Pribilof Islands

Pribilof Islands, also Fur Seal Islands, group of islands, south-western Alaska, in the Bering Sea. St Paul, St George, Otter, and Walrus islands are the largest of the group; the remainder are islets. The total area is about 161 sq km (62 sq mi). All are hilly and of volcanic origin. The native inhabitants are Aleuts. St Paul (population, 1990, 763) and St George (population, 1990, 138) are the only centres of habitation. The islands are famous as mating places for most of the fur-bearing seals of the world. Otter, polar bear, blue and white fox, and many species of birds inhabit the islands during all or part of the year.

In 1786 the Pribilof Islands were discovered and claimed for his country by the Russian navigator Gerasim Pribilof (fl. late 18th century), for whom the group is named. After the United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867, the islands were leased by the federal government to sealing companies. The rapid depletion of the seal herd resulted in the signing of a treaty in 1911 to control sealing, with supervision of the seal herd by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The herd is now controlled by the US Department of the Interior. Under this protection the seal herd has greatly increased in size.