The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-01
LIFE ON THE SEAL ISLANDS.
The Seal Strengthening Business and the
Peculiarities of the Animals.
How the Natives of the Islands Live An
Interview with Thomas F. Ryan, Gov
eminent Agent at st. George.


George, one of the seal islands off the Alaska
coast, dropped into the city the other day on his
vacation. He is in the best of health, and in
answer to the question, 'What do you think of
Alaskan replied he was not thinking about it at
all. I'm thinking only of dear old Indianapolis.
Ii there is spot belonging to Uncle Sam calcu-
lated to make one sing Home, sweet home, it's
the seal island of St. George The raging sea
and roaring bull seals might drown his fog
thckened voice. but he would sing all the same
The island is 1900 miles from San Francisco,
over very lonely sea, that in summer is smooth
enough, but in the spring and fall is exceedingly
rough. There is but little sailing over its sur
face in the winter for, if the waters would per-
mit the business of that desolate section of the
world, sealing and fishing, is all done in few
months in the summer.
"As far as the Alaska Commercial Company
is concerned, its principles in its dealings with
the native Aleuts are very honorable and up
right. The company not only lives up to the
very letter Of the contract, but in dealing with
the people it goes further than the contract re-
quires l really think they have spoiled the
natives by teaching them to lean entirely upon
ance. The company has more interest to deal
fairly with the government than the government
has in the matter because the contract is such
profitable and of such nature that if the
company should fail in any way avoid its con-
tract, it would be of greater injury to the COM
pany than to the government if it caused the loss
of this valuable contract.
II left San Francisco May 10, 1885, and was
on the island of st. George fourteen months. In
all that time there was, beside the two company
ships which were there during the sixty days in
each sealing season, two others that tried to
land supplies in October, but failed to do so. In
January last we had visit from the revenue
cutter Bear, which, on the 23d of that month,
brought the news of Vice president Hendricks
death, which occurred the previous November.
We got no mail after that until the 18th of May,
1886. There were with me the island-white
men-only an agent of the company and three
other gentlemen. There are on the island
liz natives-men, women and children.
My main duties were to count
the skins when taken by the company
into the salt house. and again when they are
brought out for shipment The business with
the natives is to see that they are not imposed
upon, and to protect the seal rookeries from ma
rauders-seal pirates, We call them. We had
number of visits from these pirates last summer,
and a number this summer The revenue cutter,
Corwin captured, up to the 1st of August, the
day / left. four of these piratical schooners
three English and one American They had
killed in the water 1900 seals and taken their
skins The skins were taken away from them
and put away in the mpany's salt-house. The
ships were dismasted, the officers and crews
taken as prisoners to Sitka.
"The natives, Aleuts they are called are
very quiet and harmless people, though not
overly clearly in their habits occupying
high scale when virtue is taken into account
While they have taken millions of seal SKINS
however, there is no record of murder ever
having been committed among them. The
company, under their lease. furnishes a free
school, free coal, and sufficient quantity of
sailed salmon for the winter. The company
found them in dirt houses and, without being
compelled to do so, furnished them good, frame
houses and physician, which their lease did not
require. The Aleuts on ST. Georges island re-
ceive for their pay for the seals taken about
So, 900 year in money and another 81 900 in
money for extra work. This they spend, for the
most part, for clothing. as food and nearly
everything else is supplied them by the com
pany. We killed $4,000 seals this year on ST.
George, and on the neighboring island Of ST.
Paul So 000 ST. George is four and one-half miles
wide by ten miles long For this the govern
ment received 1862. 500 and for the lease of the
islands $55 600 besides.
The natives have Greek church. conducted
on a rather extravagant scale. The church and
the priests house have been built in less than
four years at cost Of $40 000 all out of the peo-
pies money, besides which church fund of So
900 has been set aside. | spoke of their morals
Bad as they are, they as good as the example
that has been set them, especially by government
officers.
1.-The government issued orders that no liquor
should be sold to the islanders except for medical
purposes and even then instructions were con-
strued that the sick should be very SICK indeed
before they get drop. The government seven
years ago said there should be more 'quass.'
native liquor. and prohibited the giving or sell
ing of sugar to natives. sugar being used in its
fermentation. / think the rule too stringent
wished when on the island, the people were
so obedient to me- to have an opportunity of
trying if l could not get it modified so that they
might at least have sugar for their tea, of which
they drink great deal l have heard a great
deal about the effects of drinking QuasS, but
have failed to hear of anybody ever having been
stabbed or seriously hurt in any quarrel brought
about by it's use.
'"The seals begin coming in MAY, the bulls
first, and selecting places for their harems on
the rookeres The come a few weeks
after-then come the hoiechickies or bachelor
seals young males three to four years old.
These are compelled by the older ones 10 90 hack
further on the island. These are driven by the
natives to the killing grounds. two or three
"'''oe i~'""" "erou wonld drive drove of hoes
On good cool, damp day they will travel three
miles in three or four hours. On reaching the
killing ground they are struck in the head with
stick longer than base ball bat, loaded with
lead Only the three or four-year-old male
seals are killed The companys intention is to
take. no skin weighing loss than eight pounds.
From that they run up to fifteen sometimes
even twenty pounds. Cows and bulls are never
killed. The pups are born soon after the ar
rival of the cows On the island. On leaving the
island the bulls go first the bachelors and cows
the last of August, and lastly the pups, about the
last of November.
THE pups do not take to the water naturally.
AZ first the mothers try to coax them to, and af
| forwards, if coaxing does not do. will push them
in, gathering Thorn by the nape of the neck as a
cat does kitten The bull seal never leaves