The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-17

bers stand armed with hardwood clubs
FIVE feet long. somewhat similar IN shape
to a ball bat. The killable seals are
pointed out to the clubbers by the chief;
one blow upon the head renders 1t In.
sensible, it is then " stuck" and
skinned. The native women are on the
ground with their knives and leather bags
to secure such portions of the carcass as
they require for food. The natives are
very fond of seal meat and eat large guam
titles of 1t. The blubber, which lies inn
mediately under the skin, is used for fuel
during the winter.
The labor of taking and sailing the skins
is performed by the natives of the islands.
They are employed by the company. leas-
ing from the government the exclusive
privilege of killing seals for their skins.
The work Is done under the direction of
the agent of the company. The natives
receive 20 cents per skin. The amount
earned during the sealing season is from
$3.50 for the lowest grade sealer up TO $500
for No. sealer.
The lessees have built village of neat
frame cottages upon each island for the
use of the natives, and furnish each cot
tage with cook stove, which is provided
rent free. The lessees also furnish free of
cost nearly sufficient amount of coal for
each years consumption free of charge to
the natives, also supply of salt fish.
THE NATIVES.
The natives are Aleuts, not Indians.
They are descended from the Japanese and
Esquimos. During the twenty years since
they have been citizens of the republic
they have become much more than half civ
ilized. The lessees maintain an English
school eight months of each year. Their
religion is the Greek-Catholic. There is
upon each island neat church edifice:
They are devoted to their church, and
would give neSrly their entire yearly in
come to their church if allowed to do so.
GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLANDS.
The seal islands are special government
reservation, and the government of the
natives and the killing of the seals are
under the control of the secretary of the
treasury, through special agents of the de-
partment stationed upon the islands. All
laws, rules and regulations for the
natives are such as emanate from the spe-
cial treasury agent in charge. They are
easy people to control. 1t is doubtful If
there is any people to be found anywhere
who are practically in enforced idleness
for ten months of the year so easy to
manage as the Aleuts, of the seal islands.
The writer had charge of the island of ST.
Paul, having native population OF 30
During the period there was not single
breach of the peace, and he was not called
upon TO administer punishment to but
three natives, and these were for minor
violation of the rules in relation to intoxi-
cation. 1t may be of interest to one of
the political parties of the country to
know that the agents of the treas
ury department in charge of the
seal islands enforce prohibition, even to the
extent that they do not permit the natives
to buy sugar, for from this, mixed with
-four, they brew villainous beer called
"quass, which produces most hilarious
and energetic intoxication.
The lessees have supply store on each
island, stocked with about such an assert
ment of goods as is usually found In the
average village store. The natives dress
quite as well as the families of the we'll
TODD mechanics of the states, and are
happy, contented, childlike people.
S. r. NETTLEToN,
Special U. s. Treasury Agent.
1.-The illustrations are reduced from drawings
by Professor Henry W. Eliott.1