The morning call., 1891-08-29
ALASKA'S CENSUS,
The Native Population Is Rapidly
Decreasing.

A few days ago Ivan Petroff. Special
Agent in charge of the Alaska census. hav-
ing concluded his labors. returned to this
city and registered at the Lick. He COM
municated some interesting facts to CALL
reporter yesterday
'In taking the census in Alaska ten years
ago." said Mr.. Petroff, 81 was obliged 10
approximate figures in many cases, so that
the census just concluded is the first accu-
rate enumeration which has been made in
that country. The greater portion of the
work was performed last summer, when |
had thirteen assistants. This year | have
been gathering together the details, and
will proceed to Washington at once to rem
der final report.
1.-The total population Of Alaska is 81 ,OOO
comprising 900 Aleuts, 5000 Indians, 5000
Esquimaux. 2300 Cinnamon and 1890 whites,
500 of the latter being on fishing schooners.
The majority of The whites are in Alaska
during only few months of the year, but
they had to be counted by the census
takers. Ten years ago the population Of
Alaska was SO, 600, and then there were
practically no whites or Cinnamon, so that
the native population Of Alaska has da-
creased nearly 30 per cent in the decade.
KILLED BY CIVILIZATION.
ut is the same old story of natives being
killed by the advent of civilization. They
drink whisky whenever they can get it, and
It is always the very worst that is made.
They are also very fond of native beer,
made of flour, sugar and potatoes, which
they drink in large quantities and which
acts injuriously upon the kidneys and liver.
When the natives fall sick these organs are
often affected by the disease. and death gen.
orally enSues rapidly.
ALASKA is a country of rich natural re-
sources, but these are of no benefit to the
natives. the whites draining the country of
all its wealth and giving nothing in return.
There is Treasury regulation that cnly
natives shall kill fur-bearing animals in
Alaska, and every year the cruisers are in
structed to enforce the law, but it is con-
tinually disregarded. The salmon fisheries
are of no benefit to the natives. Cinnamon
and ScandinavianS being employed almost
exclusively, and the same condition pre-
walls in the mines. Even the supplies con-
sumed by the white people are brought
north, and the country is constantly being
drained in some direction.
PROTECTING THE OTTER.
"It seems to me that the preservation of
the otter is matter of even more i'm
pOrtance than the protection of the ssal.
The skin of the otter is much the more vau-
able of the two, aud the Government has
not even established close season for the
animaPs protection. The natives realize
Tile udUSoT OI -Iu0 OJt6T becoming extinct,
and are anxious that some precautionary
measures should be taken.
IAN Interesting phenomenon has been
presented in the rise and fall of BogoslOv.
a volcanic island. one peak of which was
thrown up toward the end of the last cen-
tury. In 1888, a second peak appeared.
Both have been active volcanoes ever since,
and throwing out mud and steam, the mud
gradually forming a solid connection be-
tween the two points. Last June the inter
vening ground disappeared. Now twenty
fathoms of water cover the spot which this
ground formerly occupied. The two peaks
are rocky and SO hot that investigation is
precluded in their vicinity"
PADDLED HIS OWN CANOE.
Mr. PetrOff tad some unpleasant expert
ences at the island of Nunnevak, where
the natives will only hold friendly inter-
course with a stranger when they can
barter their furs. The Census Agent was
not in position to trade, and the nhabi-
tAntS left him severely alone, refusing te
assist him III the way of trans portation. he
was obliged to paddle alone around the
island, which is fifty miles long and thirty
miles wide, in q canoe. The natives had
stolen his gold-rimmed glasses, and as be is
rather near-sighted he ran into a reef, cap
sizing the canoe aud losing his provisions.
He managed to swim ashore and to recover
his canoe aud paddle. He continued his
journey and lived for several days upon
scant diet of berries, when he was picked
up by the Corwln and transferred to the
AlbatrosS, which took MIN to Portland.