174 ALASKA INDUSTKIES. 



enougli to see with his glass, he discovered her crew (about 20 men) 

 very busy on deck. He could not tell whether they were throwing cargo 

 overboard, or disposing of it otherwise. The men all disappeared on 

 the nearer approach of the steamer, which was not long coming along- 

 side of the schooner, whose name was painted out. The captain, when 

 asked by Captain Hogue of the steamer Dora, said he was from Vic- 

 toria, and gave the name of his vessel as the Adele, but Captain Hogue 

 recognized her as the same piratical schooner captured here last fall 

 by Lieutenant Lutz, of the revenue marine, with her crew ashore kill- 

 ing seals on the rookery, and loading them in their boats. She was 

 taken to San Francisco by Lieutenant Lutz, who lauded her safely and 

 delivered her to the authorities. The voyage from here in her was 

 a very dangerous one, and the exposure to which Lieutenant Lutz was 

 subjected so prostrated him and shattered his health that he is still an 

 invalid. The authorities released the vessel, and set all hands free ; and 

 the Government relieved Lieutenant Lutz of his commission. This is 

 the reward of an officer in the faithful discharge of his duty. The cap- 

 tain of the steamer Bora not having any authority to board her, had to 

 let Ler go to ply her unlawful avocation. The captain of the schooner 

 acknowledged that he thought the JDora was the revenue cutter Conrin 

 when she started for him, as they are very similar vessels. The presence 

 of this marauder the next season after being captured and released, 

 shows the boldness of her captain and his disregard for the laws. 



The positive knowledge of these marauding vessels' hovering around 

 the islands, constantly violating the law, brings me to a matter briefly 

 referred to in my letter to the Department June 7, viz, the necessity 

 for better protection of seal life in these waters adjacent to the seal 

 fisheries. The Treasury agents are not provided with a craft of any 

 kind in which to pursue and board a marauder. We go after them as 

 best we can, by borrowing a work mule, or walk, or open rowboat. 



One Winchester rifle, which I brought with me, is the only gun on the 

 island, provided with ammunition, ready for business, should occasion 

 require it. It is a matter of great astonishment that these islands have 

 for fifteen years escaped a raid from a crew of desperate men. Because 

 they have not been so visited is no argument in favor of future escape. 

 A vessel with a crew of 25 well-armed, determined men, of less courage 

 than a gang who would rob a jewelry store or bank in ISfew York 

 in daylight, could land here any time and " hold up " the dozen white 

 men, unprepared for defense, and guard them, while 5 armed men 

 could compel all the natives to turn out and load aboard the vessel 

 all the seal skins salted in the company's salt houses; then go to St. 

 George Island and do the same thing. The pirate, having secured 

 the whole of the company's valuable catch, could sail off to China or 

 some other part of the world before the company's vessel could get 

 here. Such a thing is perfectly feasible and the great wonder to me is 

 that it has not been done. The exposed position of the seal islands and 

 the manner of tlie lessees' management of their business is yearly 

 becoming better known, through the half dozen sailors they bring up 

 every spring to work as laborers. They go back to San Francisco in 

 the fall and ship on vessels of all characters. The immense value 

 ($1,500,000) of the skins, salted and bundled ready to ship, otters a rich 

 prize for men to take the risk, which is slight compared with the value 

 they would secure, and the peculiar wording of the law would exempt 

 the lessees from the payment of the tax (.$202,500), as it is computed " on 

 skins taken and shipped," instead of on skins taken and counted by 

 the Treasury agent, as it should, in my judgment, read. While in your 



