FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 181 



tion of wbat Senator Yoorbees gave me : " Determine to do your whole 

 duty." That was all my iustrnctiou. 



Mr. Felton. Did you get any from the Department ?— A. Xone what- 

 ever. The surrounding circumstauces would dictate what a man's duty 

 would be — to protect the natives and see the law enforced, and he has 

 no power to do so. 



The Chairman. Did you read the laws in reference to that reserva- 

 tion ? — A. Yes, sir ; aiul the company's rules, and those rules are good 

 enough for anything, but they are violated. 



Q. By whom "? — A. By the company's men ; by their interference with 

 the government of the natives, and bj^ everything being done to an- 

 tagonize law and order. 



Q. Can you specify any acts on their part which were in violation of 

 the laws of Congress in reference to reservation or the regulations of 

 the Treasnry De|)artment? — A. The regulations of the Treasury Depart- 

 ment, no; but if my knowledge is correct in regard to a Government 

 reservation, I have seen the flag insulted on St. George Island by its 

 being hoisted and by their making sport of it — Mr. Webster and Dr. 

 Lutz— and I have my wife here to prove it. 



Q. Can you specify any violation of the law on their part? — A. As to 

 the taking of the fur seal ? 



Q. As to taking the fur seal and the general administration of the 

 laws of the Government on that reservation ? — A. I know of no law, Mr. 

 Chairman, with the exception of the taking of the fur seal, that they did 

 not violate. 



Q. I understood you to say awhile ago you read the statutes creating 

 the reservation of these islands of the Prybilov group, the islands of St. 

 Paul and St. George and the others of that group. I believe there is a 

 little rock or two besides which are included in that reservation. Now, 

 for instance, you understand that no one is permitted to hunt there 

 and to take the fur seals there except the lessees of the island. The 

 islands are leased to this Alaska Commercial Company, and I suppose 

 you are familiar with the law governing that lease and the terms ot the 

 lease. You know what they are required to do under the operation of 

 that law. You know under the operation of that law, or you should 

 know as a Government agent, who are permitted to go there and what 

 acts they are prohibited from doing there. Now, I ask you if you know 

 of any acts that were done in violation of law in reference to that reser- 

 vation, or any violations of the contract by the lessees under that lease. 

 I would like for you to specify just what it is, whether by the company 

 or its agents, because you know the agents there represent the com- 

 pany, as the company can not be personally present. It is only pres- 

 ent through the presence of its agents. The acts of its agents there the 

 company is responsible for under the operation of the contract and the 

 law. — A. The law as pertaining to the Alaska Commercial Company 

 was carried out. 



Q. By the agents of the company ? — A. By the agents oi the com- 

 pany, with the exception of that school being closed. 



Q. To what extent did that violate their duty there? — A. I will have 

 to refer to my memorandum. 



Q. Certainly ; do so if you wish to. — A. Under the 30th of April is 

 this entry : 



To-day at noon Mr. Clark informs me that lie intended elosing school to-day. I 

 told him that he had better not., and that the school ought to bo continued until the 

 time prescribed and iu accordance with the contract, and that, he had not taught 

 eight months. He suggested that I see Mr. Webster. I replied that I thought Mr. 



