98 FUK-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



their skins to whomsoever they pleased, and then paying the company 

 back their advance. 



Q. Have you built houses there? — A. Yes ; we built houses for those 

 people. Aud while they are gone on this expedition, it is absolutely 

 necessary we should help maintain their families. 



Q. These houses that you built were without charge, gratis ? — A. Yes, 

 sir. 



Q. They have nothing to do with the seal islands ? — A. No, sir j ex- 

 cept some are taken up there for laborers. 



Q. No contract with the Government ? — A. No, sir. 



Q. Here is a letter of instruction from Mr. Lewis Gerstle, president 

 of the company, dated May 7, 1886. He was then president of the com- 

 pany ? — A. He was. 



Q. This is a letter of instruction to your agent at St. Michaels, Alaska. 

 This letter says : 



San Francisco, May 7, 1886. 

 Mr. M. LORENZ, 



Agent, St. Michaels, Alaska : 



Dear Sir : We have been informed that a large number of miners have already 

 started to the Yukon aud Stewart River mines, and it is probable that many others 

 will be attracted to that section of the Territory in consequence of the supposed ex- 

 istence of rich diggings in that district. Considering that the company's station at 

 St. Michaels is the nearest source of supply, an extra amount of groceries aud provis- 

 ions have been sent to you to meet the possible demands liliely to be made upon you 

 during the coming winter. It must not be understood, however, that the slaipmeut 

 referred to is made for the purpose of realizing profits beyond the regular schedule of 

 prices heretofore established ; our object is to simply avoid auy possible suffering 

 which the large increase of population, insufficiently provided with articles of food, 

 might occasion. Hence you are directed to store the supplies as a reserve to meet 

 the probable contingency herein indicated, and in that case to dispose of the same to 

 actual customers only, and in such quantities as will enable you to relieve the wants 

 and necessities of each and every person that may have occasion to ask for it. 



In this connection we deem it particularly necessary to say to you that traders in 

 the employ of the company, or such others as draw their sujiplies from the stores of 

 the company, doing business on their own account, must not be permitted to charge 

 excessive profits; otherwise all business relations with such parties must cease, as the 

 company can not permit itself to be made an instrument of oppression toward any 

 one that they may come in contact with. 



It is useless to add that in case of absolute poverty and want the person or persons 

 placed in that unfortunate position should be promptly furnished with the means of 

 subsistence without pay, simjily reporting such facts at your earliest convenience to 

 the home office. 



Asking your strict compliance with the foregoing instructions, which we hope will 

 be carried out with due discretion on your part, I am, with kind regards to yourself 

 and Mrs. Lorenz, 

 Yours, truly, 



Lewis Gerstle, 



Fresident. 



Q. Is that an authentic, genuine order of the company ? — A. Yes, sir ; 

 it is. 



Q. That was in May, 1886 ?— A. Yes, sir. 



Q. I have asked you how many agents you have on the main-land. 

 Now I will ask you in regard to the Aleutian Islands. How many 

 white men, under the company's control, are on the Aleutian Islands ? — 

 A. I really could not say; I would have to ask Mr. Morgan that; I 

 should suppose, though, five or six. [To Mr. Morgan.] How many 

 are there? 



Mr. Morgan. Twenty-five or thirty. 



The Witness. Twenty-five or thirty, Mr. Morgan says. 



Q. I have seen it charged that the company was mutilating their coin. 

 How about that? — A. It is a charge that has no foundation whatsoever 



