FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 223 



ment. — A. I bad finished icy statement. It would be a question of 

 judguieut wbetlier there should be a sbi[) stationed there — a iiir^e ship 

 or a prison. A sbi)) probably would be tbe most practical, because it 

 might be used in sending ])risoners to Sitka, and it could be moved any 

 time back and fortb. Besides, if it becomes generally known that the 

 revenue-cutter is doing her full duty, stealing seals will soon cease. 



By Mr. Felton : 



Q. i^ow, in regard to tbe question the chairman asked about vessels 

 reporting there. They could run in and out and avoid it if they chose 

 to do it if— A. What was tbat? 



Q. Tbe question asked by tbe chairman was to make all the ships 

 report at Oonalaska going into Bering Sea. Sui)[)Ose a pirate sliould 

 go there, be could go in and come out without reporting, it be chose, 

 and take the chances? — A. He would not be apt to ask for i)apers. He 

 would not go in unless to steal, and be would not want any ])ai)ers. 

 The papers that a captain of a revenue cutter would be looking for 

 would be seal skins. 



The Chairman. If vessels went in without a permit required by law 

 it would authorize tbe revenue cutter to seize them at once. 



Tbe Witness. He might take a i)ermit out and thm slip out another 

 way. I think it would be merely another ofticer to corrupt. 



By Mr. Macdonald : 



Q. Confining ourselves to what I started out to get information on — if 

 I undeistand it, tbe Government has a revenue cutter theie now part of 

 the time or all the time"? — A. During tbe summer. It goes up in xVlay 

 and comes back in Sei)tember or October. 



Q. Is that long enough ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. VV^hat I wanted to ask you in that connection was whether one 

 of these revenue cutters was sufficient to protect notonly these islands 

 but the others; in other words, the Alaska seal lisheries ? — A. The 

 other islands and their interests are taken care of by another revenue 

 cutter. 



Q. You are confining your answer to St. George? — A. To St. George 

 and St. Paul IslautLs. The other vessel goes up hunting traders and 

 everything of that kind. 



Q. This revenue-cutter, I understand you to say. is confined to watch- 

 ing the seal fisheries and does not have anything to do with any other 

 business ? — A. It sliould not. 



Q. That one is sufficient"? — A. I should think one would be sufficient 

 if it is done properly to protect seal islands. 



Q. There is nothing more you would suggest? — A. Yes, sir. I would 

 also suggest that tbe Government require its officers to insist upon be- 

 ing treated like officers on other reservations in the United States ; and 

 there should be special attention paid to the agent. They should not 

 be treated as the agent of a custom-bouse in New York; they should 

 insist that they must report and that their reports should be read. In 

 that way therecan be some improvement made. Now, there is one mis- 

 take I will call your attention to to show tbe weakness of the rules 

 under tbe Treasury. It says one agent and three assistants. One 

 agent in chief has $10 per day, tbe next $8 jier day, and tbe next two 

 get $G per day. When I went to the island one of tbe reasons the gen- 

 tlemen 1 found there did not agree, besides their quarreling about tbe 

 women, was, both were paid tbe same amount, $(5 per day. When a 



