CAUSE. 175 



Brown, in considering this question, and after a Kaids ou look- 



^ ericsuot the cause. 



careful examination of the statistics relating 

 thereto, says: ''The inhospitable shores, the 

 exposure of the islands to surfjvthe unfavorable 

 climatic conditions, as well as the presence of 

 the natives and white men, will always prevent 

 raids upon the islands from ever being frequent 

 or effective."^ A further evidence of the infre- 

 quency of such marauding is clearly shown by 

 the affidavit of Mr. Max Heilbronner, Secretary 

 of the Alaska Commercial Company, as compiled 

 from the records of said company,^ and the state- 

 ment compiled by the Treasury Department 

 from the reports of their agents during Ameri- 

 can occupation, there being but sixteen such 

 invasions reported.^ If other raids had taken 

 place besides these, the fact would have certainly 

 have been known on the islands, as their effect 

 would have been seen on the breeding grounds 

 in the shape of dead carcasses of pups and other 

 seals.* The difficulty of landing upon the rook- 

 eries without being discovered is also made 

 evident from tlie ineffectual efforts of predatory 

 vessels to land men on the islands, whicli aro 



ij. Stanley Brown, Vol. II, p. 18. 

 "Max Heilbronner's statement, Vol. II, pp. 112-127. 

 ^Treasury Department, statement of raids. Vol. II, p. 519. 

 * Auton Melovedoff, Vol. 11, p. 143. 



