ALASKA INDUSTEIES. . 189 



with additional seal skins on board he would seize the vessels and car- 

 goes. On his arrival here, 26th instant, he reported having seized the 

 schooner San Diego, not far from [Jnalaska, sealing, having some fresh- 

 skinned seal skins on board and 574 in salt, 175 of which had been 

 clubbed. Among the skins were some small pups, this year's, showing 

 conclusively the marauder had landed on a rookery on St. George, as 

 the pups have not yet gone in the water. The San Diego is an old 

 offender and was captured once on Otter Island, sealing. Captain 

 Abbey proposes to hand her over to the civil authorities. She is at 

 present in custody of the deputy marshal at Unalaska. 



This commencement of captures will do much toward breaking up 

 the marauding business about the islands this season; indeed, the 

 Corivin^s presence here has undoubtedly kept off" quite a fleet of 

 schooners and destroyed their unlawful business hereabouts. With 

 the cutter Bear to remain until fall, after coming out of the Arctic, seal 

 life will be protected from i)irates this season. It is the only means by 

 which good can be accomplished in that direction. I do earnestly hope 

 the Department will see the necessity of keeping a cutter around the 

 fur-seal islands every season from the 1st of June to the l^fc of November. 



Mr. J. P. Manchester, assistant Treasury agent, reported to me in 

 person at this island on June 12, and was assigned to duty on St. 

 George Island, as per your instructions. Mr. Manchester informed me 

 he was appointed with the understanding that he conld return to his 

 home at the end of this sealing season. Your letter of April 30, "J. G. 

 M.," says: "Mr. Manchester, owing to tlie hurried manner in which he 

 leaves for his post, is very anxious to return home at the end of this 

 summer's sealing season, and if you can arrange so that he can be 

 absent during the ensuing winter the Department will not object to 

 your so doing." 



Mr. T. F. Ryan, assistant agent in charge of St. George, and myself 

 are granted leave of absence " provided a Treasury agent is left at each 

 island during the absence of Mr. Ryan and myself" (J. G. M., A. F., 

 228-231, Y, September 25, 1885). 



Mr. Ryan insists on availing himself of his privilege, and Mr. Man- 

 chester can not remain on the island this winter. The Alaska Commer- 

 cial Company's agent is not satisfied to be left on the island during 

 the winter without a Treasury agent. 



In the dilemma and without any authority of law, but relying on the 

 authority contained in your letter of April 30, quoted above, I appointed 

 Dr. L. A. Noyes, a Democrat in politics, acting assistant Treasury 

 agent, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, and 

 placed him in charge of St. George Island. A copy of my letter of 

 appointment and instructions is herewith inclosed, marked "E." Dr. 

 Noyes is the Alaska Commercial Company's physician on this island, 

 and was an applicant for the vacant assistant Treasury agency at the 

 time Mr. Manchester was appointed. His application, he informs me, 

 was indorsed by, among others, Hon. B. B. Smalley and Hon. Hiram 

 Atkins, of Vermont. 



I regard it as a fortunate circumstance that a proper and available 

 man was here whom I could secure to go to St. George and assume the 

 duties of the office, as it will not do to leave the islands without some- 

 one whom the natives are accustomed to call " the Government." I 

 therefore hope my action in the premises will be approved and that 

 some authority of law will be found to pay Dr. Noyes for his services 

 until he is relieved from duty by the return of the absent Treasury 

 agents or the order of the Secretary of the Treasury. 



