134 



FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



San Fka:ncisco, August 25, 1888. 

 To the chairman and memhers of the committee of the House of Representatives- having in 

 charge the investigation of the affairs of the Alaska Commercial Company. 



Gentlemen: I address tliis letter to you, not foi- the purpose of pointing out any 

 infringements on the part of the Alaska Commercial Company of its contract with 

 the Government, but for the purpose of showing that the company uses the power 

 which that contract gives to it to monopolize the whole trade of western Alaska, to 

 oppress the inhabitants, and to retard the development of the country. 



The geographical conditions of western Alaska renders the country impenetrable, 

 except by navigation of its vast rivers, which flow westward into Bering Sea. All 

 the commerce of the country flows through this sea, and past the seal islands of 

 St. Paul and St. George, which are held by the Alaska Commercial Company under 

 lease from the Government (revenue steamers are kept at the exnense of the Govern- 

 ment, throughout the summer months, constantly in attendance about the seal is- 

 lands, and any unfortunate vessel discovered in Bering Sea is searched, and if found 

 to contain any furs, it matters not where or how they were obtained, is seized and 

 subjected to condemnation and sale). This arbitrary action on the part of the Gov- 

 ernment, practiced at the solicitation and by the procurement of the Alaska Commer- 

 cial Company, renders any attempt, however lawful, of any individual to do any trad- 

 ing with the couutry perilous, and in most cases results in irreparable loss. 



Several years ago the Western Fur and Trading Company, comprising a company 

 of gentlemen of this city possessed of large means and acknowledged business capac- 

 ity, undertook to open up a trade with the country, and to that end established 

 stations in different parts of western Alaska. The result was that skins for which the 

 Alaska Conuuercial Company had formerly paid from $20 to |30 were immediately 

 advanced to |125 to|il35. These latter prices were undoubtedly in advance of what the 

 skins could be sold for in the Loudon market, bnt as the Alaska Commercial Company 

 had the neighboring seal islands to tall back upon, and which were certain to make 

 good any loss that the company might sustain in driving its rival out of the field, it 

 required but a few years to force the Western Fur and Trading Company to retire, 

 whereupon the prices of skins were at once drojjped to the original prices. I mention 

 this experience of the Western Fur and Trading Company for the purpose of illustrat- 

 ing the fact that a company having an exclusive lease oi' the seal islands becomes ab- 

 solute master of all the territory tributary to Bering Sea. 



The power that the Alaska Commercial Company possesses in Bering Sea prevents 

 any movement towards the development of the country adjacent thereto ; the past 

 year and a half has fully demonstrated that the country is rich in precious metals, 

 and considerable gold has already come to this market through Bering Sea, the last 

 steamer of the Alaska company having brought down about $60,000 of gold dust. 

 It is the policy of the company to discourage prospectors and miners, and I have been 

 told that at different times they have refused to sell them provisions when they were 

 in a destitute condition. It may be asked why should the Alaska Commercial Com- 

 pany object to the development of the mineral resources of the country ? The answer 

 is, that it would open up the country, induce a large influx of population, establish 

 greater facilities for travel .and communication, and in that way endanger their trade. 



To present to you some idea of the amount of business transacted annually by this 

 company, let me call your attention to the census report of Ivan Petroff for 1880. 

 Mr. Petroff, at page 06 of his report, says that while "the returns of shipments by the 

 American traders in thirteen years (from 1867 to 1880) are necessarily below the real 

 figures" * » * "the market value (in London) of the annual yield of furs in 

 western Alaska may be aj)proximately stated as follows : 



