Seal Island Historic District

Infobox_nrhp | name =Seal Island Historic District
nrhp_type = nhld

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caption = St Paul Island
location= Pribilof Islands, Alaska
lat_degrees = 56
lat_minutes = 54
lat_seconds = 28
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 170
long_minutes = 2
long_seconds = 26
long_direction = W
locmapin = Alaska
area =
built =1911
architect=
architecture=
designated = June 13, 1962cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=78&ResourceType=District
title=Seal Island Historic District |accessdate=2008-07-03|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service]
added = October 15, 1966cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
governing_body = DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
refnum=66000156

The Seal Island Historic District is a National Historic Landmark District located on the islands of St. George and St. Paul in the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea of Alaska. These islands are home to Northern Fur Seal herds which were actively hunted by indigenous populations and later by many nationalities. The North Pacific Fur Seal Convention of 1911 signed by Canada, Japan, Russia and the United States limited hunting of the seals on these islands.

The buildings are deteriorating or are under threat. On St Pauls island, 6 of the 10 historic structures were demolished. [ [http://www.nps.gov/akso/cr/akrcultural/CulturalMain/2ndLevel/NHL/NHLSealIsland.htm NHL Alaska details] ] Although no longer commercially hunted, the seal population has been decreasing recently, possibly due to huge amounts of trash that has washed up on the islands. [ [http://www.buffalonews.com/nationalworld/national/story/376633.html AP Story: Seals' island is dumping ground for marine debris] ]

References