66 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



to gamble aud prefer to lay around the bouse. Tbere is nothing to 

 drive tbetri oat, and tbej bave not to bunt. Not having occasion to 

 go out, they remain in tbe bouse, and they keep the rooms hot and sit 

 around and smoke and play cards, and the women pack all tbe water aud 

 do all tbe out-of-doors work, and this out-door work makes tbe women 

 more liable to resist tbe effects of tbe bad spring weatber. Wben ihe 

 steamer comes we bave an epidemic of cougbs and colds, for the reason 

 that tbe men live in tbe heated houses and unfit themselves for work. 

 So when they are called upon to unload the vessel are liable to bave 

 colds. It was at sucb a time that we bad tbe typhoid pneumonia., and it 

 swept off a large number of the males. 



Q. What do they use principally for food? — A. Seal meat and birds. 



Q. Have you ever eaten any seal meat ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. They like it? — A. Yes, sir; and it is very good meat. 



Q. As I understand it they bave no rent to pay; they bave nothing to 

 pay for the fuel, which is furnished them by the company, and also seal 

 meat; but their expenses are for clotbing and sucb articles of luxury 

 as they buy at the stores. — A. Fuel is furnished them, a ton of coal to 

 family; it is about that. 



Q. So it is very little expense which tbey have for living? — A. Medi- 

 cines and medical attendance are furnished and tbe widows and orphans, 

 paupers, we call them here, are supported by tbe Alaska Commercial 

 Company. If a man had some money and bad no more tban a motber 

 to support, but kicked her out of doors, the Government agent and tbe 

 company's agent would see that be cared for her, 



Q. What is the policy of tbe company in regard to intoxicating 

 liquors, quass, or whatever you call it? — A. The policy of the company 

 has followed out the regulation of tbe Treasury Department, that it is 

 not to be manufactured or sold on tbe island. If the Government offi- 

 cials were energetic enough to issue orders to stop it, it can be stopped. 

 The company's agents are always instructed from headquarters to co- 

 operate to probibit that or any other evil. 



Q. Would it be detrimental to tbe company to have tbe laborers use 

 that intoxicating liquor 1 — A. Most assuredly. I have seen the time 

 when I did not dare to put a lighter oft" to a vessel for fear of drowning 

 the crew of Aleuts. In discbarging a vessel tbey would sometimes 

 have a quiet brew in the village, and it was all that I could do to get 

 them to work. Tbey would sli|) off and go back for their intoxicant, and 

 1 did not dare to put them off' in tbe lighter for fear tbey would be 

 drowned. 



Q. Does tbe company provide that these people shall be taught ? — 

 A. Yes, sir; I do not think the laws provide tbere shall be any Russian 

 taught- in the school. I think it provides for eight montbs' schooling. 

 The reason for tbe Russian being taught is this: The Government 

 agent there issued an order which hardly amounted to compulsory edu- 

 cation; that is, every child should go to school — and there was some 

 friction between the old people in tbe town and tbe authorities as re- 

 gards that. Tbere was an old man on my island, Egor Kolocbiff, who 

 had been teaching tbe children tbe church catechism and had his scbool 

 commencing at 9 and letting out at 12. Our school-teacher was at the 

 school-house and rang tbe bell at 9 o^clock and was ready to teach and 

 there was nobody tbere; tbey were all at Kolochiff''s. The men looked 

 at it in this way, and said that as soon as tbe children forgot tbe Rus 

 sian language tbey would forget their religion. Tbe Govern meut officer 

 at that time bad told them that it was absolutely necessary to bave 

 the English school kept; that the company paid the money and the 



