APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 135 
The fact is patent that but little advancement has been made by the natives of 
this island towards an intelligent American citizenship during the twenty years that 
they have been nominally citizens of the Republic; that not to exceed 10 per cent. 
of them, who during the time mentioned, have attended English schools, speak the 
English language. This may be explained by the well-known objection of the par- 
ents to their children learning to speak English, and to the further fact that the 
services of their Church, the Greek Catholic, are conducted wholly in the Russian 
and Aleutian language. 
48 The small advancement made by the pupils in the schools is attributable 
also in large measure to the fact, that the schools have been conducted by per- 
sons not trained to the profession of teaching. 
It is, in my opinion, to be regretted that the Department, in granting the new 
lease of the Seal Islands, did not reserve to itself the employment of the school 
teachers, who should hold certificates showing their qualification to teach, at least, 
the primary branches in our common schools. 
In relation to the condition of the seal rookeries and hauling-grounds of this 
island, I do not feel called upon to go into details in view of the full and exhaustive 
manner in which the subject is treated in your Report of this year, and also in view 
of the forthcoming Report of Professor H. W. Elliott, who was sent by the Depart- 
ment especially to examine and repott upon the condition of seal life on this and 
the Island of St. George. 
But I desire to add my testimony to that of my associate as to the deplorable con- 
dition of the seal grounds upon this island. The large grass-grown areas of these 
grounds, until a comparatively recent period occupied en masse by seals, to be num- 
bered by the millions, and now wholly deserted, the driving and redriving from all 
of the haunling-grounds on this island by the lessees during the present season in 
their efforts to obtain their quota, and the meagre results attained, tell, in stronger 
language than I can command, the sad story of the very near approach to the entire 
destruction of seal life upon this island. 
It is hardly worth while for me to attempt to theorize as to the probable cause of 
the condition of affairs. I deem it sufficient for me, at this time, to corroborate and, 
if possible, to emphasize what you say in your own Report, as to the past, present, 
and the threatened future condition of seal life upon these islands. 
The present depleted condition of the seal rookeries on this island urgently calls ~ 
for prompt action by the Government to save this important industry from immediate 
and complete destruction. 
I heartily concur with your views expressed in your Annual Report of 1889 in regard 
to the killing of pup seals for natives’ food. The skins of these pup seals belong to 
the natives, to be disposed of by them as they choose, the only restriction imposed 
being that they shall not be exchanged for contraband goods. I desire, through 
you, to call the attention of the Department to the fact that these pup sealskins, 
being largely held by the natives for the purpose of barter for spirituous liquors with 
the seamen of any craft that may anchor in these waters, are a source of evil, and 
only evil, to the natives. In view of this fact, and also in view of the further fact 
that the seal life on this island is rapidly approaching extinction, I respectfully 
suggest that the best interests of the natives and the best interests of the Govern- 
ment will be the most eftectually served by prohibiting the killing in the future of 
any pup seals for native food. 
Some more economical substitute can, in my judgment, be readily supplied. 
Iam, &c. 
(Signed) S. R. NETTLETON, 
Assistant Treasury Agent. 
CHARLES J. Gorr, Esq., 
United States Treasury Agent in charge of Seal Island, 
3. Lteport of A, W. Lavender. 
OFFICE OF SPECIAL AGENT, TREASURY DEPARTMENT, 
St. George Island, August 25, 1890. 
Str: I have the honour to report to you that on the 14th August, and while the 
United States revenue-steamer ‘‘ Rush” was lying at anchor off our village, a schooner 
came in sight close in to the east end of the island. This was at 5.30 Pp. mM. The 
“Rush” at once got under way and steamed towards him, and followed him in to the 
anchorage in front of the village, where she lay all night between the cutter and the 
shore. She proved to be the American schooner ‘Nettie Martin,” Captain Ohlmitz, 
belonging to Kodiak. She is about 16 tons measurement, and has a crew of four 
white men and four Kodiak natives. She had on board ten sacks of salt and four 
