COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 237 



277 BUT THESE ADMISSIONS VERY IMPERFECT, AND, 



CONSEQUENTLY, MISLEADING. 



It is believed that the admissions coutaiiied iu the two 

 passages last quoted are in themselves sufficient to show- 

 that no efficient control was exercised in the interests of 

 seal life on the Pribyloft" Islands by the United States 

 Government. But these admissions fall short of the facts 

 as known and recorded in the official lleports of tluit Gov- 

 ernment. It has already been shown by reference to these 

 Eeports, and confirmed by ascertained facts respecting the 

 skins sold by the Company, that a reduction in the sizes of 

 skins had been deliberately allowed from year to year, at 

 least since 1S83, whereas no reduction in number Avas en- 

 forced till 1890, the first year of the lease to the new Com- 

 pany. That the "quota" of 100,000 had, in effect, become 

 a fixed number, as stated by the British Commissioners, is 

 shown by Professor Allen's remarks as to the extraordinary 

 measures found to be "necessary," and practised in order 

 to secure the "quota." 



The following notes and quotations aftbrd further evi- 

 dence of the absence of proper control on the part of the 

 Government: 



r. N. Wicker, a special Treasury Agent, in respect to the u. Mis. doc. 

 year 18G9, stated that, though the law was nominally in f^^'jggud stss! 

 force, an inspection of the islands convinced him that more 

 tban the legal quota had been taken in that year and the 

 skins sold to traders. 



DR. dale's charges RESPECTING GOVERNMENT AGENTS 

 ON PRIBYLOFF ISLANDS. 



Dr. W. H. Dall, at that time in charge of the hydro- 

 graphic Avork in Alaska, under date the 3Ist August, 1874, 

 addressed a letter to Messrs. Elliott and Maynard, then 

 Commissioners for the United States in respect to the 

 Pribyloft' Islands, in which the following statements are 

 made: 



I have not arrived at that point where I should believe that the 

 Government habitually employs dishonest Agents, though long experi- 

 ence in Alaska might shake auy man's oi^timism. 



« # » * # 



I will now close this letter with one remark, which has no special jr. R., 4 4th 

 connection with the foregoing, but which I believe of some impor- <^<»'S-> is*- Sess., 

 tance. This is, that it would be very desirable that the officers of the J"^' ^^'^- ^'^' l'^'* 

 United States employed on the Pribyloft' Islands should be prohibited " ""' 

 from receiving pay from, or rendering services for pay to, the Com- 

 pany whom, practically, they are placed there to watch. That this 

 has occurred in several instances I am aware, and probably iu some 

 cases without any improper intent on either side; but it is evident at 

 once that it opens a wide door for scandal, if not for fraud. 



278 GENERAL HOWARD'S OBSERVATIONS AS TO THE 



LESSEE COMPANY, 1875. 



General O. O. Howard, while engaged in his official 

 inspection in Alaska in 1875, was evidently much impressed 

 with the circumstances that the Alaska Commercial Com- 



