THE FUR-SEAL ISLANDS OF ALASKA. 107 



fourth time by the first officer of the company's steamer, as they are delivered on board. An official certificiitc of 

 the number of slcins shipped is made out and signed by the goveruinent agents in triplicate, one copy being sent 

 to the Treasury Department, one to the collector of San Francisco, the third given to the master of the vessel in 

 which they are shipped. The amount of the tax or duty paid by the company to the government is determined by 

 the result of a final counting at the custom-house in San Francisco. The books of the company show that it has 

 paid into the treasury since the date of the lease (up to the present writing, November 30, 1874), $170,480 54 on 

 account of the rental of the islands, and $1,057,709 74 as tax on the seal-skins taken. The latter sum is less by 

 $16,458 63 than the tax that should have been paid had one hundred thousand skins been taken each year since 

 1870, or, in other words, 0,209 fewer skins have been shipped than the law permitted. The record kei)t at the 

 islands by both the government's and company's agents shows that in 1871 but 19,077 skins were taken from St. 

 George instead of 25,000, the legal number allowed, and that every year since the number shipped has fallen a little 

 short of 100,000. 



Policy of the Alaska Commercial Company. — The company has wisely adopted a fair and liberal policy 

 in its dealings with the natives, and is more than repaid for the expense incurred by the increased ease and rapidity 

 with which they work while taking skins. I examined carefully the books and papers of the company, both at its 

 ofQce in San Francisco and upon the island ; also the record kept by the government agents, and talked privately 

 with the riiost intelligent of the natives, but I was unable to discover by so doing that there has been any fraud 

 practiced toward the government, or want of compliance with the terms of the lease. The natives keep a jealous 

 watch upon the seals, being fully impressed with the fact that their welfare depends upou the safety of the fisheries, 

 and they are also well informed in regard to all laws and contracts which ha^Te been made by the government 

 concerning them. 



TEEAT3IENT OF THE NATIVES BY THE COMPANY. — The lease requires that provision be made by the company 

 for the comfort, maintenance, education, and protection of the native inhabitants of the islands. 



The natives do all the work of taking and curing the seal-skins, for which they are paid by the company forty 

 cents a skin. This produces each year a fund of $40,000, which is divided between the inhabitants of the two 

 islands, according to the number of skins taken from each, which gives $30,000 to the people of St. Paul, and 

 $10,000 to those of St. George. In addition to this, they are paid forty cents apiece for sea-lion skins, ten cents 

 for their throats, and $5 a barrel for their intestines. As this sum is earned by the joint labor of all the able-bodied 

 men, it is considered a common fund, to be divided equitably among them. Payment is made for all other labor to 

 each individual performing it at established rates. In dividing the sealing fund, the ability of the sealers is 

 considered, and the division made accordingly. Thus the strongest and most skillful men, who work the entire 

 season, receive a first class share. Those who are less skillful, and the old men who are unable to do the harder 

 part of the work, receive second and third shares, while the boys who take part in the sealing for the first time 

 receive a fourth class share. The assignment of shares is made by the chiefs and acquiesced in by the others. 

 Each year, after all the skins have been taken, the chiefs furnish the company's agents with a list of the men who 

 have been engaged in sealing during the season, and the share assigned to each. The second, third, and fourth 

 class are, respectively, 90, 80, and 70 per cent, of the first class share. Two first class shares are voluntarily given 

 for the support of the church, and one for that of the priest. The value of the shares varies a little from year to 

 year, with the number of men engaged in sealing. This year (1874) it was for each, respectively, $429 53, $368 58, 

 $343 02, and $300 63. The result of the division is formally made to the ])eoi)le by the company's agents, through 

 the chiefs and in the presence of the government's agents. These sums are not paid at the time to the natives, but 

 ai'e placed to their credit in the book of the company and in pass-books which are furnished to each man. All 

 other labor is paid for in coin when performed, at the rate of from 6 to 10 cents an hour, according to the nature 

 of the work, except that of bundling skins, which is at the rate of 1 cent a bundle. The first chief is paid a 

 monthly salary of $15, and each of the others, three in number, one of $10, in addition to their shares of the 

 sealing fund. Other natives, men and women, employed throughout the year in other capacities, receive from $4 

 to $30 a month and board. 



The company's store. — Clothing, provisions, and other articles are kept in the company's store-houses on 

 the island, and are sold to the natives at prices not exceeding those for which the same could be bought at retail in 

 San Francisco. I examined the goods, and found them to be of good quality. The people have but little idea of 

 economy, and would spend all their money in a short time for certain articles of which they are fond, hence it is 

 necessary to limit their sale, such as butter, sugar, and perfumery. They are encouraged to save money by the 

 company, which receives deposits from them, subject to the usual rules of "savings banks", and pays an interest 

 of 9 per cent, per annum. Deposits range from $100 to $1,100. The church has a deposit of $8,000. Some are in 

 debt to the company, but become less so every year. Such as are wthout means of support, widows and orphan 

 children, are supported by the company. 



Sanitaky advancement. — The natives live partly in "barrabaras," or earth-houses, and partly in comfortable 

 fiame-houses. Thirty of the latter have been built within the last two years by the company, and given rent free. 

 Others are being built as rapidly as possible, it being the intention of the company to give each family a house. 

 The lease requires the annual delivery upou the island of sixty cords of tire-wood, and twenty -five thousand dried 



