THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 391 



SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That immediately a ft IT tin- passage of tLis act, the Secretary 

 of the Treasury shall lease, for the rental mentioned iu section 6 of this act, to proper and respon- 

 sible parties, to the best advantage of the United States, having due regard to the interests of the 

 Government, the native inhabit ants, the parties heretofore engaged in the trade, and the protection 

 of the seal-fisheries, tor :i term of twemy years from the 1st day of May, 1870, the right to engage 

 in the business of taking fur-seals on the islands of Saint Paul and Saint George, and to send a ves- 

 sel or vessels to said islands tor the skins of such seals, giving to the lessee or lessees of said islands 

 a lease duly executed, in duplicate, not transferable, and taking from the lessee or lessees of said 

 islands a bond, with sufficient sureties, in a sum not less than $500,000, conditioned for the faithful 

 observance of all the laws and requirements of Congress, and of the regulations of the Secretary 

 of the Treasury touching the subject-matter of taking fur-seals and disposing of the same, and for 

 the payment of all taxes and dues accruing to the United States connected therewith. And in 

 making said lease the Secretary of the Treasury shall have due regard to the preservation of the 

 seal-fur trade of said islands, and the comfort, maintenance, and education of the natives thereof. 

 The said lessees shall furnish to the several masters of vessels employed by them certified copies 

 of the lease held by them, respectively, which shall be presented to the Government revenue officer 

 fov the time being who may be in charge at the said islands, as the authority of the party for 

 landing and taking skins. 



SEC. 5. And be it further, enacted. That at the expiration of said term of twenty years, or on 

 surrender or forfeiture of any lease, other leases may be made in manner as aforesaid for other 

 terms of twenty years; but no persons other than American citizens shall be permitted by lease, 

 or otherwise, to occupy said islands, or either of them, for the purpose of taking the skins of fur- 

 seals therefrom, nor shall any foreign vessel be engaged in taking such skins ; and the Secretary 

 of the Treasury shall vacate and declare any lease forfeited, if the same be held or operated for 

 the use, benefit, or advantage, directly or indirectly, of any person or persons other than American 

 citizens. Every lease shall contain a covenant on the part of the lessee that he will not keep, sell, 

 furnish, give, or dispose of any distilled spirits or spirituous liquors on either of said islands to any 

 of the natives thereof, such person not being a physician and furnishing the same for use as medi- 

 cine ; and any person who shall kill any fur-seal on either of said islands, or in the waters adjacent 

 thereto (excepting natives as provided by this act), without authority of the lessees thereof, and 

 any person who shall molest, disturb, or interfere with said lessees, or either of them, or their 

 agents or employe's, in the lawful prosecution of their business, under the provisions of this act, 

 shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and shall for each offense on conviction thereof, be punished 

 in the same way and by like penalties as prescribed in the second section of this act; and all 

 vessels, their tackle, apparel, appurtenances, and cargo, whose crews shall be found engaged in any 

 violation of either of the provisions of this section, shall be forfeited to the United States; and if 

 any person or company, under any lease, herein authorized, shall knowingly kill, or permit to be 

 killed, any number of seals exceeding the number for each island in this act prescribed, such 

 person or company shall, in addition to the penalties and forfeitures aforesaid, also forfeit the whole 

 number of the skins of seals killed in that year, or, in case the same have been disposed of, then 

 said person or company shall forfeit the value of the same. And it shall be the duty of any revenue 

 officer, officially acting as such on either of said islands, to seize and destroy any distilled spirits 

 or spirituous liquors found thereon : Provided, That such officer shall make detailed report of his 

 doings to the collector of the port. 



SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That the annual rental to be reserved by said lease shall be 

 not less than $50,000 dollars per annum, to be secured by deposit of United States bonds to that 



