FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 231 



Sea? — A. Yes, sir. To look at it in another lig'bt, I think it would be 

 cheaper to take them in the water than to make a contract, or pay a 

 tax to the Government, for the privilege of taking them on the islands ; 

 and that no company would be willing to enter into a contract with the 

 Government unless guarantied protection on water as well as on the 

 islands. 



By Mr. Macdonald : 

 Q. You are now speaking of what the Government ought to do, regard- 

 less of the present law ! — A. 1 think the business should be either 

 wholly protected or thrown up, one or the other. I do not see any half- 

 way course to take in the matter. 



By the Chairman : 



Q. Did you observe any violations of the law on the part of the 

 Alaska Commercial Company in the course of your cruise there? — A. 

 No, sir ; I do not remember seeing any thing of the kind. 



Q. Did any violations of the law by the company come under your 

 observation while there ? — A. I thought they were very careful to ob- 

 serve the contract and carry it out to the letter. 



Q. How often did you visit the islands of St. George and St. Paul? — 

 A. Probably ten times each summer. I have no special record of it, 

 but whenever I was in that vicinity I landed to consult with the special 

 agents. 



Q. Did you look into the subject of the faithful execution of the 

 law ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Did you hear of any violations of the law on the part of the com- 

 pany or its agents, or on the part of the Treasury agents '? — A. No, sir. 

 The particular object of my visits was to learn if any marauding ves- 

 sels had been seen about the islands. 



Q. Did you have an opportunity to observe the character and man- 

 ner of the natives upon those islands, and their condition ? — A. Yes, 

 sir; I went about their villages and looked at their houses. 



Q. Did you talk to the natives ? — A. No, sir ; not much. 



Q. What was your observation of their condition? — A. I think they 

 are as well provided for and as well taken care of as possible under the 

 circumstances. They are certainly very much better oft" than the la- 

 boring classes are elsewhere; at least, they obtain a living with much 

 less labor. 



Q. They were m a comfortable condition, and had good houses to live 

 in? — A. Yes, sir; good wooden houses. 



Q. They were well clothed ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Had plenty of food ?— A. They all looked to be in a fat and 

 healthy condition. 



Q. Of course you know something of the former condition of the natives 

 before the Territory was ceded to the United States. How does their 

 condition now compare with their condition prior to the cession ? — A. 

 I understand that before the country was ceded to the United States 

 the natives lived in hovels or barrabaras, houses built half under and 

 half above ground, and lived principally on seal meat. Their clothing 

 consisted principally of skins of seals, and the seal was almost their 

 whole means of sustenance. This is M'hat I understand by conversa- 

 tions with people who visited the country early. The natives now 

 live in wooden houses, which I understand have been built by the 

 Alaska Commercial (Company, and they have been moved up on higher 

 ground than they formerly occupied. They are higher and drier, and 

 should be healthier. 



