FUE-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. XXXI 



Q. What do you say in regard to the natives of Alaska who have come in contact 

 with the ALaska Commercial Company, as to whether they are better or worse in 

 those localities where the company has stations? — A. I think they are improved con- 

 siderably, particularly at Oonalaska, where the company also maintains a school. 



Q. Did the company build houses f — A. They built houses. They took out the old 

 barabacas and made frame houses. 



Q. That, you know, has nothing to do with the lease.— A. Nothing whatever. The 

 Alaska Commercial Company has no monopoly at Oonalaska. Anybody that wants 

 to can go there and do business. 



Q. That is so anywhere in the Territory except on the seal islands ? — A, Yes, sir. 

 As I stated when I was here last summer, there was competition for the fur trade at 

 various points — Kodiak, Unga, Oonalaska, St. Michaels, and other trading points. 



Capt. L. G. Shepard, sworn and examined. 



The Chairman. The subject under investigation by this committee is the contract 

 and l«aso made by the United States Government with the Alaska Commercial Com- 

 pany for the purpose of taking fur seals in Alaska, and the extent to which this has 

 been enforced or complied with, etc., by that company at any time. 



Q. State what position you occupy. — A. I am captain of the United States revenue- 

 cutter Richard Mush, and made two cruises to Alaska in the summers of 1887 and 

 1838. 



Q. Did you observe the condition of the natives in other parts of Alaska to any 

 great extent ? — A. Yes, sir ; along the Aleutian Islands. 



Q. How did the natives of St. Paul and St. George compare with those of other 

 parts of Alaska? — A. They are better clothed and better cared for on those islands, 

 have much better houses to live in than those living in other settlements, excepting 

 at Oonalaska. In a number of other places, the houses are partly underground. In 

 Oonalaska the company has madts about the same provisions as have been made on 

 the islands; has built at least forty houses which they allow the natives to occupy 

 free of rent. 



Q. The condition of the natives on St. Paul and St. George is better than the na- 

 tives elsewhere in that Territory ?— A. Yes, sir. I understand the natives of those 

 islands cousi:^er themselves the aristocracy of western Alaska ; it is looked uxion as a 

 privilege to be allowed to live there. 



Jacob H. Moulton, recalled and examined. 

 By the Chairman : 



Q. Will you please state if at any time you have occupied an official position under 

 the Government in connection with the administration of the lease of the seal islands 

 of Alaska, and at what time. — A. I was special agent of the Treasury Department at 

 the seal islands from 1877 until 1885, eight years. 



Q. State what your duties were there. — A. My duties were to see that the law in 

 regard to the killing of seals was complied with and to take general charge of the 

 native population of the island. 



Cross-examination by Mr. Jeffries : 



Q. What do you say, Mr. Moulton, as to the condition of the natives who have come 

 in contact with the Alaska Commercial Company as compared with the other people 

 of Alaska who have not come in contact with that company or with its agents ? — A. I 

 know the people very well in Oonalaska, as we always visited there going and com- 

 ing. That is the only point of Alaska I ever visited except one spring I went to Ko- 

 diak. The condition of the natives of St. Paul is mueh superior to the natives of 

 Oonalaska. while the condition of the natives of Oonalaska is much suiicrior to the 

 iiativesof Kodiak. That is as far as I observed. I know of nothing outside of those 

 three points — the seal islands, Oonalaska, and Kodiak. 



Q. Do you know whether the company has done anything in regard to ameliorating 

 the condition of the people of Oouakiska? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. What have they done? — A. They have built houses there. 



Q. Have they furnished a doctor ? — A. Yes; a doctor and a school-house. 



Q. Is that included in the contract with the seal islands ? — A. No, sir. 



Joseph B. Johnston, sworn and examined. 

 By the Chairman : 



Q. State to the reporter your name and place of residence, and the official position 

 that you occupy, if any. — A. My name is Joseph B. Johnston, United States commis- 

 sioner, stationed at Oonalaska. I reside there, and I have resided there for the last 

 two years. 



Q. Have you occupied that official position during those two years? — A. Yes, sir. 



