258 COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



natives as a whole, or to the measures appropriate for the 

 protection of the fur-seals. They also note that, although 

 the material condition of these people has been improved 

 by the industry of taking seals on these islands, it is difiS- 

 cult to understand on what grounds — 



British Com- ^^^ special advantages of a material kind afforded to these particular 

 missioners' Re- people as distinguished from others of the same race, and partly at 

 port, para. 723. the expense of interference with the rights of hunting of those inhab- 

 iting the Aleutian Islands, can be advanced as a valid argument in 

 favour of the perpetuation of a commercial monopoly of fur-sealing. 



It is still further stated that — 



Ibid., para. 724. i^ i^ ^l^o clear that the so-called natives of the islands, though under 



ordinary circumstances provided for in certain respects by the 



303 lessees according to legal arrangement, have in past times not 



always been among the first objects of their solicitude. . . . 



British Com- A single instance, to which it happened that our attention was drawn, 



missioners' Re- may be cited for the purpose of showing that the natives, even in 



port, para. 725. recent years, received no more than strictly ** commercial" treatment. 



The reference here made is to the entirely inadequate 

 allowance of coal given to the natives up to the year 1891, 

 on account of which, and in the absence of other fuel, the 

 people found it necessary to employ their earnings to buy 

 additional coal from the Company at its own price, which 

 was fixed at 30 dollars {61.) per ton. 



