FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 57 



W. B. Taylor, recalled and examined. 

 By the Chairman : 



Q. One point I want to call yonr attention to, and that is to ask you 

 whether there are any inducements or temptations to perpetrate fraud 

 against the Government on the part of the comptiuy which you observed 

 and that you g'uarded against ? — A. No, sir ; 1 do not know of anything- 

 in the way of inducements to defraud the Government out of anything. 



Q. You had no reason to suspect anj" fraudulent practices being 

 carried on ? — A. No, sir ; and under the restrictions of the Treasury 

 agents and the lease which regulate the transactions there, I do not see 

 how it is possible for any company that may have control of the island 

 to defraud the Government. Certainly no attempt has been made, so far 

 as I can observe, or any disposition to do so. In fact, it would be a very 

 unsafe thing for a company to do, because I think that they realize 

 that their lease of the island is dependent upon their not violating 

 the provisions of the law, and 1 know that their agents there have been 

 extremely cautious and particular in carrying out every part of the law, 

 as well as all instructions from the Treasury Department. 



Q, Now, in addition to the additional means and precautions for the 

 prevention of offenses against the Government and depredations upon 

 the rookeries by unlicensed hunters, suggested by you, Mr. Morgan 

 thinks it would be a very valuable regulation if all vessels entering the 

 Bering Sea were required to first enter at Oonalaska and report there, 

 aiul if necessary to give bond lor good faith and obedience to the laws 

 of the United States, that is, they would not violate the laws of the 

 United States. What do you think of such a requirement as that of 

 foreign vessels and all vessels ? — A. I think if there was a law enacted 

 which would make it necessary for all vessels i)assing into the Bering 

 Sea from any direction, either from the western, or any vessels between 

 the Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea, should be obliged to enter and clear 

 at Oonalaska, it would be an excellent thing. And in addition to that 

 I should recommend that on their return they shall also be obliged to 

 enter at Oonalaska. 



Q. Going and coming? — A. Going and coming. In that way the of- 

 ficers of the Government at Oonalaska could ascertain whether they had 

 anything aboard that was contraband, and whether they had violated 

 any provision of the law; and that would not only cover the sealing isl- 

 ands and sealing business proper, and depredations to their interests, 

 but it would cover and prevent any liquors and fire-arms and ammuni- 

 tion and everything of that sort being brought there which is contrary 

 to the law. 



Q. You speak of Bering Sea; of course you mean Bering Sea in 

 Alaska — our part of the sea? — A. Yes, sir; I speak of Bering Sea in 

 Alaska, our portion of it. Of course the natural course of a vessel 

 passes within a very short distance of Oonalaska now. In fact, there is 

 no vessel, except vessels there for no good purpose, but what do pass 

 through very close to Oonalaska. Every one of them would go to Attoo 

 and go into the Bering Sea, unless to evade a revenue-cutter, and I 

 should suggest that they should not pass in or out of our waters in the 

 Bering Sea without having to pass the port of Oonalaska. 



Q. You suggest that they should both enter it going and coming? — 

 A. Yes. sir; both in and out. 1 think that in a large measure would do 

 away with all these depredations. 



Q. I believe we have no custom-house north of Oonalaska? — A. Ko, 

 sir. There is a place where they can unload, and the Government ves- 

 sels can ascertain whether they are there for any good or bad purpose. 



