ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 363 



SUMMARY. 



To repeat the snogestions here respectfully oftered, I advise that no more seals be 

 killed before .Tune nor after .July; that all the meat be canned if it is found that it 

 can be preserved in that way; that the natives be furnished Winchester rifles, and 

 the custom of paying thcui 'for their time and labor be continued; that Treasury 

 agents of good health and physical ability as well as exceptionally good morals be 

 sent to the islands; that industrial boarding schools be established by the Govern- 

 ment and kept under its control forever; that none but men of good morals, broad 

 and liberal views, good education, and ability to read the church services iu the 

 English language be allowed on the islands as priests or pastors; that pure water, 

 good drainage, good beds, clean houses, warmth, and ventilation be provided and 

 insisted on; that stringent rules be adopted and enforced, by which very few 

 strangers will be allowed to visit the rookeries while the seals are on land; that an 

 effort be made to amicably adjust local differences on the islands, and to instill into 

 all concerned the fact that the interests of the lessees and of the Government are 

 one and the same. 



Very respectfully, Joseph Murray, 



First Assistant Special Agent. 



J. Stanlky-Browx, 



Acting Treasury Agent in Charge of Seal Islands. 



Report of Assistant Agent A. W. Lavender. 



St. George Island, Alaska, Septemher 7, 1892. 



Sir: I have the honor to make you the following report of the seal catch on this 

 island from August 13, 1891, to August 10, 1892; of the condition of the rookeries as 

 I find them, and of the health and financial condition of the natives, together with 

 such recommendations as I think would be beneficial in conducting seal killing 

 hereafter : 



First.— I have handed you a statement (Exhibit C) of seals killed by my prede- 

 cessor. United States Treasury Agent S. R. Nettleton, showing that between August 

 i:^, 1891, and May 1, 1892, there were 402 seals killed for native food, 41 of which 

 had stagey skins which ai-e to be shipped on the North American Commercial Com- 

 pany's steamer Bertha and consigned to the North American Commercial Company 

 of San Francisco for account of the United States Treasury Department, in accord- 

 ance with my orders. 



Second. — I have handed you a statement of seals killed this season (Exhibit C), 

 which shows that there were 10,260 seals driven from the rookeries, out of which 

 2,125 were clubbed and 26 died in driving. The skins of the 26 weighed about 5 

 pounds each. They were rejected by the agents of the lessees and are to be shipped 

 on the North American Commercial Company's steamer Bertha and consigned to the 

 North American Commercial Company of San Francisco for account of the United 

 States Treasury Department. I have written both the Secretary of the Treasury 

 and the collector cf customs at San Francisco to that effect. 



Third. — Special care has been taken in driving seals trom the rookeries, and our 

 proportion of rejected skins is very small considering the weight of skins accepted 

 by the company this season. I shall kill, after October 20, 349 good seals if they are 

 to be found on the island, in order to complete our allotment of 2,500 out of the 

 7,500 which are to be killed for native food in accordance with the international 

 agreement. 



I do not think it advisable to drive seal between the 1st day of August and the 

 20th day of October; about August 1 the rookeries are badly broken up, and male 

 and female are mixed together on the hauling grounds and can not be separated. 

 While it may not injure the seal to drive them, I am of the opinion that the female 

 should not be disturbed. There were a number of females in the last two drives we 

 made. 



The diminution in seal life has been very marked on this island. If it were possi- 

 ble to count all the seals here, including cows and pups, I do not think the number 

 would reach 25,000. No seal should be killed from August 1 until after the stagey 

 season. 



A statement (Exhibit F) was handed you showing the amount of money to the 

 credit of the natives on August 10, 1892, by which you will see that there was but 

 little to each individual account other than the priest, chief, and orphans. Govern- 

 ment orders to the amount of $56. .58 have been issued up to the above date. 



I also handed you a census report (Exhibit H) by which you will see that there 

 has been but one death for the past sixteen months. This is an excellent showing. 



