40 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



and their eggs. They are very numerous. In the beginning of the 

 season they live on these birds and eggs; but in the winter their living 

 is precarious, as they only get a bird now and then. We had to kill 

 about a thousand pups for them the Lst of November, and that would 

 last them on up until after New Year's for fresh meat. Then they would 

 fall back on old salt seal and buy corned beef. It was pretty tough times 

 with them, as they like fresh meat. Salt seal is pretty tough eating. 

 They would die of starvation but for the seals. 



Q. There would be no reason for them to remain on the islands 

 longer?— A. No, sir; they would die there if left without somebody to 

 feed them. 



Q. Did you observe while there the effect of the fur-seal islands being 

 leased, and the right to take fur seals being given exclusively to this 

 company? Did it, in your opinion, have a tendency to give a dominat- 

 ing influence in the Territory of Alaska in regard to the commerce and 

 business in that Territory, to the detriment of others ? — A. It is like 

 any other business ; where one concern has the most capital invested and 

 the largest facilities for doing business they are pretty sure to do it. 

 The company had steamers, for they were obliged to go up there to the 

 seal islands, and it paid them largely of course to do so. And while 

 the steamer was there waiting on tlie killing, which would be for six 

 weeks (now the steamer that took up supplies to the agents and all 

 these people in May could not go down with a load of skins until about 

 the middle of August; it generally left there about the 1st of August), 

 meanwhile that steamer would have to anchor around the islands in a 

 precarious way; or that vessel could run up St. Michaels and go into a 

 good harbor and get painted. In the meanwhile they received furs 

 from the Yukon Eiver, and while the steamer was getting fixed up and 

 painted they received furs there and delivered the supplies for that 

 year, so that probably they delivered their supplies for the Yukon dis- 

 trict and received their furs from the Yukon district for nothing, while 

 another company would have to fit out an entire expedition to go there. 

 Therefore, I think they had that advantage. 



Q. That is an advantage that is merely incidental ?— A. Yes, sir; 

 unavoidably. I have an idea that if it was not for the seal islands and 

 the trade there they would abandon that northern country altogether 

 and anybody could take it up that wanted it. Mostly the skins there 

 are of a cheap character. 



Q. I believe you have stated that there are other traders"? — A. There 

 were at that time. Beaver was only worth 50 cents, but there came a 

 litttle spurt in the fashion for beaver capes and mufls, and they got a 

 little more. Now, I do not believe the beaver is worth the taking. 

 Mink and martin are not of any value. Nobody wears a martin cape 

 any more, except an old woman of about eighty years ; they are out of 

 fashion. They would not take muskrat, except to help the Indians 

 along. Muskrat goes into cheap imitation furs, little muffs and boas, 

 which cost about $1.75. 



Q. The most valuable were the sea otter and the silver fox. — A. The 

 sea otter are not north at all. They are about the Aleutian Islands, 

 south of the seal islands. Seal otter are a rarity around us ; we only see 

 one once in a while. It was a curiosity to see one around St. George. 

 There is not a seal that will pull out on one of the Aleutian Islands, and 

 no man can see the difference between them and the Pribylov Islands. 

 The eye of man can not distinguish why a seal should not pull out on 

 the Aleutian Islands, yet not one will lacd there. It is very strange. 

 They go along there, going up in the spring, nosing right along the shore, 



