146 MANAGEMENT OF THE SEAL ROOKERIES. 



Comrarisou of All examination of tlie lease now in force will 



leases. 



sliOAv that it is not only more favorable to the 

 Government, but also to the inhabitants of the 

 islands than the former lease^ in the following 

 respects: (1) The rental is $60,000, instead of 

 $55,000; (2) the tax per skin is $9.62J, instead 

 of $2.62^; (3) 80 tons of coal are to be fur- 

 nished the natives, instead of 60 cords of wood; 

 (4) the quantity of salmon, salt, and other pro- 

 visions to be furnished to them can be fixed bv 

 the Secretary of the Treasury ; (5) the company 

 is to furnish to the natives free dwellings, a 

 church, physicians, medicines, employment, and 

 care for the sick, aged, widows, and children ; (6) 

 instead of 100,000 seals per year, the company 

 can take only 60,000 during the first year of the 

 lease, and thereafter the catch is to be subject to 

 the regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury. 

 Under this lease it is difficult to see how the 

 United States could have a more complete con- 

 trol over the seal industry on the islands, even 

 if it took the entire management of the business. 

 Leasing under such terms gives tlie Government 

 absolute power in fixing the quota according to 

 the condition of the herd, and at the same time 

 avoids the details of management and disposing 



1 Lease to North Amoricau Commercial Company ; Vol. T, p. 106. 



