The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-06-25

BEfRISG's ISLAND.
Behring's Island terminates the Aleutian
proup or chain of islands toward the west,
aud approaches nearest TO Kamschatka.
With the adjacent Copper Island it Is &C
counted as belonging to Asia, aud TO Rus
STA, not co America; notwithstanding the
American Alaska Company have obtained
hunting privileges on the island and sustain
considerable factory [trading post(, and
supply the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 300 families
with provisions and manufactur and pur.
chase from them furs, chiefly the skins of
species of the seal, OF the sea cat, or sea
bear. Between 1900 and 100000 OF this
latter species are slaughtered annually on
the neighboripg Copper Island. 1t is this
animal which supplies the soft, silky seal
skin" which has come 70 be so much III
fashion. In order 10 guard the Russian
right Of eminent domain, and to preserve
order, q staff of Russian officials are station
ed on the island. About half dozen conf
Portable wooden houses are erected for the
use of the Russian authorities, and for the
American Company for magazines and
warehouses. Tho natives live in adobe
houses, quite roomy and, interiorly, rather
neat. partly in wooden houses which the
Company seek gradually to introduce, and
substitute them in place of the sod houses
by importing them and presenting them TO
the most deserving OF the population
Each family occupies its own dwelling.
There il also a church for Greek Catholic
worship: and school house. The latter Is
devoted TO the AIeutian children. 1t is to
be regretted that the schoo! was now clos
ed but TO judge from the copies which
were exhibited in the school room the in
struction here impaired issnot 70 be de-
spised. Their. pennnianshap SHOWED re-
markable neatness and smooth and exceed
inpiy beautiful handwr1tings. The dwell
ings Of the COLONY" are collected IN one
locality, and form village which, seen
from the ocean, resembles somewhat mi
nor Norwegian fishing village. A Few
struggling habitAtions are scattered mere
and there on other parts OF the island c.
pecialyson the northeast, where the potato
is cultivated on a small scale; ana near the
locality of the "catch," where are erected
two great magazines, and a multitude oil
very small earthern cabins, used only dur
ing the slaughtenng season.
As we'll in geographical point OF vie"
as Of natural history, this island is one OF
the most remarkable Of the Northern IA
cihc.
1t was here that Behring, after bis last
unfortunate voyage in the sea which no"
bears his name, ended his long career as
discoyercr on the 10Th of December, l74l,
soon after his vessel in storm had beer
shipwrecked on the rocks on the north
coast of the island. Many OF his compan
ions survived him, however, OF whom the
talented Psychologist, Heller, who has lef'
us physiological sketch, a masterpiece rare
Iy excelled, OF the island where he invo!un'
tarily soiourned from the middle Of Novem
Der, l74l, TO the close of August, l743.
As far as known, before this time Ben
rings Island bad not been visited by man
The desire to obtain skiuS and skeletons
of the many remarkable mammals existing
in this locality for our museums, as well al
to compare the present condition OF the Is
land with the vivid and picturesque des-
crlption which Heller gives, after the islam q
for century and half has been expos ed
to the rapacty of men, was what determin-
ed me to adopt in the plan of the expedi'
ton visit to This island. The iDtelligenc
| received while in the Behring's Sea,
through American newspapers touching the
anxiety our wintering had caused in Eu-
rope, prevented me indeed to tarry here al
long as / could have wished; but, notw it'll
standing, our collections and observations
proved ample. The animal world on this
island has undergone quite essential chan :
ges since the time OF Heller.
AN ISLAND OF FOXES. -
Fox, or rathermountain fox, then exist
ed in numbers incredible. They devoured
.a not only everything in any way eatable, but
forced themselved, day ~ night inte hous
es and dragged away all they could "tote,
even things they could have no possible us
for, such as knives, sticks (canss)f sacks
shoes and stockings Ont OF doors wher
the men were at work, they conld not chas
the fox away withstIcks; and, what wit
the slyness and cunning with which the
contriysd their thefts, and .sbe sagacit
with which the y-united to accomplsh wha
they could not do singiy, they beca m
actually dangerous. to the castaways.
A. A. nsxxl a m
these animals have been destroyed by ful
hunters, and they are now so rare we di
not see any ut all. Those that now renal
.. are supposed not to be clothed IN the valu
able. blaek-blue coat common ip tbat day
but In white, OF little value. On the nea
Copper Island the blue. black fox is still
quite numerous.
.o - GIGANTIC SEA cows.
In l74l-42 Heller and his compan ion
killed 700 sea otter on the island. Thu
animal, so celebrated for its precious fur
driven away from the island. or sea lions
which then appeared In great numbers yer
few remain; so, also, is the case with th
sea bear of which o few ciudividuals ar
found Ga the sandy cliffs Along The shore
and, finally, the most remarkable amo1
the mammals, on tho island, the glganti
sea COW 10 also extincs.a = Heller's=se sea COZ
occupied In manner the place Of the ole
ven-footed animal among the marine man
mails. 1t was Of o nut-brown color, cover
ed with! hair, grovn together forming q
external hide resembling the bark OF an OIL
oak. It attains, according to Heller,
length Of IS feet and weighed up to 5000
pounds; bad large head, hortrneck bu
slightly developed, front part OF the bod
thick but taperipg rapidly backwards;
had short fore-arma Shich termipated al
ruptly without fingers or claws, but PR
vided with bunch Of short, close hair
(bristles p forming brush hind feet wei
wanting, but were replaced by tail-fi
-