The Aleutians

The Aleutian Islands, the chain curving southwestward from the mainland of Alaska for 1,500 miles, in which President Harding was greatly interested on his Alaskan trip, are for the first time being accurately explored by the U. S. Navy Department. The islands are inhabited by the Aleuts, a Mongolian stock little above savagery, though with a strong mixture of white blood from Russian exiles before the American purchase. The climate is surprisingly temperate, owing to the effect of ocean currents. The vegetation is confined to tall grass and deep moss. The only industries are fish-canning and sheep-raising. It is believed that the chain was anciently upheaved from the sea, owing to the abundant shells found beneath the snow on the peaks.