386 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



might be attempted. It would then be the common talk among the 398 inhabitants of the two 

 islands, and it would be a matter of record, open to any person who ruight come upon the ground 

 charged with investigation. 



Furthermore, these natives are constantly going to and from Ooualaahka, visiting their rela- 

 tions in the Aleutiau settlements, hunting for wives, &c. On the mainland they have intimate 

 intercourse with bitter enemies of the company, with whom they would not hesitate to talk over 

 the whole state of affairs on the islands, as they always do ; for they know nothing else and think 

 of nothing else and dream of nothing else. Therefore, should anything be done contrary to the 

 law, the act could and would be reported by these people. The Government, on its part, through 

 its four agents stationed on these islands, counts these skins into the ship, and one of their number 

 goes down to San Francisco upon her. There the collector of the port details experts of his own 

 who again count them all out of the hold, and upon that record the tax is paid and the certificate 

 signed by the Government. 



It will, therefore, at once be seen, by examining the state of affairs on the islands, and the 

 conditions upou which the lease is granted, that the most scrupulous care in fulfilling the terms 

 of the contract is compassed, and that this strict fulfillment is the most profitable course for the 

 lessees to pursue ; and that it would be downright folly in them to deviate from the letter of the 

 law, and thus lay themselves open at any day to discovery, the loss of their contract, and forfeiture 

 of their bonds. Their action can be investigated at any time, any moment, by Congress ; of which 

 they are fully aware. They cannot bribe these 398 people on the islands to secrecy, any more 

 successfully than they could conceal their action from them on the sealing fields ; and any man of 

 average ability could go, and can go, among these natives and inform himself as to the most minute 

 details of the catch, from the time the lease was granted up to the present hour, should he have 

 reason to suspect the honesty of the Treasury agents. The road to and from the island is not a 

 difficult one, though it is traveled only once a year. 



The subject of the method and direction of the business of sealing on these islands, involving 

 as it does a discussion of the law and the action of the Alaska Commercial Company and the 

 natives combined, is given below. 



BY-LAWS OF THE ALASKA COMMERCIAL COMPANY, SAN FRANCISCO, GAL. 



I. The corporate name of this company is the Alaska Commercial Company, and its affairs are 

 under the control of five trustees, who shall hereafter be chosen by the stockholders of the com- 

 pany on the second Wednesday of June in each year, and who shall hold office until their 

 successors are elected. The annual meetings of the stockholders shall be held at the office of the 

 company. At all elections of trustees by the stockholders, each stockholder shall be entitled to 

 one vote for every share of stock held by him on the books of the company. Stockholders may 

 vote by proxy. All proxies shall be signed by the party owning the stock represented. 



II. The principal place of business of the company is San Francisco, Cal. 



III. The regular meetings of the board of trustees will be held at the office of the company on 

 the first Wednesday in each month, at 12 o'clock m., and no notice of such meeting to any of the 

 trustees shall be requisite. Other meetings of the board of trustees may be held upon the call of the 

 president, by notice, signed by him, of the time and place of meeting, personally served on each 

 trustee residing within this State, or published in a newspaper of general circulation in San Fran- 

 cisco for ten days successively next preceding the day of such meeting. Special meetings may be 

 held upon notice, signed by three trustees, stating the time and pi ace of meeting, and the purpose 

 for which the meeting is called, having been duly served on each trustee, or published in a news- 



