ALA8KA INDUSTRIB*. 35* 



and especially upon the point whether there is any objection to a resi- 

 dence upon the Pribilof Islands of British or Canadian commissioners, 

 as suggested. 



Very respectfully, yours, 



Richard Olney. 

 The Secretary of the Treasury. 



Department of State, 



Washington, April 32, 1896. 



My Dear Sir: I should like an answer at your earliest convenience 

 to mine of a day or two since, asking your views respecting the request 

 of the British Government that a naturalist, appointed by that Govern- 

 ment, be permitted to reside on the Pribilof Islands the coming season, 

 and respecting the other matters stated in my letter. 

 Very truly, yours, 



EicHARD Olney. 

 Hon. Charles S. Hamlin, 



Assistant SeGretary of the Treasury. 



April 23, 1896. 



Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge your note of April 20, inform- 

 ing the Department of the desire of Her Majesty's Government to 

 commission a naturalist from England to reside during the forthcoming 

 season on the Pribilof Islands, and of the further desire of the Cana- 

 dian Government to send again Mr. Macoun to continue his investiga- 

 tions. You suggest, also, that the company leasing the fur-seal islands 

 might be willing to make arrangements to permit the gentlemen named 

 to proceed in the company's steamer. 



I have the honor to reply that I see no objection to a suitably quali- 

 fied zoologist residing on the islands this season, but I beg to impress 

 upon you the necessity, if such permission be given, of also sending a 

 zoologist to represent the United States Government. I would further 

 suggest that it be understood that this permission shall in no way be 

 construed as a waiver of the position of the United States that an 

 immediate change in the regulations of the Paris award is necessary 

 to preserve the fur seal herd from destruction during the coming sea- 

 son, or as an abandonment of its efibrts in this direction. Inasmuch 

 as the closed season begins May 1, and continues until the 1st of 

 August, when the fur-seal herd is in Bering Sea, there will be ample 

 time to complete negotiations for such a change in the regulations, 

 should the British Government consent thereto. As to the desire of 

 the Canadian Government to send Mr. Macoun to the islands, I would 

 state that I have made careful inquiries as to Mr. Macoun's standing 

 and abilities as a zoologist. I beg, in this connection, to inclose a 

 copy of a note from Mr. J. Stanley-Brown, agent of the North American 

 Commercial Company, the present lessee of the seal islands, from which 

 it would seem to appear that the interests of both the United States 

 and of Great Britain might be subserved better by the designation of 

 some other person than Mr. Macoun. I do not, however, see the 

 necessity of having any zoologist to represent Canada, other than the 

 one representing the British Government. 



