122 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



petition with them, but we are also obliged to take smaller auimals by 

 reason of their having killed a portion of those upon which we relied 

 in making our selection. 



Q. Suppose twenty thousand skins were taken this season, what do you 

 estimate that the loss to seal life would be ? — A. At least one hundred 

 thousand. jS'ot more than one in five of the seals killed, and hardly 

 that number, in my opinion, would be recovered. 



Q. Are the majority of them females? — A. Yes, sir; either with 

 young or with nursing young left upon the islands. 



[ want to st^te in regard to the natives that the mortality has been 

 very great among them within the last few years. Our number of 

 laborers is reduced. We could use considerably more help from other 

 parts of the Territory, if we were permitted to do so. So far we have 

 employed only natives of the sea islands, all other labor being paid for 

 by the month or day. But we are now in a position to provide for a 

 number of the islanders from the Aleutian Archipelago at the seal 

 islands, if we are allowed by the Treasury officials. 



By the Chairman : 



Q. In what way! — A. We would put them with the force of seal 

 hunters upon the islands, and allow them to take their proportion of 

 the seals. Our first-class men now receive about $625 each for six 

 weeks' work. 



Q. What is the number that actually work?— A. About eighty men, 

 and of these about twenty-five are in the first class. The smallest 

 amount paid to any of these laborers this year is about $200 for six 

 weeks' work. 



By Mr. Jeffries: 



Q. 1 want you to state what the company's operations are at the sea- 

 otter grounds of Attoo? — A. It would be pertinent to include all the 

 territory west of Uonalaska, because it is all practically in the same 

 condition. 



Q. In those regions the Government has no relations to the com- 

 IDauy ? — A. The company has always provided for the inhabitants 

 south of the seal islands, but it is under no obligation to do so. We 

 provide employment for these otter hunters, assist them to fit out their 

 hunting expeditions, and in many ways exercise a fatherly care over 

 them. 



Q. Does the company build any houses"? — A. We have built a large 

 number of houses at Oonalaska and several in other parts of the Terri- 

 tory. The seaotter business was formerly profitable, but during the 

 last three years in the entire Aleutian Archipelago it is uon jxiying. 



Q. It is open to competition ? — A. Yes, sir; and in the portion west 

 of Athka we get almost nothing. I think in the country west of and 

 including Athka we have during the last year spent not less than $4,000 

 or $5,000 to obtain $500 worth of furs. 



Q. For what i)urpose? — A. To keep up stations and to keep the 

 people from starving. At Attoo Island there are about one hundred 

 people now. From there we get absolutely nothing, except a dozen or 

 two of fox skins. Now it is proposed to take the people from that isl- 

 and and carry them to Oonalaska, and thence to tiie seal islands, if 

 they can be induced to go and if the Government gives us permission 



Q. Are you supporting them without remuneration ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Arethe sea-otters diminishing in numbers ? — A. Yes, sir; because 

 white hunters who have better facilities for killing them than the natives 

 follow them long distances from the coast and kill old and young in- 



