FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. l47 



panies would have to unite. They would have to form a "trust," I 

 suppose. Self-preservation would sooner or later compel them to do 

 that. The leasing principle would still be the same. They would have 

 to be treated in precisely the same manner. It would be just as satis- 

 factory to our peopleas well as those of the islands to have one company 

 as to have ten. There are only so many seals, and only so much can 

 be done, no matter how many companies there are. 1 gave this sub- 

 ject a great deal of attention when I wf^ut to Alaska, because I went up 

 there with the idea in my mind that it would be a good plan for the 

 Government to manage the business ; but when I came to investigate 

 it, I came to the conclusion that it was not simply a question of taking 

 seals on the islands — it required, also, nice management abroad to make 

 the business valuable. 



By Mr. Jeffries: 

 Q. Did you go up there as a Treasury agent? — A. Yes, sir; as a 

 Treasury agent, and also under the auspices of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution. I had every facility for studying the matter. 



By Mr. Felton : 



Q. The practical value of that business, does it not occur to you, re- 

 solves itself down to two factors; first, the preservation of the seals, and 

 next the preservation of the commercial value of the fur? — A. There 

 are two wings to the business ; one rests on the seal islands and the 

 other on the London market and sales. 



Q. Both are necessarily important, when you come to determine the 

 question of value, because we want not only to preserve the seals but 

 the price at which it will pay to take tbem. Would not they really be 

 the two factors presented? — A. Yes, from a commercial stand-point en- 

 tirely so. But if they were not worth a cent in the markets they would 

 still be just as valuable to natural science, and should be conserved for 

 that alone. 



Q. As to the relation existing between the United States and the 

 Alaska Commercial Company in reference to this business in Alaska 

 outside of the seal islands, have you any observations to makef — A. 

 Yes, sir ; I understand it very thoroughly. They have no more to do 

 with the Government or the Government with them than any other 

 citizen or company outside of the seal islands. Naturally, on account 

 of its responsibility, the company pays great attention to enforcing the 

 Government rules in regard to the introduction of fire-arms and liquor. 

 If any liquor gets into the country the company will be made to suffer. 

 Whether the company desires it or not, it will be lampooned a great 

 deal, and on that account they desire and have aided the Government 

 to enforce the law in suppressing the rum trafi&c. 



Q. Is it true that the balance of the Territory is open to free compe- 

 tition ? — A. Entirely so. 



Q. Does the fact of their possessing this lease in any way enable 

 them to destroy all competition in the fur business?— A. No, sir; I 

 think if the business amounted to much, competition would soon be 

 found. To my mind the amount of the land fur trade of Alaska amounts 

 to a great bubble; when you look into the figures, it is pricked. I 

 do not suppose $50,000 worth of land furs can be brought in at St. 

 Michaels, Yukon region, in the course of a year, and of that the natives 

 get nearly $40,000. In the Bristol Bay regions the gross valuation of 

 the land fur will not exceed $10,000 a year, and the natives get 80 p^er 

 cent, of tbat. The next is Kuskovim wliere the amount of the fur 

 trade certainly is not over $10,000. Those three depots center all the 

 land fur trade of Alaska to-day that is worthy of mention. 



