24 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



doing business from the outside, over which the Alaska Company had 

 no control. They were a competing company. I do not believe that 

 the company was ever guilty of doing such a thing. 



Q. Was it in competition with the Alaska Commercial Company ? — 

 A. Yes, sir. I know that they pay from $50 to $80 now for sea-otter 

 skins. 



Q. In money or goods'? — A. I can not tell you that. I guess there are 

 few hunters who are not indebted to the company for goods they get 

 through the winter to live on. 



Q. Of course the Alaska Commercial Company has no relations to 

 the Government except in regard to the seal islands and as to the fur- 

 seal skins ? — A. Yes ; in that respect they have a monopoly subject to 

 the control of the Government. 



Q. Then in regard to other points ? — A. They are points of competi- 

 tion. There is nothing to prevent anybody else going and trading and 

 buying furs anywhere in the Territory, except on the seal islands. 



Q. Do they have competition ? — A. I do not think they have. I think 

 the Western i^ur and Trading Company has sold out. I know there 

 are white hunters in there who employ natives to hunt the sea otter, 

 but whether they sell to the Alaska Company or not I do not know ; I 

 guess not entirely, though. I do not think there is anything in that. 

 I never heard the story there. There are a good many sea-otter hunt- 

 ers who make it their business. 



Q. There are other furs besides the otter, I suppose, taken in Alaska? — 

 A. Oh, yes ; also ivory (walrus tusks), w^hich is an article of commerce 

 up there. I do not know what the natives on the islands west of Oon- 

 alaska would do unless the Commercial Company was there. They 

 have brought a good many from an island west of Oonalaska because 

 they were in a starving condition. 



Q. That is the westernmost island? — A. Yes, sir 5 there is another 

 question you asked Mr. Buynitski, which perhaps you would like me to 

 answer, and that is whether the company furnished all they agreed to 

 under the lease. They are required by the lease to furnish 80 barrels 

 of salt salmon. Of course they do not furnish the salt salmon j they fur- 

 nish corned beef. They are required to furnish barrels to salt meat in, 

 and salt sufficient ; they are required to keep for eight months a school- 

 house, and furnish books, etc. ; this they do. In addition to the require- 

 ments of the lease, they furnish good frame houses for every family to 

 live in. The company have built those houses and furnished them. I 

 do not mean that tliey furnish them with inside furniture, but that they 

 have built these houses and provided them for the natives. 



Q. Charging no rent ? — A. No rent ; it is free. They also furnish a 

 physician and medicine, which they are not required to do, and widows 

 are supported by the company for a year at any rate, and longer if nec- 

 essary ; but they generally have some relatives who can support them. 



Q. Are there any cases of absolute pauperism there ; anything such 

 as anybody being starved to death from exposure and want? — A. No, 

 sir ; nothing of that kind. The company draw them blubber for fuel, 

 which they are not required to do, and they furnish them with food from 

 the kitchen in case of necessity. It is for the advantage of the company, 

 in order to keep the natives healthy. It is to their interest to keep them 

 healthy and satisfied. 



Q. As to the granting of this lease, this exclusive privilege to take 

 far seal, to the Alaska Commercial Company, has it the effect to give 

 it a dominating influence, tending to give a monopoly of the commerce 

 of Alaska, the fur trading and business of Alaska ? Did you see any 



