ALASKA. 97 



at Ounalaskba, and counted again and certified to by the Treas- 

 ury agent. 



It will at once be seen by examining tlie state of affairs and 

 the conditions upon which the lease is granted, that the most 

 scrupulous care in fulfilling the terms of the contract is the 

 best and most profitable course for the lessees to pursue; that 

 it would be downright folly in them to deviate in the slightest 

 degree from the letter of the law, and thus lay themselves open 

 at any time to discovery and the loss of their contract ; their 

 action can be investigated at any time by Congress, of which 

 they are aware. They cannot bribe these three hundred and 

 seventy-odd people on the islands to secrecy any more than 

 they can conceal their action from them on the sealing-fields; 

 and any man of average ability can go among these people and 

 inform himself as to the most minute details of the sealing- 

 catch from the time the lease was granted, should he have rea- 

 son to suspect the honesty of the Treasury agents. 



I therefore have no hesitation in stating that as far as the re- 

 lationship existing between the Alaska Commercial Company 

 and the Government is concerned, the best interests of the lat- 

 ter are honestly and faithfully served, simply because it is the 

 very best policy for the former so to do ; that all the conditions 

 of the lease are most scrupulously complied with and observed, 

 and that the lessees hold themselves ready at any moment to 

 comply with any just and proper modification of the regulations 

 that time may develop. 



With regard to the profits of this company upon their yearly 

 catch of one hundred thousand seals, the agents of the Gov- 

 ernment have no concern whatever; after they have observed 

 the faithful fulfillment of the terms of the contract existing be- 

 tween the company and the Government, the amount of their 

 profit is a pure matter of business over which the lessees have 

 entire control, and in regard to which they should not be sub- 

 jected to impertinent inquisition. 



THE CONDITION OF THE NATIVES ON THE SEAL ISLANDS. 



This has been wonderfully improved by the action of the les- 

 sees during the short time they have had control of affairs there. 

 The truth of this will be realized by any one who may take the 

 trouble to contrast the present condition of the people on these 

 islands with what it was previous to the granting of the lease, 

 and with that also of the i)eople of their class who are novr 

 7 AL 



