ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 339 



permission was granted to take two of the dependent orphans, Ellen 

 Merculoff and Oatherin Sluityagiu, to San Francisco to become members 

 of her household, where they will receive far better care and attention 

 than they could get at the islands. 



Relations with the North American Commercial Gomimny. — My per- 

 sonal relations with the officers of the North American Commercial 

 Comijany were cordial and pleasant, and no effort was spared to con- 

 tribute to my personal comfort. Every courtesy was extended to me 

 in the furtherance of my investigations. In our official relations, mat- 

 ters concerning which there was not unanimity of opinion, were dis- 

 cussed freely and provisional conclusions reached, subject to the final 

 action of the Department. 



It is needless for me to state that what I may liave had to say con- 

 cerning the business management of the islands is not made from the 

 standpoint of .an unfriendly critic, but in a spirit of helpfulness, and in 

 the hope that out of it may come advantage to all parties concerned. 



Present divided responsibility. — The islands are suffering at present 

 from the drawbacks incident to a divided responsibility. I can not 

 but deem it unfortnnate for all parties concerned that the lease should 

 have been so drawn as to require the lessees to maintain a physician 

 and a teacher upon the islands, and to provide food, clothing, and fuel 

 for the widows, orphans, and indigents. These people are wards of 

 the Government, and it would seem to have been the duty of the latter 

 to look after these matters itself. It is believed that it would be wiser, 

 if ife can be properly done, to so modify the lease that the Government 

 shall assume all direct responsibility and liability for the material wel- 

 fare of tlie people of the islands, t!ie lessees making i^ecuuiary compen- 

 sation for being absolved from this obligation. 



SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS. 



The recommendations embodied in the foregoing report are as follows : 



(1) That Congress be urged to require from the Fish Commission an 

 annual report of the condition of the rookeries, utilizing for that purpose 

 the charts, photographs, and other data already collected by the Treas- 

 ury Department. 



(2) That regulations concerning the numagement of the islands be 

 formulated, and that a clear and full interpretation be made of the 

 obligations of each party to the lease. 



(3) That a definite decision be made as to the annual disposition of 

 stagey and rejected skins. 



(4) That a definite decision be reached as to the amount of coal 

 to be furnished weekly by the company to the widows, orphans, and 

 indigents. 



(5) That some plan be devised by which it shall be shown what 

 amount of subsistence stores and supplies are given the dependent 

 natives by the company. 



(G) That the improvement of the water supply of the villages of St. 

 Paul and St. George be at once taken up in accordance with plans 

 submitted. 



(7) Should it appear that the present condition of small annual kill- 

 ings on the islands is to continue for any length of time, that a regular 

 ration of food and clothing be served out to the natives. 



8) That the guarding of the rookeries by the natives from the land 

 be continued and the present methods improved upon. 



(9) That employment be given the natives by developing a thorough 



