ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 77 



had the mitives carry one of their bidarkas across the islaud to Zapad- 

 uie, sent the letter before referred to, and also requested an interview 

 with the captain on the beach, which he at once granted. 



Captain Kimberly was very much astonished when informed that he 

 was violating the laws of the United States; acknowledged that he had 

 been killing seals, but maintained that the jurisdiction of the Govern- 

 ment did not extend to the waters of Bering Sea, but only over the 

 Pribilof Islands, I informed him that the phraseology of the act ap- 

 proved July 1, 1870, was quite plain, and there was no mistaking its 

 meaning; that the second section of said act provides, *• That it shall be 

 unlawful to kill any seal in the waters adjacent to said islands, or on 

 the beaches, clifts, or rocks where they haul up from the sea to remain; 

 and any person who shall violate either of the provisions of this, or the 

 first section of this act, shall be punished on conviction thereof, for 

 each offence by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars, nor more 

 than one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding six 

 mouths, or by such tine and imprisonment both, at the discretion of the 

 court having jurisdiction and taking cognizance of the offence; and all 

 vessels, their tackle, apparel, and furniture, whose crew shall be found 

 engnged in the violation of any of the provisions of this act shall be 

 forfeited to the United States.'' 



He replied that if that was the law, of course he had violated it, but 

 had done so innocently; that he was engaged in otter hunting, and had 

 at that time 200 skins on board; that he was looking for a kelp patch 

 to the west of the island, where he expected to find otter in abundance, 

 and was only waiting for calm weather so that he could hunt them in 

 small boats, and that he had not fitted out for any puri)0se other than 

 otter hunting. In reply to the inquiry as to why he had not answered 

 my signals and sent a boat ashore, he replied that he supposed tbey 

 were made by the natives, prompted either by motives of trade or curi- 

 osity, and therefore paid no attention to them. Had he known that they 

 were made by white men he should have sent a boat ashore at once. 



I informed Captain Kimberly that he must return to me the skins of 

 all the seals he had killed, and leave the shores of this island at once. 

 The natives reported that he had killed 34 seals, but Captain Kimberly 

 said that he had killed 35, and would bring them ashore at once, which 

 he did. These skins I salted and stored in the comi^any's magazine at 

 Zapadnie, where I supposed they would be perfectly safe, but the foxes 

 effected an entrance into the salt house by digging under the floor and 

 destroyed every one of them. It may be proper, however, to state that 

 these skins were deemed stagey by the company's agent, or I should 

 have turned them in to the company to be included in this year's quota. 

 The Cygnet left that same afternoon (September 2, 1874), and has not 

 been seen in these waters since. 



The captain's full name is Samuel Kimberly, and the second officers 



Cannon. The latter was engaged in sealing on this island in 



1868. 



I am, very respectfully, yours, 



Wm. J. McIntyke, 

 Assistant Treasury Ayent, l^t. Georyc. 



Ca])t. Charles Bryant, 



United Statefi Trea.mry Ayeni, iSf, Paid. 



