ALASKA INDUSTKIES. 337 



Challenge and BorcaJis, and their history shows how difficult it is to 

 successtiilly secure seals by this kiud of thievery. 



REVENUE CUTTERS. 



Period of patrolling. — I have frequently expressed an opinion verbally 

 as to the undesirability of keeping revenue vessels in these northern 

 Avaters during the month of November, and I now earnestly i)rotest 

 against the intiiction of what seems to be unnecessary hardship upon 

 these officers of the Governmerit. By reason of the weather at this 

 reason it is extremely difficult for the cutters to accomplish much in 

 the nuitter of policing the sea. The continuous rough water ijrohibits 

 the taking of seals by pelagic hunters, and, as previously stated, it is 

 possible by means of land parties to effectively and entirely protect the 

 rookeries from laids. Such raids have been infrequent; the conditions 

 of coast and weather make them ineffective, and they have played but 

 an insignificant part in the destruction of the rookeries. 



Yalne of their services. — 1 would beg leave also to record here the 

 high regard in which I hold the officers of the revenue service for the 

 unsurpassed industry and zealous vigilance exercised by them during 

 the past summer. Not only have they performed the regular duties of 

 their office with the utmost fidelity and efficiency, but their researches 

 concerning aquatic seal life have made a most substantial contribution 

 to natural history, and have been of esjjecial value to those represent- 

 atives of the Government who are engaged in the consideration of the 

 international <|uestious now pending. The better equipment of this 

 service in the matter of vessels is imperatively demanded, not only by 

 the growing interests of the entire west coast, but by the exceedingly 

 hazardous duties they are called upon to perform at all seasons of the 

 year. 



CENSUS AND HEALTH OF THE NATIVES. 



Census. — There is appended to this report (exhibits G and H) a census 

 of the natives of St. Paul and St. George, from which it will be seen 

 that there has been a marked mortality among the inhabitants of the 

 former, while on the latter the population has remained stationary. 



The condition on St. George may be a hopeful sign of a general im- 

 provement in health, or it may be merely temporary. 



Health and causes affecting it. — The physical weakness of this people 

 is apparent to everyone who visits the islands. Scrofulous and pul- 

 monary disorders are common, and the natives' methods of life promote 

 both these classes of diseases. They seem to be totally ignorant of the 

 simplest laAvs of health. They are inferior cooks, and irregularity as 

 to the time of taking their meals is the rule. The humidity of the cli- 

 nmte is against them. Physical exertion causes profuse perspiration, 

 while the temperature is so cold that cessation from labor is accom- 

 l)anied by chilling. Against this the natives do not seem to guard by 

 proper dressing. Tea and tobacco are used to excess by both men and 

 women. Quas brev\ing plays its part in injuring health. Attention 

 has already been called to the fact that the immature, developing young 

 girls are required to carry water through the wet grass for a distance 

 of half a mile. They also, with tlie older women, go back and forth to 

 the killing grounds, regardless of weather, for the purpose of transport- 

 ing to their homes, in leather bags slung over their backs, the seal 

 meat and blubber. Again, their little wooden houses are heated in 

 winter to such a temperature that they lay aside their outer clothing 

 H. Doc. 92 22 



