The Aleutian Islands: fishing main industry; seasonal work force.

• Author: Barbour, Tracy
• Position: Regional Review

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The Aleutian Islands are actually the tops of submerged mountains belonging to a range that stretches more than 1,100 miles into the Pacific Ocean from the Alaska mainland. The chain of more than 300 small volcanic islands--known before 1867 as the Catherine Archipelago--occupies 6,821 square miles.

The Aleutian Islands Unit represents seven island groups: Fox Islands, Near Islands, Rat Islands, Delarof Islands, Andreanof Islands, Islands of Four Mountains, and Krenitzin Islands. More than 57 percent is designated wilderness.

The foggiest, rainiest, windiest weather in the United States can be found in the Aleutians. There's also lush green tundra and abundant wildlife, including sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals and millions of birds. Fish are also in ample supply. The islands' main marine fish are halibut, cod, perch, sablefish, yellowfin sole, pollock, sand lance, herring and salmon. Naturally, fishing reigns as the chief industry of the Aleutian Islands.

The Aleutian Islands were originally settled by Aleuts, who at one time numbered as much as 25,000. But when the Russians invaded in 1745, the Aleuts were ravaged by violent attacks, slavery and disease. The Native people refer to themselves as Unangan and are now generally known by most non-Natives as the "Aleut." In the 2000 U.S. census, the population of the Aleutian Islands was 8,162, about half of which live in Unalaska.

UNALASKA, THE HEART OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

When many people think of the Aleutian Islands, two places come to mind: Unalaska and Dutch Harbor, which have a year-round population of slightly more than 4,300.

Other prominent cities in the region include Sand Point, with about 1,000 residents; King Cove, with a population of around 800; and Akutan, with about 700. This ABM review of the Aleutians Islands will focus on Unalaska and Dutch Harbor.

Unalaska, one of the few North American cities to be attacked by the Japanese during World War II, is known as the heart of the Aleutian Islands. It's the 11th largest city in Alaska and sits about 800 miles southwest of Anchorage. With nearly 116 square miles of land and 100 square miles of water, the city is actually located on two islands that are connected by a bridge--Unalaska Island and neighboring Amaknak Island.

Amaknak Island is home to the famed Dutch Harbor, which is the official name of the city's port. Dutch Harbor also is used to refer to the part of the City of Unalaska located on...