418 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



November 15 the foxing season began, and closed January 20. 

 Altogether 374 skius were taken, viz, 337 blue and 37 white. The great- 

 est number taken by any native was 25, which were caught by Kerrick 

 Artomonaf, the oldest man on the island. 



ISIovember 22 the United States revenue steamer Bear arrived and 

 lauded Rev. Yassily Shishkiu, who came on business connected with 

 the Greek Church. He landed at 10 a. m. and was to return to the vessel 

 at 4 p. m., but at that time there was too much sea for communication by 

 boat, and the Bear left. She again returned November 26, but the sea 

 being too rough to send a boat, she sailed and was not seeu again. 

 This was the last time a vessel was seen until April 25, 1893. 



Thanksgiving Day and Christmas passed pleasantly and special 

 services were held at the Greek church in honor of those days. 



During the Christmas holidays, which lasted several weeks, I gave 

 the natives the usual supply of sugar, canned milk, jeUies, sweet 

 crackers, etc., and noticed and heard of no drunkenness and its attend- 

 ant wife beating. 



The winter was mild and the lowest temperature was 9° below zero, 

 which was during the first week in January. The following week the 

 weather was much milder. 



On the 13th of March one of the native women broke into the com- 

 pany's store and stole considerable goods. The key of the store was 

 left hanging in the company's ofQce, where the woman procured it. 

 She had two accomplices, all three of whom were punished by impris- 

 onment. On searching several houses of people suspected goods were 

 recovered to the value of $208. With the exception of this crime and 

 a few petty offenses, the natives have behaved well. 



On April 25, at 10 a. m., a whaling steamer, bark rigged, was sighted 

 to the southward of this island. 



Agent Redpath, of the North American Commercial Company, had a 

 flag hoisted at the East Landing without consulting me. Hauled the 

 flag down and wrote the following letter: 



Office of Special Agent Treasury Department, 



St. Paid Island, Alaska, April 25, 1S93. 



Sir: You are informed that the law prohibits anyoue from lauding on this island 

 except by authority of the Secretary of the Treasury, aud you had no authority to 

 set a Hag at the East Lauding inviting a whaling vessel in sight to come here. 



The Hag, which was set without my permission, has been seized, and will be held 

 until the matter can l)o laid before the Department. 



You are hereby prohibited from setting auy flag to invite anyone to come to the 

 island of St. Paul. 



Respectfully, yours, D. J. Ainswoktii, 



Second IJeulenniit, ( . S. li. M., 

 AcliiKj United States Treasury Agent, in charge St. Paul Island, Alasla. 



J. C. Redpath, Esq., 



Local Agent North American Commercial Compann, St. Paul Island, Alaska. 



The following day (A])ril 20), after dinner at the company's house, 



Local Agent J. C. Redpath, of the company, handed me the following 



letter : 



North American Commercial Company, 



St. Paul Island, Alaska, April 26, 1S93. 



Sir: Owing to your peculiarly obnoxious actions and manner, and especially after 

 your outrage of yesterday in hauling down and seizing tbo UnitiMl States flag belong- 

 ing lo the North American Commercial Company (the right of hoisting same having 

 never been questioned during the twenty-three years of the leases of the old and 

 new companies), and the insulting letter following the act, you are hereby informed 

 that your presence at the company's house can not l)e tolerated except on business. 



Voii will therefore, at your earliest convenitmce, make other arrangements for 

 board and washing, as you have facilities for doing so. If you wish to have your 



