ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, or the CATHERINE ARCHIPELAGO, is the name of a group of islands, numbering above 150, and consisting of several clusters, which now belong to the United States, and form an insular continuation of the N. American peninsula of Alaska (q.v.), in the shape of an arch or bridge between the former continent and Asia. They lio in 55° lat., separating the sea of Kamtchatka from the Pacific, and naturally subdivide themselves into five groups: 1. the Xomandorski islands, sometimes not regarded as belonging to the A. I. ; 2. the Sasignan, or "Nearest" islands; 3. the Rat islands; 4. the Andreianowsky, which are very small and little frequented; 5. the Fox islands, among which is Unimak, the largest in the archipelago. The islands are all craggy, and have a desolate appearance from the sea. They exhibit traces of violent internal commotion. Several volcanoes are still periodically active, and warm volcanic springs are numerous. The whole chain or group forms a connecting link between the volcanic range of the west coast of America and Kamtchatka. On account of the
numerous rocks which lie off their shores, they are not very accessible to ships. Under a climate which exchanges only for a short time the monotonous rigor of winter for a Cloudy spring and a hot summer, little can be expected of so niggardly a soil. There are plenty of low scrubby bushes, grasses, moss, and lichens, but no strong and stately growth of trees. An experiment tried at Unalaska of planting pines had very little suc cess. Here and there, however, European kitchen-gardens have been attempted with better results; and the cultivation of the potato has likewise succeeded. The islands abound in springs, and are overrun with foxes, dogs, and reindeer, while the coasts Swarm with fish, seals, and otters. The natives, reckoned now not to exceed 1500, though once numerous, are variously regarded as of Asiatic or American origin. Their occu pation is hunting and fishing. Their trade is chiefly in furs and fish, of which the principal entrepot is Alexandria, in the island of Rojak.