414 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



of the islands; the one on St. George with a capacity of storing 150 

 tons, and one on St. Paul of 250 tons. 



The issue of coal to the widows was a question on the islands again 

 this season, it being contended by the lessees that the purpose of send- 

 ing an additional amount of coal to the islands this year over former 

 years was that the issue might be made by the Government to the 

 Avidows the same as to other native families. This opinion was like- 

 wise concurred in by Agent Murray, who made the requisition for the 

 50 additional tons of coal. After ascertaining that there was a sufli- 

 cient amount delivered to warrant this issue to the widows I ordered 

 that the same be done, first obtaining an agreement from the lessees 

 that should the Department not sustain the act of such issue, but on 

 the contrary hold that the lessees should furnish the widows fuel, the 

 amount of coal so issued should be returned next season to the islands 

 free of charge. A copy of the agreement is hereto attached and marked 

 Exhibit M. I therefore submit the matter for permanent settlement by 

 the Dex^artment. 



INTOXICATING LIQUORS AND QUAS. 



Soon after our arrival at St. Paul Island, and about the time the 

 cargo of the Farallon was unloaded, some three or four of the natives 

 were discovered to be under the intiuence of liquor. Agent Murray 

 investigated as to where the liquor was obtained, and learned from the 

 natives by their own confession that they got it from the assistant engi- 

 neer of the company's steamer. As soon as this fact was learned by 

 the captain of the Farallon this assistant engineer was discharged, and 

 though the vessel returned to the island two trips afterwards no intoxi- 

 cants were obtained from it by the natives. As to quas brewing on 

 the islands during the past winter and summer, there was but little of 

 it indulged in. Agent Ainsworth informed me that the natives acted 

 remarkably well in this respect during the winter while he was in 

 charge. During my stay on the islands this summer there was but one 

 notable evidence of a brew. This was on July 11, St. Paul's Day, the 

 great holiday among the natives, as it is their island's name day. Dur- 

 ing that evening some of them became unusually good natured, none 

 were otherwise, and all retired at a respectable hour that night, and 

 were ready to resume labor early in the morning. In this respect the 

 natives have certainly imjiroved, from what I can learn of their former 

 life. 



On the 29th day of June the Gorwin arrived at St. Paul Island, ready 

 to do patrol duty. Captain Munger called at the Government House, 

 and being informed that a vessel of no kind, so far, had been sighted 

 from the islands, returned the second day following to Dutch Harbor 

 for coal. On the 4th of July a brig-rigged vessel was sighted a few 

 miles to the westward of Northeast Point rookery. The watchman 

 there telephoned its appearance to the village about noon. At 2 o'clock 

 that afternoon some natives fishing discovered two sailboats near shore, 

 not far from Southwest Bay rookery, and claimed to have heard shots 

 fired from these boats. Accompanied by additional armed watchmen. 

 Agent Adams and myself proceeded to Northeast Point and Southwest 

 Bay, where we remained all night upon the rookeries. About sunset 

 in the evening the two sailboats that had been discovered near shore 

 were seen returning to the schooner then lying about 4 miles off" to the 

 westward, between Zapadnie and Northeast Point rookeries, where it 

 lay until about 10 o'clock the following day, when it made a detour of 

 tiiie island, leaving in a southeasterly direction about 4 o'clock in the 



