56 FUE-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



Q. When does the yoimg seal first go to the water ? — A. I do not tliink 

 I can be accurate in any stateineut as to that. I did know. 



Q. Oau they swim, or have they to be taught"? — A. They have to be 

 taught. Their mothers take them out — 1 have seeu them very often 

 do that aud the youug cau not swim at once. The cows will take them 

 to the sea-shore, where she teaches them to swim, and it they happen to 

 go down she will dive and bring them up. 



Q. AVhere do the younger ajid bachelor seals take up their position 

 while the bulls and cows are on the rookery '? — A. They stay at one end 

 of the rookery, and it is generally back. That is, the bulls' liave got so 

 that they are nearly strong enough to hold a harem of their own and 

 they go back, hojping that later on the rookeries will become over- 

 crowded and that they will have a chance for a harem. But the killa- 

 ble seals are generally at one end of the rookery. They separate in that 

 way, so that we do not molest the rookery in driving the iseal. 



Q. Now, I want to ask a question in regard to the natives of Ooua- 

 laska. Is it not a fact that while the Ooiialaska natives brought up 

 are paid wages, the natives of St. Paul and St. George receive the 

 whole iO cents per skin for the whole number of skins taken ?— A. That 

 is my understanding. In fact, I know that the natives received their 

 full quota. 



Q. So that the natives on the island got all the pay that was intended 

 in their quota, and the Oonalaska natives were paid their wages, and 

 that the natives lost nothing by the fact that the others got payl — A. 

 Not at all. \t was necessary for the company to bring the people up to 

 get the work done that was needed. 



Q. How does the company act with the natives with respect to their 

 religious notions f — A. The company gives the natives all the liberty in 

 that respect that they could ask for'; in fact, they do not restrain them 

 in any manner, shai)e, or form. The only thing that the company does 

 in any way to interfere with the religious worship, and that is perfectly 

 proper, is to compel them, if necessary, to help in the discharge of a 

 cargo, for the reason, as I stated before, that on certain days the water 

 ■was bad to discharge a cargo, owing to the surf, and some days when 

 they have religious duty or holidays the company has to get them to 

 go to work in getting a cargo oft", and in all respects they have absolute 

 freedom from any restraint by the Government agent or the company. 



Q. Does the company provide a school for the natives on each island f — 

 A. ^Tes, sir; they have a school-house on each island, and a school 

 teacher paid by the company, which affords them all the school facilities 

 they would get in the United States i)roper. 



Q. Are you familiar with the conditions of the lease 1 — A. Somewhat. 



Q. And of course you are familiar with the Treasury regulations and 

 the law. That was your business and instructions ^ — A. I was at the 

 time, but I aui a little rusty now. 



Q. I want to ask you the general question whether during your ad- 

 ministration of affairs there the company performed all its covenants 

 according to the law and its contract fully to the letter, so far as your 

 observation extended 1 — A. Yes, sir, I think they have stated very ex- 

 plicitly that they have done even more than was required.^ 



(Mr. Taylor stated that he had at home notes and memoranda made 

 while in the performance of his duties as assistant agent of the Treas- 

 ury Department, which would refresh his memory on many points, and 

 asked leave to forward such supplemental statement, to the committee 

 as he might desire to make after consulting his memoranda. Leave was 

 granted him to do so.) 



