188 FUE-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



Q. I say, what do you uuderstand was the first reason for wanting you 

 to keep this priest out of pups and coal? — A. Because they had a dis- 

 agreement and ill-feeling existed between them. 



Q. A personal enmity? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Go on, now. — A. Previous to my arrival there had been some 

 trouble about the killing of pups, and it had been settled, and 1 told 

 the natives that any one who made quass or killed pups I would have 

 them sent from the island. 



Q. What is quass? — A. It is a Eussian intoxicating drink. Mr. Web- 

 ster said he would get even with Peter Eezanzoff if he had to kill the 

 pups and put them in his house. 



Q. Por what? — A. Only to get him in trouble and persecute him. I 

 said I should not permit that system of persecution ; that my belief 

 was that the company was there to keep the store open and to fulfill 

 their part of the contract, and that they must let the natives alone. 

 That is all the natives want, to be let alone, but they will not do it. 



Q. Was there anything else ? Why did you understand the employes 

 of the company were uufriendlj^ to you? — A. Because they could not 

 make me do as they wanted me to do. 



Q. In general terms, because you would not do as they wanted you 

 to do? — A. Because I would not be a tool of these men, and because I 

 could not be whipped in. They could not starve me in, and now they 

 trj^ to blacken my character. 

 By the Chairman : 



Q. Now, Mr. Gavitt, will you state as to the selling of goods to the 

 natives by the company? What prices do you charge the natives for 

 the goods they sell to them ? — A. They are supposed to charge -!5 per 

 cent, above the San Prancisco prices, and, as far as 1 know positively, 

 that law is obeyed with the exception — 1 have some samples. 



Q. That is not a matter of law. — A. That is an agreement between 

 the Government and the company, to charge 25 per cent, profit. 



By Mr. Jeffries : 



Q. You do not know anything about that ? — A. It was my under- 

 standing of It, sir. 



Q. You had better understand what you are talking about, — A. Well, 

 I will try. Thank you for your interruption. 



Q. You are welcome. 



By the Chairman : 



Q. I will state to you that the committee is inquiring into this matter 

 simply to ascertain whether any abuses are indulged in by the company 

 towards the native inhabitants, who are stated to be a very simple-minded 

 class of people; and I do not know myself of anything in the law re- 

 quiring the company, or rather regulating the sale of goods to the 

 natives, except the laws prohibiting the sale of intoxicatiog drinks. I 

 do not remember any regulation, but as the committee is iuquiriug into 

 that question I will ask you if you have any evidence of unreasonable 

 extortion in the price of goods ? — A. I have not, in reference to charg- 

 ing one person more than another; but in refusing to sell to one i)er- 

 sou and selling to another, I hav^e. You see a favored few can go and 

 buy luxuries, that are taken out of the store and put in the company's 

 house, when those who are not favored can barely get the necessaries of 

 life. 



Q. On what account are they favored and not favored ? — A. They are 

 prostitutes. They can buy luxuries, while those who are not prosti- 

 tutes can hardly get necessities. 



