ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 7 



they sliould be opeu to the enterprise and capital of all American citi- 

 zens; that all our traders should be allowed to go to the islands resorted 

 to by the far seal and sea otter, and there barter with the native Alents 

 for the 150,000 skins of those animals which the fisheries will yield 

 annually; that the Aleuts alone should be allowed to kill the fur seals, 

 and that the Government should be paid a royalty of from $1 to $2 

 each for their skins as sold; that this trade in these fur seal skins 

 should be regulated by law, and that the Government should exert its 

 authority at the seal islands to have the law enforced. 



Thus it is insisted the fisheries can be preserved, their product util- 

 ized, the natives have occupation and support, the Government derive 

 a large revenue from them, and all American citizens have like privi- 

 leges in connection with them. 



Under the law and the regulations of the Treasury Department, as at 

 present established, the Government is at very great expense to pro- 

 tect these fisheries, but derives no revenues from them; and while, 

 from motives of humanity, it allows the Aleuts to kill the seals for sub- 

 sistence, the skins of the animals slain are all appropriated by the 

 agents of Messrs. Hutchinson, Kohl & Co., of San Francisco, and 

 Williams, Havens «Sc Co., of New London, no other parties than the 

 agents of these firms being allowed to land on the islands or barter with 

 the natives for the skins. 



It would seem that the present policy of the Government in connec- 

 tion with these fisheries is susceptible of improvement which would 

 result in a yield of revenue from them, while their products would be 

 enjoyed alike by all our citizens, and this without the destruction or 

 deterioration of the fisheries. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



Jno. T. McLean, Special Agent. 



Hon. George S. Boutwell, 



Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D. G. 



Document C. — Inclosure wiih McLean's Beport of October 26, 1869. 



San Francisco, Gal., October 20, 1869. 



Sir: Tour communication of the 19th instant addressed to Messrs. 

 Taylor & Bendel, of which house I am a partner, has been referred to 

 me to answer in relation to the fur trade of Alaska for the information 

 of the Secretary of the Treasury. 



The fur trade in general, with the exception of fur seals and sea otters, 

 in Alaska will not compensate the trouble and expense of fitting out ves- 

 sels for such purposes as long as the Hudson Bay Company hold trading 

 posts in British territory, such as Fort Simpson, on the Stickeen River, 

 and Fort Yukon, on the Yukon River, besides some smaller factories, 

 as they can aflbrd to give higher prices for furs and skins on account of 

 cheaper cost of goods imported by them from foreign ports. Aside from 

 this, the Indians can obtain all the rum which they need, a privilege 

 which is strictly prohibited to American traders, which, however, is a 

 wise measure taken by our Government, life and property not being 

 safe among these Indians when under the influence of liquor. 



I have known cases where nearly whole tribes of Indians have trav- 

 eled over 500 miles to buy their supplies from the Hudson Bay Com- 

 pany's stores in preference to trading with Americans. 



In regard to fur seals. 1 beg to state that we had last year a station 



