ALASKA INDUSTRIES, 359 



Bepori of Assistant Agent Joseph Murray. 



Fort Collins, Colo., December 1, 1892. 



Sir: I have the honor to report that in pursuance of instructions dated March 19, 

 1892, I reported for duty to the Department of State, and was ordered to "proceed 

 to the Pacific Coast to assist in the preparation of matter pertaining to the 15ering- 

 Sea controversy." 



I left Washiiiytou. D. C, on March 20, and after visiting several cities on the coast. 

 I sailed from I'ort Towusend. per steamer Albatross, on Marcli 31, and steered for 

 Port Alexander, in Cooks Inlet, where I landed on April 8. After touching land at 

 Saldovia and Coal Point, I went to Kadiak Island, where 1 spent three days taking 

 testimony, and then went to Port Etches, in Prince William Sound, where 1 landed 

 on the 16th day of April. 



Alter calling at several stations along the coast of Alaska, I returned to Port 

 Townsend and forwarded to the Department the information 1 had obtained. 



While at Port Townsend I received instructions from the Secretary of the Treas- . 

 ury to proceed without delay to my station on the seal islands. 



i sailed per steamer Albatross oii the 10th of May, arriving at Unalaskaou the 19th, 

 whence 1 sailed, on board the U. S. S. Yorktoitm, on the 23d for St. Paul Island, where 

 I landed on the 24th of May, and immediately relieved Agent Barnes, who had leave 

 to return to the States. 



SEAL KILLING. 



Beginning on May 19 and ending on August 9 there was killed on St. Paul Island 

 4,225 seals, 16 of which were taken by order of the Secretary of the Treasury for 

 the use of the Department of State. These were prepared so as to be used for museum 

 specimens, and have been deposited in the National IVIuseum. 



There were 800 seals killed in November, 1891 (of which 216 were rejected as stagey), 

 which, added to those of the present season, make a total of 5,02.5 seals. The seals 

 killed in November, 1891, belong to the 7,500 apportionment to that year, but their 

 skins Avere not taken from the island until September, 1892. I inclose a record of 

 the daily killings. (See Exhibit B.) 



PRESERVATION OF THE MEAT KILLED. 



As there are no seals taken on the islands now, excepting those taken for natives' 

 food, and as the annual catch of 7,500 allowed by law is not enough, under existing 

 conditions, it becomes necessary for the Department to devise and establish methods 

 for preserving all the seal carcasses killed, for every pound of them will be needed 

 for food. 



That the meat can be preserved by canning I have no doubt; and that a part of it 

 may be preserved by smoking has been demonstrated, I think, during the past sea- 

 son, when, with the most primitive contrivances, several thousand shoulders were 

 dried and smoked very nicely. 



CANNING TO BE I'REFERKED. 



The canning process, if successful, is to be preferred, because it is cheaper and 

 more convenient, and because the whole carcass can be utilized and the meat kept, 

 almost, in its natural state, which will make it much more palatable for the natives. 



% WHEN TO XILL. 



All killing ought to be done in .June and -Inly, because at that time the skins are 

 in prime condition, and the tlesh is at its best for canning. 



As the stage \^ season begins about August 10, and continues till December, during 

 which time the tlesh is poor and the skin almost valueless, the position taken by the 

 Department that no seals shall be; killed for any purpose during that period is a good 

 one. 



natives' church SUBSCRIPTION. 



In the summer of 1891 one Bishop Yaldimir, of San Francisco, came to St. Paul 

 Island to collect money, and the resident priest gave him three sacks of coin, said to 

 contain $3,325, which the bishop turned over to the North American Commercial 

 Company for transportation to San Francisco. 



At the same time there were many of the natives (who had originally contributed 

 this money) without means, and a majority of them were paupers in fact, and de- 

 pendent oil the Government for subsistence. -Under such circumstances the agent 

 in charge forbid the removal of the funds until he communicated with the Depart- 

 ment. 



