168 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



pany on the islands are there on the rookeries nearly everyday. After 

 the season is past but few white men are left, the rookeries are not 

 often visited, the steamer St. Paul and the revenue cutter have de- 

 l^arted, and marauders know that it is comparatively safe to attemj^t a 

 landing for the purpose of catching seals. If the revenue cutter could 

 cruise the sea near the islands from August 10 to i!>rovember 1, there 

 would be no marauding. I recommend that so far as possible this 

 service of the cutter be required. 



In accordance with the authority given to the collector of customs at 

 San Francisco to purchase furniture for the seal islands to the amount 

 of $500, purchases to that amount have been made, and I have approved 

 vouchers for the same. The amount was too small to purchase even the 

 necessary articles needed for both buildings. The prices paid to the 

 Alaska Company were really too small to fully compensate them, but 

 their liberality enabled me to get most of the necessary articles requi- 

 site. I ask for a further appropriation of $115 for St. Paul to purchase 

 the following articles: One desk for office, $40; 1 revolving chair, $10; 

 1 easy chair, $10; 1 center table, $20; 2 toilet sets, $10; 1 stove and 

 pipe, $25. Also an appropriation of $25 for the purchase of a new stove 

 and pipe for the house on St. George. 



The appropriation for repairs of -Grovernment building on St. Paul, as 

 per letters of the Supervising Architect of the Department of September 

 3, 1883, and February 7, 1884, has, so far as required, been expended. 

 The appropriation of $125 for repairs on St. George has not been used. 

 I found uiDon examination and an estimate made by a competent 

 mechanic that it will cost $300 to make the repairs contemplated and 

 actually necessary. I therefore ask for $300 for repairs on St. George 

 Island during the coming year. I also ask for an appropriation of $100 

 for St. Paul and $50 for St. George to be expended in the purchase of 

 carpets and matting for the Government buildings. 



The pup skins in salt upon the island of St. George were of no use to 

 the natives, and of no commercial value, and, in accordance with instruc- 

 tions contained in your letter of February 28, 1 have caused them to be 

 destroyed. 



A limited number of pup seals were killed last fall for native food, 

 and the skins given to the natives for clothing and the manufacture 

 of blankets. 



The school maintained on St. Paul during the past year has been 

 more than usually prosperous under the guidance of a new teacher. 

 The number of pupils registered was 54, and the average daily attend- 

 ance for eight months 51.59. In this we challenge comparison with the 

 schools of an enlightened civilization. 



The Alaska Commercial Company have complied with the terms of 

 their lease. I inclose account current with the company. 1 also inclose 

 consolidated report of seals taken and duplicate certificates of shipments 

 of seal skins. 



I have visited St. George Island, and ascertain that the taldng of 

 15,000 seals there exhausted the killable seals to such an extent as, in 

 my opinion, to endanger the seal life. I therefore recommend that the 

 quota for that island be limited to 10,000 for at least three yearvS. This 

 will enable the seal life to recuperate from its present exhausted condi- 

 tion. The Alaska Commercial Company can take more men from St. 

 George to assist on St. Paul, and tliereby keep the distributive share 

 of the proceeds upon St. George up to its usual standard. 



Assistant Agents Moulton and Wardman will go to San Francisco 



