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102 . ..:.•:•••.•::. -.REPORT OF ALASKA INVESTIGATIONS. 



Alien and imported labor. — This class of labor causes much disturbance because of the opposition to 

 it by people who live in Alaska throughout the year. On account of the scarcity of white and Indian and 

 Aleut labor in many places where canneries are operated, imported labor is absolutely indispensable, and 

 there is no just argument that can possibly be made to forbid the continuance of this practice. A pro- 

 hibition of this sort would not only work a great hardship and injustice to a number of the canneries, but 

 it would mean practically the closing of their business. Then again, the unreliability of the Indian and 

 Aleut makes it necessary for a business concern to have assurance that there will be no possible chance 

 for hindrance or curtailment of its operations during the short canning season. On the other hand, I per- 

 sonally investigated localities and cases where the alien and imported laborers were detrimental to the 

 Indians, Aleuts, and white residents. 



As a protection to fishermen living in Alaska, it appeals to me as wise and necessary to revise the law 

 so that no aliens imported for inside labor at the canneries may engage lawfully in actual fishing operations. 

 This would also forbid aliens from line fishing or trolling for commercial purposes, which, in view of a 

 recent court decision, is now possible. 



INDIANS AND ALEUTS. 



Nothing in Alaska interested me more or appealed to me more than the Indians and the Aleuts, from 

 the fact that their lives, surrounded by conditions new and distasteful to them, are being made more 

 unfortunate each day. The white man has come into their territory, in many cases infringing on their 

 prior and just rights. The home of the Thlinket Indians is in southeastern Alaska, from Yakutat to 

 Ketchikan, and, while their ancestors were no doubt like the Aleuts, to-day in looks, language, and habit 

 they are vastly different. The Aleuts live on the islands in southwestern Alaska, along the coast of the 

 Alaska Peninsula, and as far north as the Pribilof Islands and Bristol Bay. 



Owing to the fact that for generations they have made an easy living with no one to molest them, 

 they are to-day, as a class, independent, lazy, and unreliable. Their condition can be accounted for 

 partly by their past environment. The white man has done little to encourage their uplift and is largely 

 to blame for the demoralized condition of mind and body of the native to-day. Naturally, these people 

 were physically and mentally strong, but the influences that have surrounded them for the past 50 years 

 have lowered their standard, until in many cases and in many localities they are on a very low plane. 



The saloon prevails wherever the white man settles, and has had more to do with the undoing and 

 ruination of the Indian and the Aleut than all other causes put together; and where saloons are not to be 

 found liquor reaches them in the guise of pay and bribes. The white man's lack of care and regard for 

 the sanctity of the native's home is the crime of Alaska. In many sections the wife and daughters are 

 dishonored, and any resistance from the husband and father or brother is overcome by threats and bribes 

 and liquor, until even the men have all their best impulses and senses deadened and seem to be unmanned. 



With all this unfortunate condition true, there are localities where a good influence has been felt. 

 On one island in central Alaska a cannery is operated entirely by these natives (with the exception of the 

 bookkeeper and the superintendent), and it was a pleasure to note the condition of the place and the 

 generally gratifying appearance of the natives. This example showed me conclusively that with the right 

 influences the Indian and the Aleut can be brought to a higher standard of efficiency, reliability, and honor. 

 There are other canneries that encourage this native labor and are earnestly trying to help these unfortunate 

 people. In southeastern Alaska the canneries have been of much benefit to the Indians. Their income 

 has largely been derived from their work in connection with the fishing industry, and to-day some of them 

 own their own fishing boats and gear. 



At another cannery quite a different condition was noticeable. A large portion of the help was Indians 

 and they made more or less trouble all the time. The true reason for this was hard to tell. No doubt 

 they were not entirely to blame. About the time I visited this establishment there were many thousands 

 of salmon lying on the floor, and concentrated effort was needed to take care of them at once. With this 

 state of affairs evident, the superintendent was notified one morning of the absence of 11 of the Indian 

 women who cleaned the fish, and found that they were going off in a party for four or five days' vacation. 

 It took the greatest persuasion and even some bribing to keep these women in their places and prevent the 

 loss of the fish. 



