ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 147 



I also imposed a few moderate fines iu aggravated cases. Raw quas 

 takes rank as the most villainous compound that ever traversed the 

 human gullet, making the drinker not only drunk, but sick also, and 

 unfits him for work, even after the stupor has passed off. 



Finally, the evil continuing after the commencement of the sealing 

 season, and the native chiefs refusing or failing to lend their assistance 

 in correcting it, but on the contrary implicating themselves in it, I was 

 constrained to resort to more rigorous measures by cutting off all sweet 

 supplies from the entire village, without exception. This act was 

 reseuted by a strike. On the 22d of June the native sealers at the vil- 

 lage, throwing down their seal clubs, delivered to the agent of t'he les- 

 sees, through their toione, their ultimatum, literally in these words: 

 "No sugar, no seals will be."' The head chief at the same time dis- 

 patched a runner to the northeast point of the island, 12 miles distant, 

 to stop the gang of 22 sealers at work there. They evidently believed 

 that they had the Government, as well as the lessees, in their power. 



The difficulty was referred to me. I refused to make any concession ; 

 and, as the work could not be permitted to stop, I authorized the 

 agent, upon his application, to employ as sealers a gang of some twenty 

 Uualaska men who had already been brought to the island as tempo- 

 rary laborers at other work. The appearance of these men on the seal 

 fields next morning astonished the strikers and had the effect of weak- 

 ening their fiery resolution. They next came in a body to consult me, 

 and protested against the employment of outsiders to do the work of 

 which they claim a monopoly. I talked to them through an interpre- 

 ter very plainly, showing them the folly and wrongfulness of their 

 course, warning them of its consequences if persisted in, and explain- 

 ing to them the true meaning of the law and lease under which they 

 claim the exclusive right to "do the work of sealing. 1 assured them 

 that their strike would not put a stop to the work; that both the Gov- 

 ernment and the company would see that it went on without them, if 

 necessary; that they could not claim a monopoly of the sealing privi- 

 lege and at the same time refuse to do the work; that they would be 

 guaranteed that privilege by the Government only so long as they 

 were numerous enough and willing to do the work when required; that 

 I would not yield a particle in the matter of the sugar prohibition so 

 long as they stood out in their striking attitude or while clandestine 

 quas brewing and drinking continued; and finally, that if they chose 

 to return to their work and agreed to obey the laws and the Secretary's 

 orders their privileges would be restored to them, they would be fully 

 protected in all their rights, and all would be well. 



These warnings and assurances speedily produced the desired effect. 

 The natives at first prevaricated, undertaking to deny that they had 

 refused to work; then they made various excuses for their obstinate 

 conduct, and finally expressed their readiness to resume work, "sugar 

 or no sugar," and forthwith started with alacrity for the seal field. 

 The Unalaska natives were then withdrawn, and the work of taking 

 skins went forward rapidly to the end of the season, without further 

 difficulty. 



SCHOOLS. 



English schools have been maintained by the lessees on each island 

 during eight months of the year three hours a day. The enrollment 

 of children of school age was, on St. Paul, 40; on St. George, 28; 

 total, 68. The average attendance was a fraction less than 62. The 



