ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 11 



quarter of a million of dollars annually could be realized by the Gov- 

 ernment from this trade alone. 



Cereals and vegetables it is impossible to raise, owing to the short- 

 ness of the season, and for all time these supplies will have to be had 

 from the South. 



The necessaries of life are all cheap and abundant, but everything in 

 the way of luxuries is enormously high. The natives are paid by the 

 company 40 cents per seal skin and for otter skins from $1 up to $40 

 apiece. The natives, though earning a considerable amount of money, 

 area thriftless, imi^rovident people, and spend it as fast as they receive it. 



With regard to the mineral resources of the Territory I am entirely 

 uninformed, having had no opportunity for observation, but on the 

 island of Unga coal has been found, though on trial it is said to be of 

 an inferior quality. 



With regard to the general resources of the Territory, I respectfully 

 refer you to the very able report of Captain Piotrowski, who, speaking 

 the Eussiau language fluently, is better qualified to furnish the general 

 details than I feel myself able to do. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



I have the honor to remain, yours, respectfully, 



Joseph Wilson, 

 Iiispector of Customs. 

 Gen. John F. Miller, 



Collector of Customs. 



Document K. — Inclosure with McLean's Report of Oetoler 26, 1869. 



San Francisco, Cal., October 36, 1869. 



Sir : In accordance with your request, I have the honor to submit a 

 few items in regard to the seal fisheries, etc., of Alaska. 



On the 5th of March, 1869, 1 received orders from Gen. John F. Miller, 

 collector of the port of San Francisco, to proceed to the Island of St. 

 George, Alaska, for the purpose of assisting E. Korwin Piotrowski, 

 inspector of customs, in j)reventing the landing of any persons or mer- 

 chandise upon any portion of said island. We arrived at the island on 

 the 26th of March, where I remained until the 26th of May, 1869. I was 

 then relieved by the United States revenue cutter Lincoln and taken to 

 the Island of Unalaska, remaining at the latter for transportation until 

 the 2d of August, when I procured passage on the schooner Fanny for 

 San Francisco. 



During my sojourn upon the above-named islands I ascertained that 

 the price paid by traders, etc., for fur-seal skins was from 25 to 35 cents 

 per skin last year, and that the price this year was to be 40 cents, the 

 maiket value of seal skins at San Francisco being from $4 to $4.50 per 

 skin. 



About 140,000 fiir seals were captured on the islands of St. George 

 and St. Paul last year (1868). 



The seals come to these islands in May and remain until the latter 

 part of October or the middle of November. During the time from 

 October to November they are killed by the natives only; and none 

 other than natives should be employed in the killing business for the 

 following reasons : The inhabitants of those islands (St. George and St. 

 Paul) where seals breed, have no other resources to live ou than the 

 seal hunting. The peculiar habits of the animal are perfectly known 



