120 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



and cared for as poorly as could be imagiued. They had nothing to 

 eat much of the time except what the country aft'orded. They were 

 left at times for months without any breadstutfs whatever, living ex- 

 clusively on meat. 



Q. Have they saved any money I — A. They have saved nearly $100,000, 

 and now have it to their credit. 



Q. Where? — A. In the hands of the company. A part of it on inter- 

 est in the company's savings trust fund. 



Q. What has the compahy to do with Alaska Territory proper outside 

 of the seal islands, so far as its relations with the Government are con- 

 cerned f — A. I do not understand that it has any relation with the 

 Government outside of those islands, any more than it has in any other 

 portion of the United States 



Q. In so far as trading with the natives is concerned, and in the busi- 

 ness carried on with the natives of Alaska outside of the seal islands, 

 its relations are the same as those of any other company or citiAn of 

 the United States, or anybody else? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Does the company attempt to exercise any control over Alaska 

 outside of the seal islands? — A. I think not. 



Q. What is the policy of the comi)any as to immigration to Alaska? — 

 A. It has always favored it to the extent of carrying any one on its 

 vessels whenever it could afford accommodations. 



Q. How are the rates of transportation, excessive or low. — A. I think 

 they are less upon our vessels than upon any other upon the coast. 



Q. Do they ever transport anybody without pay? — A. In cases where 

 people get stranded in Alaska without money, as has frequently hap- 

 pened, they have brought them to San Francisco without pay. 



Q. What are the company's charges for goods to the natives of the 

 seal islands and other parts of the Territory? — A. The prices on the 

 seal islands are absolutely less than the same class of goods can be pur- 

 chased for in San Francisco, the general rule being to charge 25 per 

 cent, above the whoh.^sale price in market, while in other parts of the 

 Territory the prices depend upon tbe distances and the cost of supply- 

 ing the different stations. 



Q. Have you seen a report made by the governor of Alaska on the 

 subject oT the company's oppression in the Territory? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. What do you say as to the information on which he predicated 

 hat report, was it correct or unfounded? — A. It was entirely insuffi- 

 tent. 



Q, Have you seen Governor Swineford since he made that report ? — 

 A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Where was that ? — A. On the seal islands in June last. 



Q. Did you discuss that with him ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q, What did he say ? — A. He said he was agreeably surprised to find 

 things so much better than he had expected at the seal islands; and 

 that in cases where he had been misinformed he should be only too glad 

 to correct any error in his report and set himself right. 



Q. Do you know the man Anderson whose affidavit accompanied the 

 report ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Was he alluded to in conversation with the governor ? — A. Yes. 



Q. What did he say about Mr. Anderson ?— A. He said he had as- 

 certained since coming to western Alaska that he was deceived by Mr. 

 Anderson ; that his character was not what he had supposed. 



Q. I want to ask you whether or not the three-year-old seals, or manj? 

 of them, which should have returned this year did not return because 

 thev had been killed ? — A. That seems to be the case. The marauding 



