22 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



attended by 29 pupils, wliicli were between the ages of 5 and 17 years. 

 The average attendance was 95 per cent. All manifested great interest 

 in learning the English language and made good progress. All learned 

 the alphabet, and many were able to read simple sentences. 



I herewith transmit a very able report of Acting Assistant Special 

 Agent Samuel Falconer on the condition of the island of St. George, 

 under his charge. 



I have the honor to be, respectfully, yours, 



Charles Butant, 

 Special Agent, Treasury Department. 

 Hon. George S. Boutwell, 



Secretary of the Treasury. 



Renort of Assistant Aqent Falconer. — Inclosure with report of Special Agent Bryant, 



dated May 19, 1871. 



St. GEOnaE Island, Bering Sea, May 14, 1871. 

 Sir : Having been appointed by you October 10, 1870, to act as your 

 assistant ori St. George Island, I beg leave to submit the following 

 report. 



On arriving at my post of duty I was furnished by your late assistant, 

 Mr. S. N. Buynitzky, the following statement, purporting to be tbe 

 number of seals taken during his term of office, together with that of 

 Lieut. E. Henderson, for the year 1870 up to time of writing : 



St. George Island, October 14, 1870. 



There were taken this year, np to July 17, 2,434 fur seal ; from July 17 to October 10, 

 4,352; a total of 6,786. Of this number 1,500 skins are kept free from any private 

 claim, subject to further orders of the Treasury Department. 



S. N. Buynitzky. 



In addition to this number, there were taken during the close of the 

 season 473 fur seals, making a grand total of 7,259 for the year 1870. 



The number of seal pups killed during the whole season for native 

 food foots up to 1,200, and are not included in the above figures. 



As the fur-seal season was almost closed before my arrival, I am unable 

 to furnish you with much of a report on this subject, but will confine 

 my remarks chiefly to the native inhabitants of the place, together with 

 other incidents of interest which happened from time to time. 



I was not long a resident of the place until I found, to my astonish- 

 ment, a higher degree of civilization existing among them than I antici- 

 pated ; and I am happy to add in reference to this that the new arrivals 

 who are in tlie emi^loy of the Alaska Commercial Company proved to 

 be no ways detrimental to them in their ideas, but on the contrary 

 assisted them in carrying out this order of civilization into a higher 

 degree of perfection. Indeed, I can not speak too highly of Mr. Brown, 

 the agent of this company, who has been very particular in carrying out 

 the conditions of the agreement between the company and the Govern- 

 ment, and the many other acts of kindness shown them in aid of their 

 comfort has rendered him quite a favorite among them. 



The company has furnished abundance of everything that is neces- 

 sary for the comfort and sustenance of life, and from the very low 

 prices charged on many of the principal articles has left no room for 

 comi)laints. 



In speaking of these people, I may safely state that I know of no 

 class of the human race that enjoy themselves any more than they do. 

 Scarcely has an evening passed over their heads but they have engaged 

 in dancing or some other amusements. 



