ALASKA. 95 



to secure it as not. Ordinary men cannot conduct this business 

 successfully.* 



Fourth. As matters now stand, the greatest and best inter- 

 ests of the lessees are identical with those of the Government ; 

 that is, the preservation and, if possible, the increase of the 

 seal-life; and if these lessees had it in their power, which they 

 certainly have not, to rain these interests by a few seasous 

 of rapacity, they are too prudent to do so. 



Fifth. The frequent changes made in the office of the Secre- 

 tary of the Treasury, who now, very properly, has the control 

 of the business as it stands, do not guarantee on his part the 

 close, careful scrutiny likely to be exercised by the lessees, who 

 have but one purpose to carry out ; and 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 eftbrt for the preservation of the seal-life, as 

 it is their interest to do. 



It is frequently urged with great persistency bjMnisinformed 



* Another great obstacle to the success of the business, if controlled entirely 

 by the Government, would arise in the disposal of the skins afttr they have 

 been brought down from the islands. The Government would need to offer 

 them at public auction in this country, and would be at the mercy of any 

 well-organized combination of buyers; the Government agents conducting 

 the sale could not counteract the efforts of such a combination as success- 

 fully as the agents of a private corporation, who can look after their inter- 

 ests in all the markets of the world and are supplied with money to use in 

 manipnlatiou of the market. 



On this ground I feel quite confident that the Treasury of the United 

 States receives more money, net, under the system now in operation than 

 it would by taking the exclusive control of the business; were any Gov- 

 ernment ofScer supplied with, say, §100,000, to expend in " working the 

 market," and intrusted with the disposal of 100,000 seal-skins, whenever he 

 could so do to the best advantage of the Government, and were this agent 

 a man of first-class business energy and ability, I think it quite likely the 

 same success might attend his labor in the London market that distinguishes 

 the management of the Alaska Commercial Company; but the usual cry of 

 fraud and robbery that would be raised against him, however honest he might 

 be, would be such as to bring the whole business into positive disrepute or 

 constant suspicion. The Government officer in this matter is placed at a 

 great disadvantage should any such line of action be adopted, and the most 

 prolitable course is for the Government not to offer in the markets through 

 agents, but to pursue its present policy, levy a tax, and watch carefully the 

 condition of the seal-life from year to year, as the killing is increased and 

 the business developed to its full extent. 



In this way Alaska may be made to yield, by a tax laid on its Seal Islands 

 alone, a very handsome rate of interest upon the money paid for the entire 

 Territory. 



