ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 299 



nature of the work, except that of bundling skins, wliicli is at the rate 

 of 1 cent a bundle. The first chief is paid a monthly salary of $15, 

 and each of the others, three in number, are of $10, in addition to 

 their shares of the sealing- fund. Other natives, men and women, 

 emi)loyed throughout the year in other capacities, receive from $4 to 

 $30 a month and board. 



Clothing, provisions, and other articles are kept in the company's 

 storehouses on the island, and are sold to the natives at prices not 

 exceediug those for which the same could be bought at retail in San 

 Francisco. I examined the goods and found them to be of good quality. 

 The people have but little idea of economy, and would spend all their 

 money in a short time for certain articles of which they are fond, hence 

 it is necessary to limit their sale, such as butter, sugar, and perfumery. 

 They are encouraged to save money by the company, which receives 

 deposits from them, subject to the usual rules of "savings banks," and 

 pays an interest of 9 per cent per annum. Deposits range from $100 

 to $1,100. The church has a deposit of $8,000. Some are in debt to 

 the company, but become less so every year. Such as are without 

 means of support, widows, and orphan children are supported by the 

 company. 



The natives live partly in " barabbakies," or earth houses, and partly 

 in comfortable frame houses. Thirty of the latter have been built 

 within the last two years by the company, and given rent free. Others 

 are being built as rapidly as possible, it being the intention of the 

 company to give each family a house. The lease requires the annua.1 

 delivery upon the island of GO cords of firewood and 25,000 dried salmon, 

 for the use of the natives; but, with the consent of the Secretary of the 

 Treasury, coal, ton for cord, has been substituted for the former, and an 

 equivalent quantity of salted salmon and codfish for the latter. Both 

 have been regularly supplied, as shown by the receipts of the Govern- 

 ment agent and the statements of the natives, together with as much 

 salt and as many barrels as has been desired for curing and storing 

 their seal meat. 



Two physicians are in the employ of the company, one residing on 

 eadi island, who are charged with the care of the sick, and have already, 

 by their eftbrts, seconded by the example of the other white residents, 

 induced greater cleanliness and a more healthful mode of living among 

 the natives. 



The education of the native children has not been neglected, though 

 so far the attempt to teach them has not been as successtul as could be 

 desired. For each island a competent teacher, a convenient and well- 

 warmed schoolroom, and a supply of schoolbooks, etc., have been pro- 

 vided every year from the 1st of October until the 1st of June, but 

 the difficulty has been to induce the parents to send their children, as 

 they do not think them able to learn both English and Russian, and as 

 the latter is the language of their church they consider it the most 

 important. The average attendance at the school on St. George has 

 been but 5 or 0, while there are from 30 to 40 children, and on St. Paul 

 but 4 or 5, with from 40 to 50 children. Last year on the latter island 

 there was a better attendance, and the children made considerable prog- 

 ress. The prejudice of the older people seems likely to wear away, as 

 they learn a little English themselves from constantly hearing it, and 

 will doubtless disappear after a time. 



The company has wisely adopted a fair and liberal policy in its deal- 

 ings with the natives, and is more than repaid for the expense incurred 

 by the increased ease and rapidity with which they work while taking 



