336 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



the thieves. The present method of protectin,i>- the rookeries, and tlie 

 proper one, is by establishing- watchhouses at localities not so close to 

 tlie rookeries as to prove an annoyance to the seals, but near enough 

 thereto to command a view of them and of the adjacent ocean. 



Further iierfection of the method recommended. — Each one of these 

 watchhouses should be connected by tele])bone with the Governnnent 

 house at the village. An important factor in the proper supervision of 

 this watching is the construction of roads and the furnishing of con- 

 veyances by means of which tlie resident agent can pass rapidly from 

 watchhouse to watchhouse on a daily inspection, or in time of emer- 

 gency. It should be borne in mind that the distances to be traveled 

 are often great and over areas which, by reason of the volcanic charac- 

 ter of the island and the dense vegetation, make walking difticult, ardu- 

 ous, and extremely slow. The most distant rookery on St. Paul is 

 ISTortheast Point, V2 miles away, and the watchhouse there is connected 

 Avith the village by telephone. This telephonic communication should 

 be extended to Polivena, a rookeiy midway between Northeast Point 

 and the village, and with Zapadnie, a rookery G miles to the westward. 

 At Polivena and Zapadnie watchhouses have been erected this year, 

 and a guard is kept there day and night. There has always been one 

 at Zapadnie, but a new one was erected this year on a more desirable 

 site. 



On St. George, Zapadnie rookery is some 5 or G miles from the vil- 

 lage. Here a watch lias always been kept, and this year the watch- 

 house has been imi)roved, and the company have turned over to the 

 United States, free of cost, all tlie parapherimlia in their possession for 

 the construction of a telephone line connecting Zapadnie with the vil- 

 lage. Great East rookery lies to the eastward of the village about 3 

 miles. Here a watchhouse has been built and a guard stationed. 

 Telephonic communication should connect this post with the village. 

 Captain Lavender, the resident agent at St. George, has begun the 

 construction of a narrow road from the village to Great East rookery. 

 There is between the village and Zapadnie a narrow path constructed 

 by the Alaska Commercial Company and used for the transportation 

 of skins on the backs of donkeys from the killing grounds there to the 

 village. This should be converted into a road suitable for vehicles and 

 connected with Starry Arteel rookery. 



Natives as watchmen. — The natives on the islands make excellent 

 watchmen, and with a little training and proper supervision on the part 

 of the resident agents, and the development of a little military spirit, 

 they would not only be entirely satistactory, but it would furnish them 

 occupation and entertainment. As stated before, the vital point in the 

 successful employment of these natives as watchmen is the construc- 

 tion of roads and the furnishing of conveyances, by means of which the 

 resident agents will be enabled to maintain a continual supervision. 

 The employment of white soldiers has been suggested, but I cannot 

 too strongly object to placing marines upon the islands. 



This is a matter which should be vigorously taken up by the Govern- 

 ment and carried to a successfnl termination. 



The lievised Statutes (section ID.IO) places the protection of the islands 

 in the hands of the Secretary of War. This should be amended to read 

 "Secretary of Treasury." 



RAIDS. 



The details of two raids upon the islands in the fall of 1802 are given 

 iu Major Williams's report. These raids >vero made by the vessels 



