118 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



in October. No predatory vessels had appeared about any of the islands 

 of the Pribilof group up to the time of my departure, save the schooner 

 Loleta, which was seized by me on the 27th of May last and the case 

 fully reported to you at the time. Her destination, however, was the 

 Arctic shore of Alaska. 



I personally visited St. George Island twice during the season, and 

 examined into its affairs as closely as practicable. The improved con- 

 dition of the seal life of this island and the increased numbers of seals 

 this year, as reported by officers and agents stationed there, convince 

 me that no mistake was made in increasing the island's quota of skins 

 from 18,000 to 20,000 for 1879. This increase has, besides, had the 

 effect of enabling a more equitable distribution of the proceeds to be 

 made among the natives of the two islands. 



OIL AND OIL MANUFACTURING. 



By Department letter of instructions, dated April 7, 1879, I was 



directed as follows: 



You will require the Alaska Commercial Company to exhibit to you tlieil" hoolvs 

 showing the amounts actually paid to the Indians [Unalaska Aleuts] for labor iu 

 taking the 15,000 gallons of oil last season [1878] ; also the payments which may 

 be made for like services in taking oil during the present season, and the quantity 

 taken, and make a full report thereof iu detail at the close of the sealing season. 



Having complied with these instructions, T now report as follows: 



(1) The sum paid by the company for labor in making oil in the 

 season of 1878 is shown to be $1,022.92, viz: 



Amount paid to natives of Unalaska : 



Seven men working 17 months 18 days, at $30 and $40 per month, with 



board $629.82 



Amount paid to natives of St. Paul Island : 



Two men working 4 mouths 26 days, with board $205. 00 



Nineteen men working 188 days 1 hour, at $1 per day 188. 10 



393. 10 



Total 1,022.92 



Being at the rate of about 6.8 cents per gallon for the 15,000 gallons 

 made. 



(2) The present season 17,469 gallons of oil were made, and the sum 

 paid for labor in making it was: 



Amount paid to natives of Unalaska: 



Sixmeu 2 months each, at $40, with board $480.00 



Fourteen men U months each, at $30, with board 630. 00 



$1, 110. 00 



Amount paid to natives of St. Paul Islaud: 



Nine men 19 mouths 10 days, at from $25 to $80 per month, with board. 556. 06 



Total 1,666.06 



Being at the rate of about 9.5 cents per gallon. 



It will be seen that this is a considerable increase in the reported 

 cost per gallon of manfacturing over that of 1878. I am not advised as 

 to the reason of that increase. 



Of this season's manufacture 12,076 gallons remained at St. Paul 

 Island, live packages, 1,0,39 gallons, were shipped to Unalaska for 

 the use of the natives, and the remainder, 6,249 gallons, were shipped 

 to San Francis(;o. There are by the gauge marks 19,304 gallons. I had 

 no instrument at the island for correctly gauging the oil, and if it is 

 desired by the Department that the gauge marks be verified, I recom- 

 mend that the work be done here by a regular ganger. The company 

 claims the usual commercial discount of 10 per cent. 



