ALASKA. INDUSTRIES. 345 



to assist the children in acquirinfj a kTiowleclffe of the English language. Eussianis 

 not to be tan,^ht in the schools, and church officers innst he restrained from interler- 

 iug with the 'education of the chihlren in a knowledge of English, and they should 

 he advised that they will onlv do harm if they attempt to thwart the purpose and 

 earnest desire of the Government to have the children instructed in the language of 

 their country. 



FOX KILLING. 



The North American Commercial Company under their lease have the exclusive 

 privilege of trading in seal skins on the Prihilof Islands, and it has been the experi- 

 ence of the Department that the best interests of the natives wall be subserved and 

 much contention avoided if other trading is excluded. On the other hand, you will 

 regarditas your special duty to see that fair prices are paid for all fur skins disposed 

 of by the natives to the company. 



It is recognized that the fox skins, the taking of which is under the exclusive con- 

 trol of this Department, are an important source of income to the natives at this 

 time, and permission is therefore given to permit them to kill such number of foxes 

 on St. Paul and St. George Islands as will not endanger their future increase. This 

 can probably be best secured by regulating the time during which skins can be 

 taken. The trading on the islands in skins by any officer of the Government for 

 purposes of gain must not be permitted. 



agent's report. 



There should accompany your report a schedule which should show (1) the day 

 and hour of the drive; (2) the rookery driven from; (3) the daily killing, wlietherfor 

 food, or if for quota the number, accepted or rejected; (4) the approximate size of 

 the skins; (5) the approximate percentage rejected of those driven for killing; (6) 

 the number that died by the way; (7) the character of the weather, and (S) a con- 

 venient summary of totals. In addiiion to this you will endeavor to prepare similar 

 schedules from the present records on the islands as -well as a schedule embodying 

 all information (that the records may show such, as name of vessel, captain, owner, 

 seals killed, disposition of vessel, etc.) concerning raids upon the islands, for trans- 

 mission to Washington by first mail, one copy to be addressed to Gen. .John W. 

 Foster, State Department, and one coi>y to the Secretary of the Treasury. If all 

 of this information has not been recorded, as much of it should be sent as ap])ears 

 upon the record, and if entirely lacking for any given year, that fact should be so 

 indicated. This material will be useful both in the preparation of the arbitration 

 case and in the perfecting of the Treasury files. 



You will also secure any and all information concerning seal life which, in your 

 judgment, can be made useful in considering the international question now pending. 



A census of the islands should accompany your report, and a statement concerning 

 the general health of the natives. 



EXCLUSION OF IMPROPER PERSONS. 



Under the authority conferred upon the Secretary of the Treasury by section 1959 

 of the Revised Statutes, you are authorized and directed to exclude from landing on 

 or to remove from the Prihilof Islands any person or persons who, in your judg- 

 ment, come within the terms of this statute, and you are further directed to call 

 upon any United States revenue cutter or other Government vessel to assist you in 

 executing these instructions. 



OFFICERS VISITING THE ISLANDS. 



Should any officer or officers of vessels performing service in Bering Sea desire to 

 visit the islands, you will extend to them any courtesies in your power. These gen- 

 tlemen will readily appreciate the necessity of the departmental restrictions con- 

 cerning such matters as disturbing the rookeries, general trading with the natives, 

 giving them li(|uor, visiting their houses except in the company of a Treasury offi- 

 cer, etc., as well as the requirement that seamen must be accompanied by an officer 

 who by reason of his position is responsible for their conduct while on the islands. 



IN GENERAL. 



You will endeavor to secure the good will and confidence of the native inhabitants 

 of the islands, and advise them whenever practicable of their rights and duties as 

 American citizens, and by proper means try to increase their friendship for the (iov- 

 ernraent and for the people of the United States and to encourage them in all ways 



& 



