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

that time, they we're confined to Behring's
leland, except few individuals who had
. strayed off. According to what is related
by Middendorf. on the authority OF the
celebrated Won Baer and Won Brandt the
sea COW was not seen before Hrller's time,
in 174l; and that the last was killed in l76S
Through inquiry among the natives. how
ever, | got positive information that sea
COWS have been killed later A creole ,Q.e.
amalgamaton of Russian and AleuD, who
was 81 years OF age. and who appeared in
telligent and discreet, said his father died
in 1847, aged SO he was native of Vol
teguia, and came to Behring's Island when
IS years of age-that Is in 1777-and he
(the father related that during the two or
three first years of his presence here-that
is l779. S0-the sea cow was still caught at
low water while browsing near shore. OF
the carcasses only the heart was eaten and
the hides were used for "bajdares "(boats).
Ia consequence of the thickness of its hide
1t had to be split Two such split hides
were required for bajdar, of the following
dimensions: length 90, width y depth feet.
Later than the time named none OF them
were caught 1t is surmised however, that a
sea cow has Appealed near the. island sthl
later. Two Creoles, Feodor Mertschenin
and Stpnoff saw, about twenty-five years
ago, near Tolstoy-Mys, on the east coastof
the island, an animal to them unknown
bulky forward, small behind ; it had small
fippeI aud was about 10 feet long above
water and moved alternately rising and d.
wing it did not breathe through blow
holes, but through the mouth, which was
somewhat lengthy it was OF brown color
with large white spots had no dorsal lin,
but wh2n it bent the "knots formed by
the back bone could be plainly seen on &C
count OF its lsanness. l instituted close
exam ination of both witnesses, and their
dispositions agreed perfectly and seemed to
command belief. One of the employees of
the Alaska Company, Herr Ohsche, ma
tive of Livonia, and at present domiciled
on Copper Island, related that skeletons of
the sea COW are TO be found on the west
side of the island bat not on the islet
| (holm) IN front of the colony, though
found on the near beach Of the maiu il
land.
Such is the scant information Rave bes Il
able to gather of this animal from the ma
tives and others. have, on the other
hand, had the good fortune to lay hold on
a great and beautiful collection OF the com
pone 1t parts to form skeleton. When l
first became acquainted with the Europe
ans on the island they told me there were
small prospects could here achieve any
considerable collection. The company had
themselves offered in vain one hundred and
fifty roubles for a skeleton but, after be-
ing a few hours ashore, | became aware
that greater or less quantities were to be
found here and there near the cabins OF the
natives. purchased these and purposely
paid such prices that the sellers became
more than satisfied and their neigh bors
Jealous. Many men Of the native popula-
ton began to search for them with great
zeal, and obtained in this way twenty-one
casks, great boxes and barrels, filled with
the Rhyttna bones, among them many OF
them complete of the same indentical ami
ual. The Rhytina bones do not lie near tn g
coast but on a terrace about six to ten feet
high, covered with rich growth OF grass
The superintendent soil is generally one to
one and q half feet in thickness, and in Or
der to find them, it being out of the ques'
ton to dig over the whole surface OF soil,
the ground must be probed with rod or
bayonet. One soon learns from the sound
whether the instrument touches rock wood
or the bones Of the Plytinh
The ribs of the animal are, on account OF
their ivory-like hardness, used for shoeing
the runners of their sleighs and for ca rived
works. These are, therefore, already con-
sumed to greater extent than the other
bones. The finger bones seem to have
been almost totally destroyed, as also the
terminal caudll YertebrR.
SEA BEARS.
| Tho onlv Ia rgar animal which remaiuS as