SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIHILOF ISLANDS. 371 



the General Government can do is to protect the fish against extermi- 

 nation, ami the native, dependent solely upon a salmon diet, in his right 

 to an abundant supply of salmon for food. These two things are easy 

 of accomplishment if immediate steps are taken, but if neglected much 

 longer the task will be a most dillicult one. 



In order to protect the salmon streams the laws must be enforced, 

 and it is, unfortunately, only too true that up to date there has not 

 been a united attempt made to enforce them. 



The I'nited States commissioner at Fort YVrangell one of the few 

 fearless ones who only know their duty wrote me a full account of how 

 the law is disregarded, evaded, and not enforced by officers whose duty 

 it is to uphold the law at all hazards. The letter covers a wide field, 

 and is quite plain and outspoken, using men's real names, the printing 

 of which in my report is not now considered necessary; I will therefore 

 suppress names and quote only a few passages relating to salmon 

 matters. 



Case after case has been compromised at the instance of attorneys for their clients 

 in criminal cases. Take one example: In July, 1893, Mr. J. G. Brady, who was then 

 acting United States attorney in the absence of Mr. Johnson, entertained a com- 

 plaint of the natives against cannery men for obstructing salmon streams. Mr. Brady 

 prevailed upon Commander Burwell, of the U. S. S. Pinta, to convey him and other 

 necessary officers to Klawak and Loriug. * They came via Fort Wraugell and 



requested me to accompany them. The Pinta reached Loring in the night, and we 

 found the river "fenced '' from shore to shore, and about 4 tons of salmon in the traps 

 and nets. We caused the arrest of Mr. Heckman, the superintendent of the cannery, 

 ami plao-d him under bond of $3,000, requiring him to appear before the United 

 States district court at its next session. 



The law, as you are aware, imposes a fine of $250 for every day a stream is 

 obstructed. Court did not convene until after the retirement of the dis- 

 trict attorney, Mr. , and the appointment of his successor, Mr. , who 



agreed to accept the nominal fine of $100. Superintendent Wadleigh, of 



the Klawak cannery, was also placed under bonds, and although two terms of court 



have since been held he has not been required to appear. The is lending a 



hand in helping to whitewash his case. 



These t\\o cases, including the trip of the Putin, have cost the Government more 

 than $1,000. 



The officers who placed the men under bonds have been humiliated, while the vio- 

 lators of the law, aided by officials disloyal to the Government, have won a great 

 victory. 



I could cite many cases in which official positions are used to shield crime and 

 defeat the ends of justice. 



Your obedient servant, WM. A. KELLY, Commissioner. 



Were it necessary to add to or confirm the commissioner's words, I 

 would say that while at Loriug in 1894 Hon. C. S. Hamlin, Assistant 

 Secretary of the Treasury, accompanied by Capt. C. L. Hooper, com- 

 manding the revenue cutter 7b//.s7/, attempted to go up the river in a 

 small boat, but soon found themselves barred out by the identical 

 " fence" mentioned in the commissioner's letter. 



The Wadleigh case referred to was called in court at Juneau last 

 May, and in my presence his attorney arose and said: Mr. Wadleigh 

 had written and ottered to pay as much as it would cost him to travel 

 back and forth on the steamer from Klawak to Juneau, some $40, on 

 condition that the Government dropped the complaint. 



Now. here is a -a<e where the man was taken red-handed in the act 



he does not attempt denial and yet, although it happened in 1893, he 

 has not been brought to trial, but instead of answering the summons 

 of the court he impudently writes back his ultimatum, which was scri 

 ously considered by the district attorney, who would have accepted it 

 had I not been present and strongly protested against the whole farce. 



In justice to the present district attorney for Alaska, I will say all 

 these things happened prior to his appointment. 



