108 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



salmon, for the use of the natives ; but, with the consent of the Secretary of the Treasury, coal, ton for cord, has 

 been substituted for the former, and an equivalent quantity of salted salmou and codfish for the latter. Both have 

 been regularly supplied, as shown by the receipts of the government agent and the statements of the natives, 

 together with as much salt and as many barrels as have been desired for curing and storing their seal-meat. 



Two physicians are in the employ of the company, one residing on each island, who are charged with the care 

 of the sick, and have already, by their efforts, seconded by the example of the other white residents, induced 

 greater cleanliness and a more healthful mode of living among the natives. 



SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. The education of the native children has not been neglected, though so far the 

 attempt to teach them has not been as successful as could be desired. For each island a competent teacher, a 

 convenient and well-warmed school-room, and a supply of school-books, ete., have been provided every year from 

 the first of October until the first of June, but the difficulty has been to induce the parents to send their chidren. as 

 they do not think them able to learn both English and Russian, and as the latter is the language of their church 

 they consider it the most important. The average attendance at the school on St. George has been but five or six, 

 while there are from thirty to forty children, and on St. Paul but four or five, with from forty to fifty children. 

 Last year on the latter island there was a better attendance, and the children made considerable progress. 

 The prejudice of the older people seems likely to wear away, as they learn a little English themselves from 

 constantly heariug it, and will doubtless disappear after a time. 



TERMS OF THE SEAL-ISLAND LEASE FROM THE GOVERNMENT. This indenture in duplicate, made this 3d day of August, A. D. 1870, 

 by and between William A. Bichardson, Acting Secretary of the Treasury, in pursuance of au act of Congress approved July 1, 1870, entitled 

 "An act to prevent the extermination of fur-bearing animals in Alaska," and the Alaska Commercial Company, a corporation duly 

 established under the laws of the state of California, acting by John F. Miller, its president and agent, in accordance with a resolution at 

 a meeting of its board of trustees, held January 31, 1870, witnesseth: 



That said secretary hereby leases to the said Alaska Commercial Company, without power of transfer, for the term of twenty years 

 from the 1st' day of May, 1870, the right to engage in the business of taking fur-seals on the islands of St. George and St. Paul within 

 the territory of Alaska, and to send a vessel or vessels to said island for the skins of such seals. 



And the said Alaska Commercial Company, in consideration of their right under this lease, hereby covenant and agree to pay, for 

 each year during said term and in proportion during any part thereof, the sum of $55,000 into the Treasury of the United States in 

 accordance with the regulations of the secretary to be made for this purpose under said act, which payment shall be secured by deposit 

 of United States bonds to that amount, and also covenant and agree to pay annually into the Treasury of the United States, under said 

 rules and regulations, an internal-revenue tax or duty of $2 for each seal-skin taken and shipped by them in accordance with the provisions 

 of the act aforesaid, and also the sum of 60^ cents for each fur-seal skin taken and shipped, and 55 cents per gallon for each gallon of oil 

 obtained from said seals, for sale in said islands or elsewhere, and sold by said company ; and also covenant and agree, in accordance with 

 said rules and regulations, to furnish, free of charge, the inhabitants of the islands of St. Paul and St. George annually during said term 

 25,000 dried salmon, 60 cords fire-wood, and a sufficient quantity of salt and a sufficient quantity of barrels for preserving the necessary 

 supply of meat. 



And the said lessees also hereby covenant and agree during the term aforesaid to maintain a school on each island, in accordance with 

 said rules and regulations and suitable for the education of the natives of said islands, for a period of not less than eight mouths in each year. 



And the said lessees further covenant and agree not kill upon said island of St. Paul more than seventy-five thousand fur-seals, 

 and upon the island of St. George not more than twenty-five thousand fur-seals per annum; not to kill any fur-seal upon the'islands 

 aforesaid in any other month except the months of June, July, September, and October of each year ; not to kill said seals at any time by 

 the use of fire-arms or means tending to drive said seals from said islands ; not to kill any female seals or seals under one year old ; not to 

 kill any seal in waters adjacent to said islands, or on the beach, cliffs, or rocks, where they haul up from the sea to remain. 



And thesaid lessees further covenant and agree to abide by any restriction or limitation upon the right to kill seals under this lease 

 that the act prescribes, or that the Secretary of the Treasury shall judge necessary for the preservation of such seals. 



And the said lessees hereby agree that they will'not in any way sell, transfer, or assign this lease, and that any transfer, sale, or 

 assignment of the same shall be void and of no effect. 



And the said lessees further agree to furnish to the several masters of the vessels employed by them certified copies of this lease, to 

 be presented to the government revenue officers for the time being in charge of said islands, as the authority of said lessees for the landing 

 and taking of said skins. 



And the said lessees further covenant and agree that they or their agents shall not keep, sell, furnish, give, or dispose of any distilled 

 spirituous liquors on either of said islands to any of the natives thereof, such person not being a physician and furnishing the same for use 

 as medicine. 



And the said lessees further covenant and agree that this lease is accepted, subject to all needful rules and regulations which shall 

 at any time or times hereafter bo made by the Secretary of the Treasury for the collection and payment of tho rental herein agreed to be 

 paid by said lessees for the comfort, maintenance, education, and protection of the natives of said islands, and for carrying into effect all 

 the provisions of the act aforesaid, and will abide by and conform to said rules and regulations. 



And the said lessees, accepting this lease with a full knowledge of the provisions of the aforesaid act of Congress, farther covenant 

 and agree that they will fullfil all the provisions, requirements, and limitations of said act, whether herein specifically set out or not. 



In witness whereof the parties aforesaid have hereunto sot their hands and seals the day and year above written. 



WILLIAM A. RICHARDSON, [SKAL.] 

 Actiny Secretary of the Treasury. 



Executed in presence of 

 J. H. SAVILLE. 



ALASKA COMMERCIAL COMPANY, 

 By JOHN F. M1LLKR, President. [SEAL.] 



