ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 175 



contract with the Alaska Commercial Company you do not agree to 

 guarantee them against marauders, yet the seal fisheries yield to the 

 Government a revenue so large, compared with the trifling outlay for 

 salaries of Treasury agents, it is my judgment the Government inter- 

 ests should be better protected, that the value of the special reserva- 

 tion in these isolated and unfrequented waters may not be impaired. 



I therefore strongly urge that one of the Government's swiftest 

 revenue cutters be assigned to special duty at the Pribilof Islands, 

 Alaska, to cruise, from the 15th of May, around the islands, and remain 

 in these waters as late as it is safe for her to remain and get to winter 

 harbor, or at least until the seals disappear in the foil. The presence 

 of a cutter as indicated would deter all violators of the law from com- 

 ing here to ply their business, and protect seal life from their unlawful 

 enemies. 



The natives on the islands of St. Paul and St. George look upon the 

 Treasury agent as their friend and protector as against the company 

 employing them, and to him they appeal in case of any imaginary or 

 real grievance. He is regarded by them as their governor and judge. 

 It will not be for theirs or the Government's best interests that either 

 island should at any time be without a resident Treasury agent. I 

 therefore recommend the appointment of a third assistant Treasury 

 agent (vice H. G. Fowler, removed), to report, by the May steamer of 

 next year, to the Treasury agent in charge at St. Paul Island, for 

 assignment to duty and instructions. I close this report with the hope 

 you will concur in the following recommendations: 



(1) The tax or duty on skins to be paid on the Treasury agent's 

 count. 



(2) That 2,000 old bull seals be killed next year. 



(3) That a revenue cutter be stationed here to cruise around the 

 Pribilof Islands. 



(4) The appointment of a third assistant Treasury agent. 



I am, very respectfully, 



Geo. E. Tingle, Treasury Agent. 



Hon. D. Manning, 



Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D. C. 



Indosures ivith Special Agent Tingle's annual report for 1885; sMpping receipts, quota of 



1885. 



Island of St. Paul, August 15, 1885. 

 This is to certify that 84,996 fur-seal skins have this day been shipped on board the 

 Alaska Commercial Company's steamer St. Paul, M. C. Erskine, master. 



Geo. R. Tingle, Treasury Agent. 



Island op St. George, August 15, 1885. 



This is to certify that 15,000 fur-seal skins have this day been shipped on board 

 the Alaska Commercial Company's steamer St. Paid, M. C. Erskine, master. 



T. F. Ryan, Assistant Treasury Agent. 



supplemental report. 



August 5, 1885. 



Sir: Since writing my report I received, by steamer St. Paul, on yes- 

 terday the official report of T. J. Ryan, assistant Treasury agent in 

 charge of St. George Island, to which I respectfully call your atten- 

 tion and which I herewith transmit, retaining a copy in my office, as I 



