390 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



'2'2. Copies of these regulations will be kept constantly posted inconspicuous places on both 

 islands, and any willful violation of the same by the agents or employes of the company will be 

 followed by the summary removal of the offending party. 



JOHN F. MILLER, 



President Alaska Commercial Company. 



General Miller, in January, 1881, was elected, by the legislature of California, to the Senate of 

 the United States. He is succeeded as president of the Alaska Commercial Company by Mr. 

 Lewis Gerstle, who is one of the original stockholders and who has always been prominently 

 identified with the business. The affairs of the company are now principally managed by Messrs. 

 Gerstle, Sloes, Niebauin, and Keutnaun, on the Pacific coast; by Mr. Hutchiuson, at Washington ; 

 and Sir Curtis Lampson in London. H. W. E. 



13. THE LAW PROTECTING THE SEAL-ISLANDS. 



AN ACT to prevent the extermination of fur-bearing unhniils in Alaska. 



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Con- 

 gress assembled, That it shall be unlawful to kill any fur-seal upon the islands of Saint Paul and 

 Saint George, or in the waters adjacent thereto, except during the months of June, July, Septem 

 ber, 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 boots 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 pro- 

 visions 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 $200 nor more than $1,000, 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 in 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 pas 

 sage of this act, the number of fur-seals which may be killed for their skins upon the island of 

 Saint 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 ishi ml of Saint George is hereby limited 

 and restricted to twenty-five thousand per annum: Provided, 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. 



