ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 259 



Island of St. George, 

 Bering Sea, Alaska, April 11, 1890. 



This is to certify that 4,121 fur-seal skins have this day been shipped on board the 

 steamship Arago, Captain Thoiuas commanding, and consigned to the North Ameri- 

 can Commercial Company of San Francisco. This being the total catch on St. George 

 Island for the season of 1890. 



Albert W. Lavender, 

 Assistant Treasury Agent. 



Island of St. George, Alaska, 



August — , 1S90. 



Received this day on board the steamship Arago, for the North American Commer- 

 cial Company of San Francisco, 4,121 fur-seal skins. 



H. C. Thomas, 

 Captain, Commanding Arago. 



[Telegraphic instructions to Special Agent Goff.] 



Washington, D. C, April 39, 1890. 

 Charles J. Goff, 



Treasury Agent, Seal Islands. 

 (Care collector of customs, San Francisco, Cal.) 



In case absolute necessity, caused by scarcity of natives or otherwise, 

 use best judgment and discretion in allowing killing seals for skins 

 after July 20. 



W. WiNDOM, Secretary. 



P. — Protest of George E. Tingle. 



North American Commercial Company, 



St. Paul Island, Alasl-a, July 18, 1890. 



Sir : Tour communication of the 8th instant was received, in which 

 you notify me as superintendent of the North American Commercial 

 Company that said company must cease killing seals on the 20th instant. 

 The delay in replying thereto was with the hope that, as a result of our 

 several verbal discussions of the propriety or necessity of your order, 

 you would be convinced of the untenable position you have assumed 

 and revoke the order, thus allowing the lessees to go on with their 

 business as the law provides. Your announcement to me this evening 

 that you will not revoke your order, and that your decision is final, 

 leaves me but one thing more to do, viz, file this protest against the 

 wisdom, justice, or necessity of enforcing on the lessees what we con- 

 sider an arbitrary abridgment of our rights under and by virtue of 

 the law. 



The lease was executed by the Government of the United States in 

 pursuance of chapter 3, title 23, Eevised Statutes. This law authorized 

 the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe from time to time the rules 

 and regulations by which the Treasury agents in charge of the seal 

 fisheries shall be governed. There is nowhere in the law any provision 

 authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury, after he has fixed upon the 

 number of seals the lessees shall kill in any one year, to cut down the 

 time to such a date as to make it impossible for them to secure the numi- 

 ber allowed to be taken. 



