FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 173 



to a corporation to disburse moneys, enter into commercial operations, 

 and so on? — A. Ob, yes; I think they could do that. 



By Mr. Jeffries: 



Q. I have seen it suggested in some newspapers that a treaty might 

 be made with. England which, while not asserting our dominion over 

 Bering Sea, would protect the seals in that sea. Would there be any- • 

 thing to prevent any British vessel or San Francisco schooner from 

 registering from other countries and, therefore, would that be of any 

 value? — A. That wouhl be of no value. Some Americans might go up 

 to Victoria, sail out under the British flag, and if they got injured 

 would put in a claim against the Government for four or fiVe times the 

 vahie of the schooner, or enough to put her in better condition than 

 she was before. 



Q. When you estimate the value of the se;il islands at $7,200,000, of 

 course you estimate that the seals will always remain there? — A. With- 

 out protection to the seals the seal islands have no money or commercial 

 value. With protection they are, in my judgment, cheap at $7,200,000. 



By Mr. Felton : 



Q. The seal islands have not, but has not Alaska some mines of 

 value — has it not some successful mining proj)erty ? — A. Yes, sir; a 

 few\ The Treadwell mine is a paying one; but as for the interior of 

 Alaska the mining interestis very problematical. They brought down 

 last year $50,000 worth of gold, washed from the Yukon River, but 

 the severity of the winter will preclude the possibility of prosecuting 

 any mining business in Alaska. 



Q. Do you regard the lisheries as very valuable? — A. Yes, sir; the 

 salmon fisheries are very valuable, but they do not return any revenus 

 to the Treasury. I say that, if we are to have this fur-seal busincs- 

 taken from us, we had better try and get Knssia to take back the coun- 

 try she sold us. 



Q. Do you happen to know about how many Secretaries of the Treas- 

 ury have been in oflBce since the islands Avere leased ? — A. No, sir; I do 

 not. 



Q. I think nine or ten. Have you ever looked over the reports of 

 those Secretaries to see what recommendations they made in regard to 

 this business ? — A. I can not say that I have. 



Q. The question I wanted to ask you was, whether they had not all, 

 so far as they alluded to it at all, reported that the company had ful- 

 filled its contract in every respect? — A. 1 have looked over the reports 

 made by the Government agents on the island, who have generally re- 

 ported to the Secretary that the company has faithfully performed its 

 contract under the law. 



Q. Has it, so far as you have observed ? — A. I have reported that the 

 company has complied strictly' with the law. 



Q. You think there is no doubt about it? — A. I think there is no 

 doubt about it, or 1 would not have so reported it to the Department. 



By the Cni irman : 



Q. Do you know Chester Seeber, who was formerly United States com- 

 missioner at Uonalaska? — A. Yes, sir; I do. 



Q. Have you seen a letter addressed by him to the chairman of this 

 committee about tiie matters before it? — A. I saw in a newspaper a day 

 or two ago a letter, or x-ather it was an Associated Press dispatch from 

 Washington, which spoke of a letter that he had addressed to the com- 

 mittee, 



