Pribilof Island Logbook, St. Paul Island
8/24/1890 - 9/14/1890
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Logbook contains information concerning sealing activities on the Pribilof Islands, the weather, activities of the Alaska Native (Aleut) population, and deliveries of supplies by U.S. government vessels.
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271
Sunday August 24. 1890
Antone Melevidoff, Jacob Kutchootin, Nicoli Gromoff, Aggie Kushin, George Emanoff, and Elary Stepetin took the Government boat (by permission) and went to Walrus Island.
Several boats-crews went out fishing, and some went to Half-way Point for firewood.
Monday August 25 1890
Natives are out in boats fishing and getting wood.
Tuesday August 26. 1890
Chief and crew returned from Walrus Island and reported having shot a Walrus, but could not land to secure it.
They then came home by way of Half-way Point and took in a load of firewood.
Wednesday August 27 1890
Schooner reported off N.E. P. at 7 O.clock P.M.
I immediately sent two additional men with rifles (Nicoli Bogadanoff and Metrofan Shutygan) and telephoned to the watchmen to keep a look out till daylight tomorrow morning and report to me if the Schooner’s men attempted a landing.
I also sent three armed men to S.W. Bay with orders to watch till morning.
At 10.30. P.M. the watchman at N.E. P. telephoned me that the Schooner had anchored off the North side of the island; and that he and his companions would stay all night on the rookery. Jacob Kutchootin, Nicoli Gromoff and George Kutchootin went to S.W. Bay.
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272
Thursday August 28. 1890
Schooner still at N.E. Point. I went there at 2 Oclock P.M. and left orders at the village for the “Rush” to come to N.E. Point as soon as she should arrive.
I took three fresh watchmen on to the rookery at dark and watched the Schooner.
The “Rush” came round the point after dark and, not seeing any Schooner, anchored within a mile of her in the dark.
From our camping place we saw both vessels all through the night.
At daylight next morning the Rush steamed over to the Schooner and searched her, and found no skins, but found salt and all necessary apparatus for taking seals. She let the Schooner go. Schooner “Kate & Anna” Capt. Lutzjen of Portland Oregon.
Friday August 29. 1890
I returned to the village and the Rush came to anchor, and Mr. Lavender from St. George came ashore along with three of the natives of St. George who came over on a visit to relatives.
Several officers of the Rush came ashore too and after dinner the Rush and all our visitors (excepting Mr. Best) returned to St. George. Mr. Best of Oonalaska came ashore and staid over till tomorrow. I allowed six natives to visit St. George.
Saturday Augt. 30 1890
The “Rush” arrived at 10 A.M. from St. George, and we immediately put on board the Walrus skin and Sea-Lion skins for the Smithsonian Institute
Also twenty one Seal Carcasses for the people of Oonalaska for meat.
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273
All the natives who visited St. George returned today. Their names are Karp Butarin, Peter Austigoff, Nicoli Krukoff, Martin Nedarazoff, Jacob Kutchootin, George Kutchootin.
The Widow Anesia Hopoff and child went to St. George to live with her brother, Corneil Gorokoff who promises to support them, and who came over to bring her home.
Capt. Coulson reports the Bear at Oonalaska.
Mr. Best went on board the Rush at noon and she sailed away for St. George at One P.M.
We killed seals for native food from Zoltoi rookery. We killed 110 of which 64 were prime and accepted, 43 stagy and 3 cut.
I issued the following order to the Chief for his future guidance in killing Food seals:-
1st One gang shall do all the killing.
2nd Only the best skinners shall skin all the seals.
3. The remainder of the men shall clean and dress the meat.
4. The Chief shall then divide the meat to all the natives according to the number in each family, and he shall give the Widows and Orphans the first share, and be sure they get plenty.
Sunday August 31st 1890
A whale carcass floated ashore at Zoltoi and the natives spent the day getting sinew and choice cuts of meat.
The watchmen at N.E. P. reported “Schooner in sight” but afterwards reported it gone.
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274
Monday September 1st 1890
Schooner sighted passing towards Otter island. I doubled the Guard at S.W. Bay, and sent a guard out on the Reef to watch through the night.
School opened. School opened today.
Death Trefan Kozeroff (6 years old) died today.
Tuesday Sept. 2 1890
Took a Crew and sailed to Otter Island, in search of a schooner, but found none, nor could we find a landing. We sailed around the island without seeing a seal anywhere on land.
Wednesday Sept. 3. 1890
Telephone from N.E. P. two Barks and one Schooner in sight between the Point and Walrus Island.
The Schooner was visible at the Village.
Later word came that two boats had been lowered from the Schooner.
I sent a guard to half-way point, and now the Chief started for N.E. P. with instructions to take the men from Half-way point along with him to N.E. P. and to keep a very close watch all night and prevent boats landing.
When the Chief arrived at N.E. P. he telephoned that there were three boats in the water shooting seals. The boats were too far from land to be reached with a rifle bullet.
Dr. Lutz and his family went to N.E. P. in the afternoon.
Marriage Vladimer Prokopieff and Auxenay Artomonoff were married today at 4 P.M.
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275
Thursday Sept. 4 1890
Antone Melevidoff (Native Chief) telephoned from N.E. P. that the Schooner was anchored there and had three boats out with hunters killing seals within half a mile of land.
From Cross Hill he watched them through a glass and counted ten, twelve and, in one case, one hundred shots fired for one seal secured by the hunters.
It was the same schooner that has been around the island for several weeks, and which was overhauled last week and released by the “Rush.” The name of the Schooner is the “Kate and Anna” Capt. Lutzjen of Portland Oregon.
Dr. Lutz and family returned from N.E. P. today. The Dr. reports having seen the firing at the seals by the boats of the Schooner in question.
We have a guard of seven armed men with the Chief there, but they are powerless to do anything, and it is at this time the Rush leaves the sea when she is wanted worst. What infatuation rules the destiny of our Country? Here we are, after twenty years bitter experience with Marauders and Pirates, as though we either did not know our rights, or dreaded to assert and maintain them! I will endeavor to prevent them landing on a rookery, and I am sorry it is not in my power to do more.
Several boats went for wood, and a few went out to fish. I am anxious to have plenty of wood gathered before bad weather sets in.
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276
Friday Sept. 5. 1890
Natives went out fishing this morning. At noon we sighted a Schooner at Otter Island and men ashore firing.
She afterwards sailed off towards St. George.
Saturday Sept. 6. 1890
Antone (the Chief) is still at N.E. Point and telephoned this morning that the same Schooner (Kate & Anna) had anchored there last night and is still there today. As we change the watchmen every Saturday I instructed the Chief to keep the men there until the relief arrived.
I sent the following watchmen to N.E. P.: Elary Stepetin, Parfiri Paukoff, George Emanoff and Martin Nedarazoff.
I sent the following men to S.W. Bay: Viseili Sedule, Stepan Nedarazoff, Necon Shabolin and Dorofay Stepetin.
We drove food seals from Zoltoi and Lukannon rookeries today and killed 83, of which there were 24 Accepted Prime and 59 Rejected Stagy.
Since adopting the plan of allowing none but experienced men to do the skinning I find there are but very few skins cut or injured.
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277
Sunday Sept. 7. 1890
Schooner “Kate and Anna” still at N.E. P. fishing for seals within one mile of the shore. Thus far there has not been any attempt made to land, but we do not know when such an attempt may be made. So I have doubled the guard.
Could we have a Cutter here till the Seals leave the sea there would be no trouble to keep the private vessels out; but it is worse than useless to pretend to protect Seal-life by sending [struck through] Cutters here during the Summer months and then calling them off in September. I feel humiliated as I watch the pirates shoot the seals almost within range of the rifle in my own hands, and that the United States have allowed such things to Continue without earnest protest for twenty years!
Oh! for one day of Hancock’s Second Corps!
Oh! for the Manhood and Spirit of thirty Years ago, before we became a nation of shop-keepers!
Monday Sept. 8th 1890
Schooner still at N.E. Point.
The Chief is still at N.E. P. and has seven armed men along with him to guard the rookeries. No attempt made to land yet, nor do they need to Come ashore for seals, so long as they Can lower nets down and Capture all they Can Carry off without serious protest from any one.
It was reported that a native saw a stranger ashore at Half-way point, but it turned out to have been a native who had permission to be there.
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278
Tuesday September 9 1890
Schooner “ Amethyst” Capt. Oulson of San Francisco—from Carlook with word for the North American Commercial Co., Anchored here this morning.
Death Zachar Bogodanoff (One Year old) Son of Nicoli Bogodanoff, died this morning.
Antone Melevidoff returned from N.E. Point and reported the departure of the Schooner.
Wednesday Sept. 10th 1890
Revenue Cutter Bear anchored here at noon, from Oonalaska, and several of her officers came ashore for a few hours.
John Fratis and family returned from their visit to Oonalaska, and Autepatry [Avramoff?] of Oonalaska Came here on a visit to his friends.
The natives began to unlade the Amethyst this Afternoon, but owing to bad weather, they made but little progress. The Bear weighed Anchor and went down to N.E. Point.
Thursday Sept. 11 1890
After a deal of trouble owing to rough weather, the wood was all brought to land, and sand for “Ballast” put on board the Amethyst which then sailed for St. George.
The Bear is Anchored at N.E. Point.
Birth A Son was born to Eupheme Koshevinkoff.
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279
Friday Sept. 12. 1890
Saturday Sept. 13 1890
Killed Food seals from Zoltoi rookery and got 93, of which 4 were good and accepted, and 89 were stagy.
Mrs. Stepetin (Widow) made application to go on a visit to Oonalaska to spend the winter with her brother, which was granted.
Mrs. Daniel Parrachin asked permission to visit Oonalaska where her parents reside; and return on the Bear this month. Granted.
Mr. Appollon Bourdukofsky asked permission to visit his parents at Oonalaska, and Antone Mellevidoff asked to visit St. George, both requests being granted because Capt. Healy promised to look after both the men.
Mrs. Cushing was given leave to visit her sick sister on St. George.
Her husband, Aggie Cushing, wanted to go to Oonalaska, but he has no relatives there. I refused to let him go farther than St. George.
Renewed the watchmen at all points, and the “Bear” Came up from N.E. Point and anchored off East landing.
I boarded the “Bear” in the Afternoon and arranged with Capt. Healy for the passage of all the visitors and six girls who are to be sent to the School at Oonalaska. Mrs. Healy promised to take care of the girls between here and Oonalaska.
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280
Sunday Sept. 14 1890
I went on board the “Bear” today and invited Captain and Mrs. Healy ashore, where they spent the day, and we had a very pleasant time.
I told the Captain and his Officers that if there were men on the “Bear” who would like to buy pup skins or anything of native manufacture, they were welcome to do so, on condition that the sale was made in my presence so that I could be sure the natives were paid in Cash and not in liquor or any worthless articles; and for that reason I should insist upon both sides meeting at the Government house; and that no visitor would be permitted to enter a native dwelling.
All of which was willingly and cheerfully complied with by Capt. Healy and his Officers and Crew.
There was one man however who left a Schooner (the Amethyst) and took passage on the Bear so as to Get Medical Assistance, and he came ashore with some of the Crew and never came into my sight during the day till about three Oclock, and, as I was aware of the nature of his disease, I was angry because I suspected he either had been or attempted to be in the native houses, I ordered him off the island.This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
National Archives Identifier:
297036Full Citation: Pribilof Island Logbook, St. Paul Island; 8/24/1890 - 9/14/1890; Records of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Record Group 22. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/pribilof-island-logbook-st-paul-island, March 29, 2024]