FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 27 



There is nothing to live on. Now, they not only live there, but they 

 contribute a good deal to the other islands and churches on the other 

 islands. They send down seal meat to their friends at Oonalaska, 

 which the company's boats take down free of charge. Every year they 

 send down part of a load of seal meat. I think it better tor the Gov- 

 ernment to lease the islands as it now does. 



By Mr. Jeffries: 



Q. Do you know anything in reference to the question as to whether 

 the Alaska Commercial Company is opposed to immigration to that 

 Territory? — A. I think under the law outsiders have no business there. 



Q. I mean to Alaska Territory proper, not to the islands'? — A. No. 



Q. What do you know in regard to carrying persons on their vessels 

 to Alaska in changing stations, and all that ? — A. I know this, that they 

 have taken missionaries up there and traders from up the Yukon, and 

 have brought traders down on their steamers and not charged them 

 for it. • 



Q. They have furnished transportation both to traders and goods ? — 

 A. Yes, sir ; and I told them they were foolish to do it. 



Q. Have they ever refused to do it ? — A. No. 



Q. In what capacity were you acting during your stay on the islands 

 of St. Paul and St. George in Alaska ? — A. I was chief Treasury agent ; 

 there were three assistant agents. 



Q. Who were the other agents — your subordinates'? — A. John H. 

 Moultou, George Wardman, and Louis Eammel. 



Q. State if you know of the company sending in natives of the seal 

 islands to San Francisco or elsewhere for the purpose of educating 

 them. — A. Yes, they sent James Butrin to Vermont, where he was at 

 school, intending to use him as a teacher, but he died soon after his re- 

 turn. Later they sent Simeon Molovedoli' to San Francisco to educate 

 him. 



Q. How large are the seal islands, respectively '? — A. The St. Paul 

 Island is about 12 or 13 miles long. I think it is 13, and I think it will 

 average about 3 miles wide. It is in the shape of a triangle. It is very 

 narrow at the village. The St. George I do not know so much about; 

 that Mr. Wardman will tell you of. 



Q. Is it as large as St Paul ?— A. It is a different shape, but I think 

 it does not contain so many square miles. 



Q. What is the form or topography of this island ? — A. It is hilly. 

 It is a volcanic formation there everywhere. 



Q. What does it produce, if anything ? — A. It does not produce any- 

 thing — some berries grow there. Grass grows and a sort of wild rye 

 which never ripens. Also many varieties of flowers. 



Q. Is there any communication that you know of between Sitka and 

 the seal islands ! — A. None, except revenue cutters, which come over. 



Q. What do you say about the increase or diminution of the number 

 of seals on the rookeries of St. Paul and St. George ■?— A. I did not 

 notice any change, but they vary in different years, in St. George par- 

 ticularly. Mr. Wardman can tell you about it on St. George. I could 

 not see any particular diiference. They come there and have their 

 young and go away; the period of gestation is eleven months, and then 

 they come back in the spring following. They are there during the 

 season in countless numbers. 



Q. How do you characterize them — as animals or fish ? — A. I should 

 not think they were fish. 



