318 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



may not have been those of his predecessor, nor are they likely to be 

 those of liis successor, so that with no direction from the central head 

 more specific than those indicated, and in the absence of continuity of 

 executive management or formulated business i)olicy, the interests, if 

 not the rights, of some one of the three parties concerned — tlie Govern- 

 ment, the natives, and the compauy — are likely to suffer. Undermost 

 favorable conditions the just and etiicient administration of the affairs 

 of such an office is no sinecure, but in the present chaotic state of the 

 industry and in the absence of business regulations, which should have 

 been gradually developed as the result of years of experience, the rela- 

 tions between the Government and the company officers on the islands 

 may at any tiuie become strained. 



This is in no way intended as a reflection upon individuals, but sim- 

 ply an attempt to make clear to the Department a condition of affairs 

 the existence of which is unfortunate. It should be borne in mind that 

 two interests, in one sense mutual and in another widely diverse, and 

 represented by two sets of officials, confront each other. On the one 

 side are the representatives of the Government, sworn to fulfill the 

 duties of their office to the best of their ability and human jiowers, and 

 on the other officers who, being charged with the welfare of the cor- 

 poration which they represent, naturally believe it to be their duty to 

 secure at all times the best interests of their emj)loyers, and in the 

 execution of the company's obligations to the Government to api)ly an 

 economic rather than a generous interpretation of those obligations. 

 They do not represent a charitable or philanthropic enterprise, but a 

 business concern. 



From the facts presented it will readily be seen that radical but 

 honest differences of opinion may frequently arise between two sets of 

 officials which, in the absence of any direct and specific regulations or 

 authoritative decisions on the part of the Department, may become 

 more or less frictional, the extent of which will depend upon the per- 

 sonal equation of the individuals representing the two interests. 



In the present instance, and with pleasant relations existing between 

 the representatives of the Government and the company, the details of 

 this report will show that such a state of affairs is embarrassing to 

 officials cut off' as they are from all but tardy communication with their 

 suijerior. 



ASSISTANT TREASURY AGENTS. 



Their assignments. — Just before leaving Unalaska, Captain Hooper 

 informed me that he had instructions from the Department to detail a 

 revenue officer to relieve Agent Murraj^, on St. Paul Island, and that 

 he had assigned Lieut. D. J. Ains worth to that duty. 



Captain Lavender remains in charge of the island of St. George. 



In this connection I desire to make my acknowledgment as well as to 

 express my appreciation of the hearty cooperative spirit displayed on 

 all occasions by Agents Murray and Lavender in the management of 

 the islands. Every request Avas cheerfully and promptly met and an 

 effort continually made to intelligently and effectively fulfill the duties 

 of their respective offices. 



THE ROOKERIES. 



Their condition. — While an extended statement concerning seal life 

 on the islands is reserved for the report previously referred to, it is per- 

 tinent here to note briefly the present condition of the rookeries and 

 their future prospects. 



