FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 119 



profits! — A. Yes, sir; and the effect is further, as I have already 

 stated, to cat down the nimiber of animals on the islands from which 

 we have to choose ; and our men are particularly instructed never to 

 kill bulls that seem to be necessary for the i)reservation of the rook- 

 eries. It is our first care that a sufficient number of animals shall be 

 preserved for the full preservation of the rookeries in their best condi- 

 tion of productiveness. This year we have been compelled to let ani- 

 mals go back to the rookeries that we should have been glad to kill. 



Q. To what do you attribute this diminution in the size of the skins 

 taken ? — A. To the fact that after turning back our breeders a sufficient 

 number of large male seals can not be had on the islands to meet the 

 requirements of our trade. 



Q. How do you account for the reduced number'? Is it on account 

 of the numbers taken by the company, and do you think the company 

 ought to take less ? — A. I think if the seal fisheries were protected 

 againA marauders we should have no trouble in getting our full quota 

 of desirable skins. The marauders should be asked to take less. 



Q. You think the difficulty is, you have not had complete protection 

 for the herd? — A. I think 100,000 skins could be annually taken if 

 there was no marauding. 



Q. What position do you hold in the company? — A. I am general 

 superintendent. My duties are more particularly to see that the seal 

 rookeries are pi eserved, that no harm comes to them from improper 

 management, and that the natives are provided for as stipulated in our 

 contract with the Government. 



By Mr. Jeffries : 



Q. What are your instructions, and what is your practice in regard 

 to the treatment of the natives, and carrying out the instructions of 

 the Department and the law in regard to the seal rookeries ? — A. My 

 instructions have always been to see that every provision of the law is 

 fulfilled. The company goes much further than that, and provides 

 many things for the comfort and education of the natives not specified 

 in the contract or rendered obligatory by any regulation of the Treas- 

 ury Department. We have strictly followed all instructions issued by 

 the Department, and supplied to the natives luxuries that are •almost 

 unknown to laborers in any other part of the world. 



Q. What is the condition of the natives now "?— A. It could hardly be 

 better. They have an amount of money they do not know what to do 

 with. * 



Q. How are they housed ? — A. They have comfortable houses for 

 every family on the islands. 



Q. W^ho built them "? — A. The company. 



Q. The natives have never been charged anything for them 1 — A. 

 Nothing whatever. They have in addition to that gratuitous medical 

 attendance and medicine's; usually coal considerably in excess of that 

 required by our contract with the Government; support for their widows 

 and orphans by the company ; the i)rivilege of traveling free of charge 

 upon our vessels, and our constant care and assistance. 



Q. Are they provided with schools? — A. Yes, sir; for eight months 

 in the year in well-constructed school-houses, under good teachers. 



Q. How do the natives apiiear to be satisfied with their change of 

 allegiance? — A. They are well satisfied, t think none of them could 

 be induced to go back to their former mode of life. 



Q. What was their condition wiien they first became citizens of the 

 United States? — A. They were living miserably m underground houses, 



