126 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



by tbe day for their work in mauufacturing this oil) ask that the differ- 

 ence that they are required to pay be devoted to the general welfare of the 

 people of the islands. The question of the disposition of this fund hav- 

 ing been before the Department, but still remaining undecided, I respect- 

 fully recommend that the sum in question, $557.92, be devoted to the 

 construction of waterworks on St. Paul Island. This improvement 

 will, in my judgment, prove of more practical benefit to all the people 

 concerned than any other which could be made with the money. At 

 present water for domestic purposes has to be hauled a considerable 

 distance to the village, and in winter it is frequently difficult to procure 

 for several days together, owing to the bad weather, the spring and the 

 roads becoming obstructed by snow and ice. This makes it necessary 

 for the people to procure water by melting snow in their houses, thus 

 keeping them more or less damp, filthy, and unhealthy. The project 

 of distributing water through the village by means of pipes would 

 be a substantial benefit to the people of the island, which I urgently 

 recommend. 



(3) In his official rei^ort of his last cruise in Alaskan waters in the 

 United States revenue cutter Richard Bush, the late Capt. George W. 

 Bailey, formerly commanding that vessel, expressed the opinion (at 

 page 13 of tbe printed report) "that it is not necessary to locate an 

 officer and men from the vessel on Otter Island ; and that now, there 

 being two special agents during the season at each island, an occasional 

 visit by them in their boat from St. Paul to Otter Island would be suf- 

 ficient for its protection." In this recommendation I concur so far as it 

 relates to the officer, who can be relieved by myself or assistant. It 

 will be necessary, however, in order to effectively watch Otter Island, 

 to have the special agents furnished with a suitable boat and at least 

 two men to man it. These might be supplied by the cutter, and can be 

 returned to it when she touches at the island for the last time in the 

 fall. I recommend this course, and ask that the necessary instructions 

 be given. 



(4) I am asked by the native chiefs of St. Paul Island to present to 

 the Secretary of the Treasury the case of one Kassian Shaisnekoff', a 

 temporary resident of the island, who has never been admitted to the 

 privilege of particii)ating in the work of sealing for the reason that, 

 though a native of the island he was living away from it (at Una- 

 laska) when the country came into possession of the United States. 

 He subsequently returned to the island as a temporary laborer, and at 

 his own request (and being a brother to the local priests) was permitted 

 to remain on sufferance, but was ruled out as a sealer by my predecessor, 

 Mr. Morton, in common with other natives who had been i)ermitted to 

 come to the island simply as temporary laborers under authority of the 

 Department. Shaisnekoff' has been given miscellaneous employment by 

 tbe Alaska Commercial Company, and at the close of each sealing season 

 has generally been presented with the sum of $100 by tbe-peoide, out of 

 their sealing fund. I would recommend that the request made in his 

 behalf be granted, were it not for the fact that it would constitute a 

 precedent for the return of several natives of St. George Island who 

 have never lived there since the transfer of the country, and whose 

 advent at this late period, in the capacity of sealers, would doubtless 

 be construed as an injustice to the people who have the prescriptive 

 right to take seals, and who would be sure to strenuously object to the 

 newcomers. I think this claim in behalf of Shaisnekoff would not have 

 been urged were it not for his relationship to the local ])riests. I, how- 

 ever, report the case to you as it is, and await your decision thereon, 



