424 ALA.SKA INDUSTRIES. 



the Department to this point and to have it settled beyond quesaon, if 

 possible. 



My own experience on the islands teaches me that so long as such 

 questions are allowed to remain open the natives are wronged and left 

 to suffer while agents wrangle over precedents and points of law; and 

 it is my belief that it would be better for all concerned if the Government 

 would take care of all the natives, without distinction of age, sex, or 

 condition. 



The present supply of 370 tons of coal — 20 tons to the Government 

 houses and 350 to the natives — gives about 5 tons to every family, and 

 so long as the quality is good there will not be any suffering for fuel; 

 but it will be necessary to have the coal brought direct from the mine 

 to the islands, for whenever it is left outdoors for a year or more at 

 Unalaska it slakes out so much that it becomes little better than dust, 

 and is entirely unfit for use in a stove. - 



"HEIRS AND SAVINGS." 



When the modus vivendi went into effect, and not to exceed 7,500 

 seals were allowed to be killed. Congress made an appropriation of 

 $19,500 for the purpose of supporting the natives, and the agent in 

 charge at that time decided that sealers should "spend and exhaust" 

 their current earnings before they could draw rations or supplies from 

 the Government. Afterwards it was discovered that a few of the natives, 

 who had been more thrifty and economical tlian their fellows, had, in 

 times of prosperity, hoarded some of their earnings, so that now they 

 have small sums to their credit, or, being dead, the money has been 

 given to their lieirs. Therefore, the question has confronted the Treas- 

 ury agents: Shall Government rations be issued to natives who have 

 money to their credit, or shall Ave compel them to spend and exhaust 

 their savings and bring them down to the common level of pauperism? 

 My own o])inion is that it would be unjust, as well as unwise and impol- 

 itic, to compel the thrifty and careful ones to come down to the level 

 of the reckless and improvident creatures, who have not sense enough 

 to make any provision for to-morrow. 



In all my dealings with the natives I aimed to teach them the value 

 and use of time and money; and I encouraged them to save a part of 

 their earnings, and to hoard it as long as possible for use in old age, 

 or for their children's use after they themselves had passed away; 

 and when issuing food or clothing, 1 made no distinction between 

 the person who had money saved to his credit and the one who never 

 hoarded a cent. I have held, and still hold, that so long as the natives 

 are not to blame for the present depression in the sealing industry they 

 should not be reduced to pauperism before receiving aid from the 

 Government. And I most respectfully add that it would be a great 

 improvement if the Government would i)rovide all the necessaries of 

 life, as well as fuel for, "widows, orphans, aged, and indigent persons," 

 as well as for sealers and others. The present arrangementfor providing 

 for "widows, orphans, aged and indigent persons" is not satisfactory 

 to anyone concerned in the matter, and it ought to be altered, even 

 though the terms of the lease may have to be modified accordingly. 



SEALS. 



I made my fifth annual inspection of the rookeries (beginning in 1889 

 and ending in August, 1893), and I am convinced that the seals are 



