lf)8 FUR-SEAL riSIIKKlr.R OF AT^ASKA. 



be a source of scandal nud corruption ? — A. It mijiht, in the bauds of 

 some agents. The Goverument may be vcr.v careful iu the selection of 

 its ageuts, as careful as it is possible to be, but 1 have kuown of cases, 

 and so have you, where the Government has been terribly imposed 

 upon. It often gets the wrong- men. It would be liable to get the 

 wrong meu in this case. If that were done, there would be some scan- 

 dal. If it got good, straight, honest meu in charge of the business, with 

 some knowledge of it, and paid them money enough to justify them and 

 keep them in the business, then the Government could ruu it just as 

 well as not. 



Q. Under the present system, then, you think that the Government 

 maintains a vigilant watch over seal life, and that th^e company main- 

 tains a vigilant watch over its private interests, and that the present 

 system constitutes the greatest ultimate safety to the public interest? — 

 A. Unquestionably; they both work iu harmony. 



Q. Each taking care of its own interest? — A. Yes ; each taking care 

 of its own interest, and doing its duty. The company gives no trouble 

 to the Government officer. After it concludes the taking of its catch 

 it ships the skins, and they leave a man to look after things on the 

 island. The Government officer remains, and he has sole charge of 

 everything, except the matters of the company. Each attend to their 

 respective duties. There is no clashing. 



Q. Have you had occasion to observe andjudge of the general effect 

 that this lease has on the natives, and whether this lease enables the 

 Alaska Commercial Company to exercise over the business interests 

 and general prosperity of the natives any influence? — A. Yes, sir; it 

 enables them to exercise a very large influence throughout Alaska. 



Q. Is it injurious? — A. The basis of their business is the fur-seal in- 

 dustry. Without this contract, it would not be there. Tliis contract 

 enables the company to nuiintain stations iu other portions of the Ter- 

 ritory where there are natives congregated, and where they collect more 

 or less land furs. This business they could not maintain without the 

 fur seal contract, because a number of these stations are non-paying. 



Q. You mean unprofitable? — A. I mean unprofitable, maintained at 

 an actual cash loss annually. Most of their stations pay something. 

 The most Taluable fur that they have heretofore gotten has been the 

 sea-otter, but of late years the sea otter has been hunted so vigorously 

 by white hunters and others that the supply of that fur is very largely" 

 reduced. 



Q. By competition? — A. Yes; by competition. Their business iu 

 Alaska is principally on the fur-seal islands, and their business else- 

 where has no connection with that, and does not keep i)eop]e out of the 

 Territory at all. Since I have been there, their vessels have been at 

 the service of any person wishing to travel up to Alaska. It carried 

 missionaries, traders, and their families, miners and others who hajipen 

 to be at the stations. Such always got passage. I have never known 

 an instance where they refused passage to any one who undertook the 

 establishment of a store or trading post at any point iu Alaska. The 

 company has i^s stations at all points where it is at all probable they 

 will have a profit, aud it does all the business it can ; but it is in com- 

 petition with many others. 



Q. Is their influence in any respect, in your opinion, deleterious to the 

 public interest ? — A. Not to the natives. If it were not for this com- 

 pany I believe the natives in many portions of Alaska would be in a 

 starving condition. If this company did not go there aud carry pro- 

 visions to them and take what few furs they have the natives would 



