji from the
fur seal tisheries a handsonn* inconu' hy our };(ivernnu'nt, is a very simph>
alfaii'. One capalde and Innu'st man with one or two assistants on each
of the two islamls, and a force of a dozen nn-n well arnu'd, under tixed
re^^idalions, forhiddiiijn" the killin;^' of over one hinidicd and titty thou-
sand sealsaniuially, restrictin,n thekillin;;' lor the present to the Aleutes,
liayinj;' them a liheral <'om|tensation. jiroviiliuj; for the sale of the skins
either (»n the islaml, at San l''rancis«*(», (U' New York, and exact inj,' se-
vere penalties for all vi(»lation.'' of the law, winihl rei;ulate it.
The ollicei' in charj,fe should he a first class nnin, with a liiieral salary
and nmler heavy Ixuids, as his life will he an isolated (un* and his temp
tations to dishonesty jireat.
wouio f^eem pr;iciiciii iTonoiii,\ lor oiu };o\ ci iiineiii lo laivc cnai,i;e(M me
linsiiu'ss. I^ast sprin*;' the Chandter of Conimerce at San Francisco
api>ointed a committee to ascertain the facts in relation to the lur seal
lisheries of Alaska, and report. This report so plainly j;ives the vi«'w
which is taken by a large number of |)eo])le in California that I im-lose
it. See Appendix II.
A letter fiom Adolph ^Fuller, on the juices tor furs lulinn' in San
J-'rancisco last October, 1 append, (', thoujih other furriers assiiicd nu'
that Mr. Muller's prices were, altoj^'ether too low.
IJut to resunu' my narrative. On Sunday the lOth, we buried (Uir
three sailors, Kickard liiviiij;ston, Lewis (Jarlipp, and .lohn licck, with
fuiH-ral honors, on the island. The last rites had haidly been cel"brated
before three Aleutes, of their own accord, biouyht forward three tall
wooden crosses, and i>la<'ed one at the head of eacli of the jn'raves.
That afternoon wv held a talk with the Aleutes, in the presence of the
otlieers of the island and (»f the st<'ainer, and were contirnu'd in a con-
elusion which we had arrived at long" since in our intercoursi^ with In-
dians, nanu'ly, that they will not state any of their grievances in public
8
FI.'II-SKAI- riSIIKHII'.H OF ALASKA.
ill picsi'iici' m' tlir |M>\vcis tliiit ill*' si't oNcr flifiii. In lliis tlicy ic-
sciiiMf most poor iiinl (lc|M-iiih'iit jM-opI* .
In llic priviilc interviews lieid witli tliciii two dnys iti'lbrc, tivc of tlio
AInitfs (•oiiipliiinril tlint tliev liiul licrii l)roii;;lit t'luin KiiiJiiit'U Isliinii l),v
tile ii;;fnt, ot tHie 1)1' the linns on tlie islaiid, top ii liiniled period ; tliat
tlie coiittiiet Inid evpiied some time siiiee, hut tliiit tiie linn iiad since
|)liieed ii liniidred dollars eaeli to llieir eretlit, and now claimed to hold
them aiiotliei' year a^^aiiist their will. liieutcnant .Mas|, conimaiidin;;'
St. PanI and St.(icor;{'e Islands, having heard ol'lliis statement thi'oii;;li
Colonel Wicker, in a letter to the colonel <leiiied it, and declared that
the Kodiack natives had acquiesced in the arran^^emeiil.
As we were walking' down to the sIkup to embark, a iiwinher (>(' the
cliiels and head men (tithe Aleiites ;;atliered around me, and in private
asked me al»oiit oiir Ibrm ol {government, and whether it was true "that
all men were free and e(pial," and whether they would he allowed to
vote for the I'lesidi'iit, or the "'einpenn'," as they <'alled him, thinkiiiji' of
their foriner Itiissian ;;overnineiit. I said yes, 1 hoped so. They shook
my hand warmly, and when we left tlu^ shore ;;ave ns three slow but
very loud cheers, wliidi our oltieers and men n'tunied with a will.
We then sailed Ibr the '-Northeast Point," lifteeii miles away, to make
the final examination of the skins stored in th:it salt house. All aloii;;'
this eastern shore, as on the \vest<'rn, which we had passed the day be-
fore, myriads of fur-seals were ('oiixi"e;;ated, so that we could not but
conclude there was a lar^e million and a half on tiie island. The surf
ran hij;li as we laiMJcd, ami the men, n'memberiny their loss of the
day ix'tbre, shook their heads doubtin<;ly as they dashed us throu}>i" it.
We tliou;tlit more about the heavy taxes of tlie pc(»i»le, and whetli.T
tli« Aleutes, (U' our oHicers on the island, were the more accurate in
countinj;' seal skins. We carefully measiinHl the piles of skins in the
salt house, counted ii]) the fij;;ures, and found the Aleutes were ri;;lit.
Theii' w«'re owv sixty thousand skins on the island.
As if reluctant to leave the threes brave sailors who had sacrificed
their lives to duty, our good ship Lincoln "missed stays," turned her
face to the island, remained immoveable for a few minutes and then
slowly obeyiiiji' her helm, steamed oil' toward tuir home on the. other
side of the republic, si.\ thousand miles away.
Faithfully, your obedient servant,
VINCKNT COLYKH,
United States f>peci(tl Indian VomminHumcr.