Chapter IX: WONDERFUL SEAL ISLANDS pp. 188-253

The Fur-seal Millions of the Pribylov Islands.—Marvellous Exhibition
of Massed Animal-life in a State of Nature.—Story of the Discovery of
these Remarkable Rookeries, July, 1786.—Previous Knowledge of them
Unknown to Man.—Sketch of the Pribylov Islands.—Their Character,
Climate, and Human Inhabitants.—A Realm of Summer-fog.—The Seal-life
here Overshadows Everything, though the Bird Rookeries of Saint
George are Wonderful.—No Harbors.—The Roadsteads.—The Attractive
Flora.—Only Islands in Alaska where the Curse of Mosquitoes is
Removed.—Natives Gathering Eggs on Walrus Islet.—A Scene of Confusion
and Uproar.—Contrast very Great between Saint Paul and Saint
George.—Good Reason of the Seals in Resorting to these Islands to the
Exclusion of all other Land in Alaska.—Old-time Manners and Methods
of the Russians Contrasted with Our Present Control.—Vast Gain and
Improvement for Seals and Natives.—The Character of the Present
Residents.—Their Attachment to the Islands.—The History of the
Alaska Commercial Company.—The Wise Action of Congress.—The Perfect
Supervision of the Agents of the Government.—Seals are more Numerous
now than at First.—The Methods of the Company, the Government, and
the Natives in Taking the Seals.