232 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



Q. Have the natives better clothing thau formerly ! — A. They wear 

 woolens of the best class. The company keeps a store which is fur- 

 nislied with everything usually found in a country store. 



Q. The natives wear the same class of clothing as civilized people! — 

 A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Did you observe whether or not alcoholic drinks are used by them 

 or furnished to them ? — A. I did not observe any. I do not think there 

 is any on the islands except what is necessary for medicinal purposes. 



Q. You are aware that the law prohibits it I — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Is there any violation of the law in this respect?— A. No, sir; 

 not on the seal islands. 



Q. There have been a great many accusations published in several 

 papers as to a wholesale condition of moral depravity amongst the 

 women ; that rapes have been committed and the chastity of the young 

 as well as middle-aged women indiscriminately violated by a great 

 many i)eople. Have you had an opportunity to make observations of 

 those conditions? — A. My visits to the islands were made during the 

 day. I was not in a position to see anything of the kind. I never 

 heard of anything of the kind when I was there. If such abuses had 

 occurred, the natives could have appealed to me for assistance if they 

 wanted to. 



* Q. Did you observe the condition of the natives in other parts of 

 Alaska to any great extent? — A. Y'^es, sir ; along the Aleutian Islands. 



Q. How did the natives of St. Paul and St. George compare with 

 those of other parts of Alaska ? — A. They are better clothed and better 

 cared for on those islands, have much better houses to live in than those 

 living in other settlements, excepting at Oonalaska. In a number of 

 other places, the houses are partly underground. In Oonalaska the 

 company has made about the same provisions as have been made on the 

 islands ; bas built at least forty houses which they allow the natives to 

 occupy free of rent. 



Q. The condition of the natives on St. Paul and St. George is better 

 than the natives elsewhere in that Territory I — A. Yes, sir. I under- 

 stand the natives of those islands consider themselves the aristocracy of 

 western Alaska ; it is looked upon as a privilege to be allowed to live 

 there, 



Q. Did you make the acquaintance of many of the agents and em- 

 ployes of the Alaska Commercial Company on the islands of St. Paul 

 and St. George? — A. Y^es, sir; I know them personally and had short 

 conversations with most of them. 



Q. Are you acquainted with Mr. Webster, one of the agents on the 

 island of St. George?— A. Yes, sir; I know Mr. Webster. 



Q. What character of a man is he? — A. Mr. Webster is a man of 

 about sixty-live years of age, perhaps seventy, and is rather quiet. 



By Mr. Macdonald : 



Q. Is he a man that is cross and overbearing ? — A. Here is a photo- 

 graph of Mr. Webster, [exhibiting photograph]. I had very little to 

 say to Mr. Webster, as he was located on the northeast point of St. 

 Paul during both summers. He was in charge of the working force. 

 I have not seen as much of him as of the other employes, but I should 

 judge he was a very peaceable and harmless kind of a man and quiet. 



By the Chairman : 



Q. Did you learn whether or not he was a habitual drunkard ? — A. 

 No, sir ; he has not the appearance of a man who drinks ; he has a pecu- 



