106 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



whicli Lad theretofore taken place; that he had on one occasion made 

 a murderous assault ou the chief, without i)rovocation, which came near 

 proving fatal to that individual, and that through his generally bad 

 character and notorious conduct had rendered himself personally 

 obnoxious to the greater portion of the peo])le. It was therefore unan- 

 imously agreed that an example should be made of Krukoflf' by remov- 

 ing him from the island. From my own knowledge of his general 

 character and conduct in the past, and as the least severe punishment, 

 and the only one which seemed to be practicable, I resolved to act iu 

 the matter in accordance with the ijeople's suggestion, feeling assured 

 the best interests of the whole community would thereby be promoted. 

 He was accordiugly placed on board the revenue cutter June 11, and 

 subsequently landed at Unalaska, where the agent of the Alaska 

 Commercial Company directed provision to be made for his support 

 until such time as it might be deemed advisable to permit him to return 

 to the island. 



The past winter here has been one of unusual severity. A miuimnm 

 temperature of 21° F. below zero was indicated and a mean for the 

 month of February of 6° above. The fall of snow has been heavier 

 than for many years previous. 



The natives have, however, passed a comfortable winter. The coal 

 gratuitously distributed by the company, together with driftwood, 

 which was cast upon the island in unusually large quantities last fall, 

 furnished an ample supply of fuel. 



The general health of the natives during the winter has been unusually 

 good and their condition in other respects has improved. These facts 

 are in a great measure due to the absence of quas. Indeed, this matter 

 of the consumption of intoxicating drinks is one whose importance can 

 not be overestimated, considered with reference to its inHuence upon 

 the welfare and prosperity of the people. 



I may state that without thorough and permanent reformation in this 

 regard all efforts looking to any material improvement iu their general 

 condition must prove of little avail. 

 Yery respectfully, 



J. M. Morton, 

 Treasury Agent, in Charge of Seal Islands. 



Hon. John Sherman, 



Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, JJ. G. 



Special Agent Morton ; annual report for 1878. 



San Francisco, Cal., September 4, 1878. 



Sir: I have the honor to report as follows relative to affairs at the 

 seal islands since the date of my last yearly report. May 14, 1878: 



By the Alaska Commercial Company's steamer, which arrived at St. 

 Paul Island May 12, 1 received from' the collector of customs at San 

 Francisco a certified copy of your telegram to him dated April 24, rel- 

 ative to the number of fur seals to be taken by the Alaska Commercial 

 Company during the season of 1878. 



Said telegram read as follows : 



Yoii aro aiitliorized to soud written instructions to John M. Morton, Treasury 

 agent at the seal islands, that the quota of seals for the present year shall be fixed 



