PUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 247 



Q. Did you observe or liear imytbiDg that led you to believe that 

 tbe Governmeut was beinjG^ defrauded in any way by the Alaska Com- 

 mercial Company, its agents, or other persons? — A. No, sir. 



Q. Except these lawless hunters you have spoken of ? — A. That is 

 all, sir. 



Q. What is the condition of the natives on the islands of St. George 

 and St. Paul ? — A. I should say excellent, as compared to the natives 

 where the company have no stations and do not exercise any authority 

 or protection. 



Q. Has the condition of the natives under tha'^j administration be- 

 come improved ? — A. They used to live in barrabaras or mud huts, and 

 were clothed with skins and ate seal meat and blubber. Now they are 

 comfortably clothipd and live in good houses as the artisans do here. 



Q. What was your observation of the moral condition among the na- 

 tives as compared with the former?— A. Their condition now will com- 

 pare favorably with the lower classes of any other nation. There is a 

 strong inclination on the part of the Aleut to drink. He wants alcohol 

 as the Indian does and he will get it anyway, shape, or manner and 

 stupefy himself with it. 



Q. The laws of the Government prohibit the sale or giving of intoxi- 

 cants. Did you find any violation of that law?— A, No, sir; I saw no 

 violation of it at all while I was there. They make quass, and they do 

 sometimes distill a little liquor; I do not know what it is. For instance, 

 they might get hold of a couple of kerosene cans and make a little dis- 

 tillery out of those. They will get drunk if they can. 



Q. You are satisfied the company does not sell or give any to them ? — 

 A. I feel thoroughly satisfied of that, sir. It is against their interest 

 to do anything of the kind. 



Q. Did you observe whether or not the natives seem to be fairly well 

 contented with the administration of the affairs by the Government 

 and by the company's agents there ?^A. They seemed to be highly so. 



Q. Contented and satisfied! — A. Oh, yes. I conversed with every- 

 one that talked any English there and I heard no complaints. 



Q. Did you get acquainted with the agents of the company and the 

 Government at that time there f — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. What was the general character and reputation of the employes 

 and agents of the Alaska company there — good or bad ? — A. Escellent, 

 in my opinion. 



Q. Were the agents dissatisfied with their treatment by the company's 

 agents? — A. I heard of no dissatisfaction at all. 



Q. Did you get acquainted with Mr. Webster; was Mr. Webster an 

 employeof the company there at that time? — A. He was there, but I 

 never saw him. 



Q. Did you hear much about his character and repution for sobriety 

 and moraiity? — A. 1 never heard anything particular about him any 

 more than that everybody knew Mr. Webster and that they all liked 

 him. I never had the pleasure of meeting him as it happened. I cer- 

 tainly never heard anything against his character in any way. 



Q. You have seen recent publications in the New York papers as to 

 the moral condition of the people of those islands, and the very low 

 state of depravity on the part of the natives. Did you see or observe 

 anything that would justify accusations of this kind? — A. No, sir ; I did 

 not, certainly not. 



Q. Did you see or hear of anything that would seem to indicate that 

 the company's store house and Government house was a sort of house 



