ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 115 



I found Assistant Special Agent J. H, Moulton in charge, and obtained 

 from him information touching the condition of aflairs on the island 

 during the x^ast winter, which has been generally favorable, and of which 

 I submit herewith a brief report. 



The season was mild, little or no ice appearing on the sea during the 

 entire winter, and the mercury falling below zero on but one occasion. 

 The ice limit was on May 25 about 200 miles to the northward. 



Most of the seal meat secured last fall by the natives for food was 

 spoiled by the mild weather, the people being without from the 26th of 

 January to the 19th of May, when 282 young seals were killed for food, 

 and on the 2Gth of May 525 more. There was, however, no lack of bird 

 meat secured during the winter, and this, together with the supplies of 

 salmon furnished free by the lessees under their lease and the other 

 provisions bought by tlie people, enabled the people to get through the 

 winter comfortably and to come out in the spring in good i)hysical con- 

 dition generally. Several barrels of salmon are left over from last year's 

 supply. 



There was but little sickness among the natives during the winter. 



I have no report from St. George Island. 



The English school here was taught three hours each week day from 

 September 2, 1878, to May 8, 1870 — eight months — with an average 

 daily attendance of 38 out of a total of 42 on the school roll. The Rus- 

 sian school was taught from two to three hours a day in the afternoon, 

 with an average attendance of about 44. Assistant Special Agent 

 Moulton appears to have taken great interest in the English school 

 and to have exerted himself to promote its efficiency, as also has the 

 teacher, James Butrin, a native Aleut, educated in Vermont. 



Some fur seals were seen about the island all winter, and the bulls 

 commenced coming ashore unusually early in the spring. The regular 

 killing season commences to day. 



Under the authority contained in Department letter of instructions 

 dated April 7, 1879, I have hxed the quota of seals to be killed on St. 

 Paul Island during the present season at 80,000, and St. George quota 

 at 20,000. 



Under the same authoritj^ I have authorized the Alaska Commercial 

 Company to bring twenty natives to this island from Unalaska to 

 engage in the work of oil making, it appearing to my satisfaction that 

 the laborers on this island have not the time or the disposition to do 

 that work. 



Captain Moulton reports but three cases of quas brewing since my 

 predecessor's last report, two at or about Christmas and the other May 

 25. The offenders were punished by having their extra sugar supplies 

 stopped. The evil practice has been substantially broken up by the 

 energetic action of my predecessor, Mr. Morton, and his and my efficient 

 assistant. Captain Moulton. I have informed the people, through their 

 chiefs, that the same policy will be continued. 



On the 28th ultimo I seized the schooner Loleta in these waters for 

 suspected violation of law in appearing in Alaskan waters with illicit 

 goods in her cargo. A full report of the seizure forms the subject of a 

 separate report. I will, as soon as practicable, send the vessel in charge 

 of an officer to the harbor of Unalaska (it being unsafe for her to lay 

 at this island for any length of time) to await the arrival of the United 

 States revenue cutter Richard Rush. 



Assistant Special Agents Moulton and Scribner have been assigned 

 to duty at St. George Island. The latter left for his post of duty on 



