THE FUR-SEAL ISLANDS OF ALASKA. 153 



36. THE LAW PROTECTING THE SEAL ISLANDS. 



AN ACT to prevent the extermination of far-bearing animals in Alaska. 



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

 That it shall be unlawful to kill any fur-seal upon the islands of St. Paul and St. George, or in the waters 

 adjacent thereto, except during the months of June, July, September, and October, in each year; and it shall be 

 unlawful to kill such seals at any time by the use of fire-arms, or use of other means tending to drive the seals away 

 from said islands : Provided, That the natives of said islands shall have the privilege of killing such young seals as 

 may be necessary for their own food and clothing during other months, and also such old seals as may be required 

 for their own clothing and for the manufacture of boats for their own use, which killing shall be limited and 

 controlled by such regulations as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. 



SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall be unlawful to kill any female seal, or any seal less than one year 

 old. at any season of the year, except as above provided; and it shall also be unlawful to kill any seal in the waters 

 adjacent to said islands, or on the beaches, cliffs, or rocks where they haul up from the sea to remain ; and any 

 person who shall violate either of the provisions of this or the first section of this act, shall be punished on 

 conviction thereof, for each offense, by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars nor more than one thousand 

 dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding six mouths, or by both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of 

 the court having jurisdiction and taking cognizance of the offenses; and all vessels, their tackle, apparel, and 

 furniture, whose crew shall be found engaged iu the violation of any of the provisions of this act, shall be forfeited 

 to the United States. 



SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That for the period of twenty years from and after the passage of this act, 

 the number of fur-seals which may be killed for their skins upon the island of St. Paul is hereby limited and 

 restricted to seventy five thousand per annum ; and the number of fur-seals which may be killed for their skins 

 upon the island of St. George, is hereby limited and restricted to twenty-five thousand per annum : Prorided, 

 That the Secretary of the Treasury may restrict and limit the right of killing, if it shall become necessary for the 

 preservation of such seals, with such proportionate reduction of the rents reserved to the government as shall be 

 right and proper; and if any person shall knowingly violate either of the provisions of this section, he shall, upon 

 due conviction thereof, be punished in the same way as is provided herein for a violation of the provisions of the 

 first and second sections of this act. 



SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That immediately after the passage of this act, the Secretary of the Treasury 

 shall lease, for the rental mentioned in section 6 of this act, to proper and responsible parties, to the best advantage 

 of the United States. Laving due regard to the interests of the government, the native inhabitants, the parties 

 heretofore engaged in the trade, and the protection of the seal-fisheries, for a 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. Paul and St. 

 George, and to send a vessel or vessels to said islands for the skins of such seals, giving to the lessee or lessees of 

 said islands a lease duly executed, iu duplicate, not transferable, and taking from the lessee or lessees of said islands 

 a bond, with sufficient sureties, in a sum not less than $500,000, conditioned for the faithful observance of all the 

 laws and requirements of Congress, and of the regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury touching the subject- 

 matter of taking fur-seals and disposing of the same, and for the payment of all taxes and dues accruing to the 

 United States connected therewith. And in making said lease the Secretary of the Treasury shall have due regard 

 to the preservation of the seal-fur trade of said islands, and the comfort, maintenance, and education of the natives 

 thereof. The said lessees shall furnish to the several masters of vessels employed by them certified copies of the 

 lease held by them, respectively, which shall be presented to the government revenue-officer for the time being, 

 who may be in charge at the said islands, as the authority of the party for lauding and taking skins. 



SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That at the expiration of said term of twenty years, or on surrenderor forfeiture 

 of any lease, other leases uiay be made in manner as aforesaid for other terms of twenty years; but no persons other 

 than American citizens shall be permitted, by lease or otherwise, to occupy said islands, or either of them, for the 

 purpose of taking the skins of fur-seals therefrom, nor shall any foreign vessel be engaged in taking such skins; 

 and the Secretary of the Treasury shall vacate and declare any lease forfeited, if the same be held or operated for 

 the use, benefit, or advantage, directly or indirectly, of any person or persons other than American citizens. Every 

 lease shall contain a covenant on the part of the lessee that he will not keep, sell, furnish, give, or dispose of any 

 distilled spirits or 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 any person who shall kill any fur-seal on either of 

 said islands, or in the waters adjacent thereto (excepting natives as provided by this act), without authority of the 

 lessees thereof, and any person who shall molest, disturb, or interfere with said lessees, or either of them, or their 

 agents or employes, in the lawful prosecution of their business, under the provisions of this act. shall be deemed 

 guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall for each offense, on conviction thereof, be punished in the same way and by like 

 penalties as prescribed in the second section of this act: and all vessels, their tackle, apparel, appurtenances, and 

 cargo, whoe crews shall be found engaged in any violation of either of the provisions of this section, shall be 



