50 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



From personal observations taken on your island last spring I am 

 persuaded to believe that the proi)er number and ratio have not been 

 assigned this island, for I do not hesitate in saying that St, Paul is 

 better able to furnish 100,000 annually than St. George is 10,000. 



I would therefore suggest tliat the Se(;retary of the Treasury be 

 informed of this, in order that the act relative to the number of fur 

 seals taken on each island might be amended, so that, say, 15,000 be 

 taken on St. George Island and 85,000 on St. Paul. 



On the 4th of June the Alaska Commercial Company commenced 

 driving seals for their skins, and during this mouth only 0,727 Avere 

 obtained; but in July they came in greater numbers, and the company 

 succeeded in securing their number, 25,000, by the 28th of this month. 

 Should a warm dry season happen to set in, unfavorable for the haul- 

 ing of seals, I feel confident that the number assigned this island could 

 not be taken within the time considered best for the taking of skins. 

 Thus the company would fall short of the desired number and the Gov- 

 ernment of the revenue, when in reality there are millions to be had on 

 St. Paul. Samuel Falconer, 



Assistant Treasury Agent. 



Capt. Chas. Bryant, 



Treasury Agent, in Charge of Seal Islands^ St, Paul. 



Special Agent Bryant: Supplemental Report for 1873. 



Fairhaven, Mass., December 4, 1873. 



Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the Alaska Commercial 

 Company's schooner William Sutton touched at the seal islands, 

 Alaska, on the 4th of October last, for the purpose of taking to San 

 Francisco Messrs. Mossman and Davidson, of that place, two carpenters, 

 who had been employed in building the native church. By this mail I 

 received a brief report from Francis Lessen, esq., assistant Treasury 

 agent in charge of St. Paul Island, containing information of the con- 

 dition of that island two months later than I left, August 9, the follow- 

 ing of which is a copy : 



Treasury Agent's Office, 

 St. Paul Island, October 4, 1S7S. 



Sir: I have the honor to submit to you a short report on the condition of tliis 

 island. Since your departure, August 9, I have, according to your instructions, 

 examined the near rookeries frequently, and on three occasions Mr. Adams, myself, 

 and Bootrin, the chief, went in a whaleboat around the island to the western and 

 northeastern point rookeries. I find our opinion on the unusual quantity of young 

 seals (pups) and the good condition of the rookeries all agree. 



In regard to the health and comfort of the inhabitants, I have much pleasure to 

 state that the management of the company's affairs under Mr. Adams, agent for the 

 Alaska Commercial Company of this island, although short as yet, has proven to me 

 sufficiently that he intends and does as much to improve their condition as circum- 

 stances permit. 



August 1.5 a division was made among the inhabitants of the earnings of this year's 

 sealing, which amounted to $29,674.60, and was divided by the chief in my presence, 

 as follows: 38 first-class shares at 100 per cent, $435.11 per share; 20 second-class 

 shares at 90 per cent, $391.59 per share; 10 third-class shares at 80 per cent, $348.08 

 per share; 6 fourth-class shares at 70 per cent, $304.57 per share. 



On the arrival of the company's schooner inW/am Sutton, October 4, 1 received from 

 the Alaska Commercial Company on account of the Government for distribution 

 among the inhabitants of this island 27 barrels salted and 8,000 pounds dried fish, 

 also 40 tons of coal, as provided for in the lease. 



The school for the education of the children was opened on the 1st of October, 

 under the management of Mrs. Fish as teacher. 



Francis Lessen, 



Charles Bryant, Escj., Assistant Treasury Agent. 



'Treasury Ayentfor Seal Islands. 



