FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 



Washington, June S, 1888. 

 The Committee on IMercliaut Marino and Fisheries, in pursuance of 

 the following resolution, adopted by tlie House of liepreseutatives, pro- 

 ceeded to execute the order of the Uouse. The resolution is as follows : 



Hesolccd, That llie Coiiimittco on Merclifiiit Mai'iue aucl Fisheries 1)o authorized 

 and directed to fnliy and thoronj;hly investis^ate (he fur-seal fisheries of Alaska, and 

 all contracts or leases made by the Government Avith atiy persons or companies for 

 tho taking of fur-seals or other fur-bearing animals in Alaska ; the character, dura- 

 tion, and conditions of such contracts or leases, and -whether and to what extent the 

 same have been enforced and complied with or violated ; tho receipts therefrom and 

 the expenses incurred by the Government on account of any such contracts or leases; 

 and to fully investigate aud report npon tho nature and extent of the rights and in- 

 terests of the United States in tho fur-seal and other lisheries in the Bering Sea, in 

 Alaska; whether and to what extent tho same have been violated, and by whom ; 

 aud what, if any, legislation is necessary for the better i)rotection and preservation 

 of tho same; that said committee bo authorized to sit during the sessions of the 

 House, send for persons and papers, and administer oaths, employ a messenger if 

 found necessary, and that all exxjenses of such iuvestigation shall be paid out of tho 

 contingent fund of the House. 



Washington, D. C, May 26, 1888. 

 Sir : On behalf of the Alaska Commercial Company, of San Fran- 

 cisco, Cal., I respectfully request that said company be allowed to ap- 

 pear by counsel before your committee during' the investigation of its 

 affairs by said committee under the recent order of the House of Eep- 

 resentatives. 



Very respectfully, 



K L. Jeffries, 

 Attorney for the AlasJca Commercial Company 

 Hon. Poindexter Dunn, 



Chairman Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. 



TESTIMONY OF S. M. BUYNITSKY. 

 ►3. M. Buynitsky, sworn and examined. 



By the Chairman : 

 Q. Are you personally familiar with the location of tbe Fur-?)eai 

 Islands and rookeries in the Bering Seal and if so, state your means of 

 knowing about their locations and conditions. — A. I spent alsout three 

 months in 1870 on the islnnd of St. George. At that time 1 visited for 

 a few days the island of St. Paul. 



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