26 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



37 first-class shares, at $ 451 22 each. 



23 second-class shares, at 406 08 each. 



4 third-class shares, at 360 97 each. 



10 fourth-class shares, at 315 85 each. 



These shares do not represent more than 56 able-bodied men. 



In August, 1873, while on St. George island, I was present at a similar division, under similar circumstances, 

 which caused them to divide among themselves the proceeds of their work in taking and skinning 25,000 seals, at 

 40 cents a skin, $10,000. They made the following subdivision : 



7 ' Per ebare. 



17 shares each, 961 skins $ 384 40 



2 shares each, 935 skins 374 00 



3 shares each, 821 skins 328 40 



1 share each, 820 skins 328 00 



3 shares each, 770 skins 308 00 



3 shares each, 400 skins 160 00 



These 29 shares referred to stated represent only 25 able-bodied men ; two of them were women. This method of 

 division as above given, is the result of their own choice. It is an impossible thing for the company to decide their 

 relative merits as workmen on the ground, so they have wisely turned its entire discussion over to them. Whatever 

 they do they must agree to— whatever the company might do they possibly and probably would never clearly 

 understand, and hence dissatisfaction and suspicion would inevitably arise ; as it is, the whole subject is most 

 satisfactorily settled. 



7. THE BUSINESS CONCERNED. 



The methods of the Alaska Commercial Company. — Living as the seal-islanders do, and doing what 

 they do, the seal's life is naturally their great study and objective point. It nourishes and sustains them. 

 Without it they say they could not live, and they tell the truth. Hence, their attention to the few simple 

 requirements of the law, so wise in its provisions, is not forced or constrained, but is continuous. Self-interest 

 in this respect appeals to them keenly and eloquently. They know everything that is done and everything that is 

 said by anybody and by everybody in their little community. Every seal-drive that is made, and every skin that 

 is taken, is* recorded and accounted for by them to their chiefs and their church, when they make up their tithing- 

 roll at the close of each day's labor. Nothing can come to the islands, by day or by night, without being seen by 

 them and spoken of. I regard the presence of these people on the islands at the transfer, and their subsequent 

 retention and entailment in connection with the seal-business, as an exceedingly good piece of fortune, alike 

 advantageous to the government, to the company, and to themselves. 



It will be remembered that, at the time the question of leasing the islands was before Congress, much opposition 

 to the proposal was made, on several grounds, by two classes, one of which argued against a "monopoly", the other 

 urging that the government itself would realize more by taking the whole management of the business into its own 

 hands. At that time far away from Washington, in the Rocky mountains, I do not know what arguments were 

 used in the committee-rooms, or who made them ; but since my careful and prolonged study of the subject on the 

 ground itself, and of the trade and its conditions, I am now satisfied that the act of June, 1870, directing the 

 Secretary of the Treasury to lease the seal-islands of Alaska to the highest bidder, under the existing conditions and 

 qualifications, did the best and the only correct and profitable thing that could have been done in the matter, both 

 with regard to the preservation of the seal-life in its original integrity, and the pecuniary advantage of the treasury 

 itself. To make this statement perfectly clear, the followiug facts, by way of illustration, should be presented : 



First. When the government took possession of these interests, in 18G8 and 1809, the gross value of a seal-skin 

 laid down in the best market, at London, was less in some instances, and in others but slightly above the present 

 tax and royalty paid upon it by the Alaska Commercial Company. 



Second. Through the action of the intelligent business-men who took the contract from the government, in 

 stimulating and encouraging the dressers of the raw material, and in taking sedulous care that nothing but good 

 skins should leave the islands, and in combination with leaders of fashion abroad, the demand for the fur, by this 

 manipulation and management, has been wonderfully increased. 



Third. As matters now stand, the greatest and best interests of the lessees are identical with those of the 

 government; what injures one instantly injures the other. In other words, both strive to guard against anything 

 that shall interfere with the preservation of the seal-life in its original integrity, and both having it to their iuterest, 

 if possible, to increase that lif§; if the lessees had it in their power, which they certainly have not, to ruin 

 these interests by a few seasons of rapacity, they are so bonded and so environed that prudence prevents it. 



Fourth. The frequent changes in the office of the Secretary of the Treasury, who has very properly the absolute 

 control of the business as it stands, do not permit upon his part that close, careful scrutiny which is exercised by 

 the lessees, who, unlike him, have but their one purpose to carry out. The character of the leading men among 

 them is enough to assure the public that the business is in responsible hands, and in the care of persons who will 

 use every effort for its preservation and its perpetuation, as it is so plainly their best end to serve. Another great 

 obstacle to the success of the business, if controlled entirely by the government, would be encountered in disposing 



