184 FUE-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



Q. There is no law prohibiting any citizen of the United States who 

 goes there from carrying and using it himself? — A. 1 think there is a 

 law pertaining to the custom-house in San Francisco. 



Q. A custom-house regulation ? — A. I think so. 



Q. Can you identify in particular any act in the introduction, sale, 

 or use of intoxicating'drinks in violation of the law or the regulations 

 of the Treasury Department, including the custom-house at San Fran- 

 cisco? Can you specify any particular act or name an individual? — 

 A. I have seen wine brought in by Government oflicers. 



Q. In violation of law? — A. You see there is the trouble — we do not 

 understand. Some say wine is not included in the law. 



Q. The statute specifies intoxicating liquors. — A. I do not know; 1 

 am very ignorant pertaining to that. 



Q. 1 think the sum of it is that they are prohibited from selling in- 

 toxicating liquors and so on. — A. I saw Mr. Manchester give a drink to 

 a woman named Merculiff. He gave her a glass of wine on the 4th of 

 July, 1887. 



Q. For what purjjose?— A. Just for a drink ; she was a nurse girl. 



Q. He was a Government agent ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Did she become intoxicated? — A. Oh, no. And he gave the priest 

 a glass too. 



Q. Will you state what are the general character and habits of these 

 natives of that island in general ? — A. Their character is peaceable and 

 apparently, as I found, law-abiding people. The disposition is to do as 

 told, but they are greatly dissatisfied at their present condition. 



Q. What is the source of their dissatisfaction? — A. As I found their 

 treatment during the winter-time by the employes of the company. 



Q. Do you mean dissatisfied with the execution of the law, or just a 

 personal disagreement between them and the government? — A. It is 

 pertaining to their general condition ; the condition of things is wrong. 



Q. Is their condition worse than it was before the cession of the isl- 

 ands to the United States? Have you any knowledge on that sub- 

 ject? — A. I suppose it is better now than it was. 



Q. Is it your opinion that the condition is better? — A. I should judge 

 so ; but that is only from hearsay. Of course I know nothing of that. 



Q. Are they better clothed or worse clothed ; do they earn more or 

 less money than in their former state? — A. 1 can not answer that. 



Q. You have no knowledge of their earnings under the Russian sys- 

 tem there? — A. ISTo, sir. 



Q. Yon do not know what their habits of life and condition were un- 

 der the Prussian system ? — A. No, sir. 



Q. You state that your general conclusion is that their condition is 

 better from what you have heard as to what took place ? — A. From a 

 letter that one of the natives wrote, they were not treated any worse 

 under the Eussians. This letter can be read. 



Q. In Avhat does that bad treatment consist; can you specify acts ? — 

 A. Yes, sir ; I can. For instance, one case : A native was reported 

 for punishing his wife. I tried him, and found the man was innocent. 

 He wanted to prevent his wife from going to the company house for 

 immoral i)urposes. I lectured him and dismissed him. When I dis- 

 missed him, Mr. Webster called him and told him that if he did not per- 

 mit his wife to come to his room he would break his head. I have here 

 an affidavit from the man covering that. Another instance: A native 

 wished to marry a girl on St. George Island, and the marriage was 

 prevented in order to keep that girl for a prostitute. I have au affida- 

 vit covering that. 



