410 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



year. As to tlie mortality of tlie seal herd daring the season, there were 

 but few grown seals found dead upon the rookeries. These were bulls, 

 whose death could be easily accounted for from the cuts and scars upon 

 their carcasses. They had no doubt perished from the wounds received 

 from encounters with other bulls while trying to establish their harems. 



On the 12th of July a terrific gale blew from the north and west, 

 coming with such force that the waves dashed to unusual heights 

 against the rookeries. After the surf had subsided, several dead pups 

 were found, presumably killed by the surf beating and dashing them 

 against the rocks before they were old enough to breast the tide. The 

 greater number were found dead on Tolstoi rookery. 



In taking the number, 5,500 seals, on St. Paul Island this season no 

 drives were made from either Zapadnie rookery or Northeast Point, as 

 the required number was easily obtained where short drives could be 

 made; and as these are two of the largest breeding rookeries on the 

 island, I thought it advisable to give them absolute rest. 



The care and welfare of the native inhabitants of the islands, the 

 obligations of the North American Commercial Company under their 

 lease, was a matter to whicli I gave special attention. The widows 

 and orphan children who lived with them I found well provided for as 

 to food and clothing by the lessees. But another class of orphans, who 

 had neither father nor mother, had been placed among other families 

 on the islands, who were not supported by the lessees. Tliey were sub- 

 jects for Government support, and these orphans in this way were being- 

 furnished food and clothing at Government expense, too. I at once 

 obtained a list of the widows and orphans, showing just who they were 

 supporting as company charges. It is marked Exhibit C. I then 

 prepared a list of the widows and orphans whom I deemed proper sub- 

 jects for their support under their lease, and presented the same to 

 Mr. George R. Tingle, superintendent of the company, which he 

 accepted, agreeing to care for all those named, though under protest. 

 A copy of the list and Mr. Tingle's protest are hereto attached and 

 marked Exhibits I) and E. The only occasion for protest upon the 

 part of the lessees being that of furnishing support to the few widows 

 and orphans having to their credit small sums of money left them, I 

 insist, from the reading of the lease, that the lessees are compelled to 

 support all the widows and orphans upon the islands, regardless of 

 whether they may have personal means of support or not, while the 

 lessees contend that they are only liable for the support of absolute 

 pauper widows and orphans. Upon this question I respectfully request 

 a ruling of the Department, that future trouble may not arise in this 

 respect. 



After becoming sufficiently acquainted with the natives on the island 

 to be able to associate the proper names with the proper faces, I observed 

 that one Maxim Krukoff, an imbecile, John Krukoff, John N. Krukoff, 

 George Kochergin, and Valerian Shaisnakoff", minors of tender years, 

 had been placed upon the sealers' list and permitted to draw rations as 

 such at Government expense. I thought this a mistake, so I served 

 notice on the lessees' superintendent that these parties would be dis- 

 continued from the sealers' list and would revert to the company for 

 their support. A copy of the notice is marked Exhibit F. 



DIVISION OP COMMUNITY FUND ON ST. PAUL AND ST. GEORGE 



ISLANDS. 



Notwithstanding the fact that there was a shortage fund in the skins 

 taken and salted on St. Paul Island as compared with the count on the 



