128 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



• 



United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, 



Steamer Mc Arthur, December 9, 1892. 

 Hon. John W. Foster, 



Secretary of State, Washington, D. G. 



Sir : I have tlie honor to forward the affidavit desired, and will forward 

 the duplicate to-morrow. 



We anchored off Sechat village at 3.30 p. m. April 20. Our native 

 chief came alongside and was requested to come on board in the morn- 

 ing and bring with him some of the chief men of the village. He had 

 planned to go hunting wild geese, which were flying at the time; so I 

 promised him $3 or $5 for his loss of time and to accompany us to other 

 villages. We took their testimony in the morning of the 21st, and ran 

 to another village, anchoring at 10.45 a. m., took testimony and left at 

 1.20. Anchored off Uchielet at 2.40 and left at 4.25. Anchored off 

 Taylor Island at 7.20 p. m. and left for Port Townsend at 10 p. m. 



Two to three dollars were given to each head chief and one dollar 

 each to the others for their loss of time and witness fee after testimony 

 was given. All that was requested of them was to answer the questions 

 truthfully. The white storekeeper was on board but a few minutes, and 

 was invited to take a glass of beer or liquor. The priest dined on board, 

 and, 1 believe, took a drink and some claret wine. We were not long 

 enough in any one place to intoxicate anyone if we had been foolish 

 enough to do so. I sincerely believe they would give the same 

 testimony to an English party at any time. 



Tliere were four commissioned officers of the Navy present during the 

 testimony, and as many of the witnesses could speak and understand 

 English, all were satisfied of their truthfulness. 

 Very respectfully, 



W. P. Ray, 

 Lieutenant, United States Navy, Commanding. 



Deposition of W. P. Bay. 



State of California: 



W. P. Ray, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am an olficer in 

 the United States Navy, holding the grade of lieutenant. Under 

 instructions from Washington I went from Port Townsend to Barclay 

 Sound, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, April 19, 1892, in the 

 steamer McArthur, of the United States Coast Survey. I returned to 

 Port Townsend three days later. The object of my visit to Barclay 

 Sound was to procure information in the form of affidavits as to the 

 habits of the fur seals, to be used in the pending arbitration with Great 

 Britain. I visited the various points in that vicinity inhabited by the 

 Indians, and took the testimony of a number of these people and of 

 the priest of the village. For greater convenience I took the testimony 

 aboard the steamer, and I agreed to pay, and did pay, each witness a 

 reasonable sum for attendance, which sum did not exceed the usual fee 

 allowed a witness in a court of justice. The total amount disbursed 

 by me in obtaining the testimony of these witnesses was $35, which 

 amount was distributed among 15 men. It was made up partly of the 

 amount paid to each individual witness on account of his attendance 

 on board my vessel, partly of sums paid out to men who undertook to 

 ascertain the whereabouts of certain of the witnesses and secure their 

 attendance as above. Each witness received a plug of tobacco. No 

 other gratuity of any sort was dispensed. 



