38 FUR-SKAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



We do not have Lliatuibitrary system that tlie Eussians work, and under 

 which they could do it. They can do aiiy tiling they want of that kind, 

 but I do not think that will be a very good policy for us, myself. If you 

 could have the thing managed from here, like you could a railroad, 

 or the telegraph, or the mail system you could do it all right, but in 

 this remote region, with 2,000 miles of rough and impassable water for 

 half the year, I do not see why outsiders could not come in and break 

 up the whole business entirely. They might with the company, but 

 they do not keep anything there, except for a month or so. Only a small 

 amount of money is in circulation, but of course it passes around from 

 one to another, in the church and out again. I do not think the Gov- 

 ernment-operating scheme woidd be practicable. 



Q. If the Government should undertake itself to operate the rook- 

 eries it would have to buy sui)plies and sell to the natives, and that 

 would involve the purchase and sale of goods, as well as the general 

 merchandise business, as well as su]>i)lying the natives and the wants of 

 the people, and the markets generally for the seal skins t — A. Yes, sir. I 

 am not willing to express any opinion upon that. The present system, 

 I think, works well. 



Q. You think that works successfully now for the preservation of 

 seal life ? — A. Yes; there is no doubt about that. 



Q. And yielding a good revenue to the Government ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Did your observation suggest any change in the policy of the Gov- 

 ernment which would be for the better preservation of those interests 

 there ? — A. Not in the general policy, as laid down in the lease ; I think 

 that covers everything. 



Q. Is it very comprehensive? — A. Yes, sir; that is, I do not know 

 whether it positively expresses anywhere that the Government shall 

 protect this island for the Alaska Commercial Company; but in the 

 nature of business the Government is bound to protect all citizens, and 

 especially its lessees. 



Q. I think it prohibits all people anywhere except the Alaska Com- 

 pany from taking seal skins from the waters, and it also prohibits the 

 firing of guns and certain kinds of hunting, etc., in the waters of Ber- 

 ing Sea, Alaska ? — A. Y^es, sir. 



Q. Do you think the Government ought to keep one or two revenue 

 cutters or vessels there to watch over the waters ? — A. I think the Gov- 

 ernment ought to keep at least one revenue steamer there in and about 

 these two islands up until the middle of October at least. The trouble 

 has been in the Ee venue-Marine Service. The appropriations were all 

 right, and a fellow would be sent up to nominally protect the seal isl- 

 ands, but he would also be ordered to look for the north pole, as well 

 as watch the seal islands. He might ind the north pule, but not 

 around the seal islands. He would be away just at the very time 

 when he would be needed around there. The pirates never give us any 

 trouble until after the 1st of September, because when the company's 

 steamer is up and down there, which is from the 20th of May until the 

 20th of August, it plies around a month or two, and other vessels pass 

 up and down, and so the pirates keep shy of the place, but it is after 

 they know the killing season is over and the company's steamer has 

 gone, and the revenue steamer has gone, that they slip around and get 

 their work in. The first raid that occurred on St. George while I was 

 there occurred on the 2d of September, when they raided a rookery and 

 killed some seals. They created a gap in the rookery, and that gap never 

 closed up that year. The seals never went back that year. When I 

 saw it I thought it had been created by a sea-lion disturbance. A few 



