FUR-SEAL FISHERIE.S OP ALASKA. 263 



Q. Kow, while you were on tbe seal islands as a Government officer, 

 a law officer, did the natives on those islands have an opportunity to 

 communicate to you any grievances that they had, if they had any? — 

 A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Was any complaint made to you by any native on either of the 

 seal islands? — A. None whatever. 



Q. 1 wish you to state to the committee what is the practice of the 

 Alaska Commercial Company as to affording- facilities for the carrying 

 of passengers and freight to all parts of Alaska to which their vessels 

 run and with regard to their bringing back emigrants and miners and 

 anybody else and the taking of them ineitherdirection gratuitously? — 

 A. I have seen it frequently done. They were taken gratuitously. 

 They have rendered every service in their power always, and they seemed 

 anxious to promote the welfare of everylwdy. While I was at Ooiia- 

 laska quite a number of miners came from the Yukon, who were brought 

 down on the Bear and taken from there to San Francisco on the com- 

 pany's vessel. Some of them who had no money were taken down free. 



Q. Do you remember how many were taken down ? — A. J think prob- 

 ably there were about thirty-live. Last summer there were sotne 

 brought down, and some of those who wished to go to Unga and hud no 

 money, were sent free of charge. 



Q. Do you know whether the price charged those who could pay was 

 reasonable or not? — A. I think it was very reasonable. 



By Mr. Magdonald : 



Q. Y^ou mean the transportation? The transportation in some cases 

 was free ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. What did they charge for carrying passengers? — A. From San 

 Francisco to Oonalaska, a first-class passage 1 think, is $08; that is my 

 recollection. 



By Mr. Felton : 



Q. How many miles? — A. Two thousand one hundred and forty 

 miles. It takes about eleven days to make the trip. 



Q. That includes everything ? — A. Yes, sir. 



The Chairman. How do their rates compare with the regular rates 

 on the steamers running to Sitka? 



The Witness. 1 think they are less. 



By Mr. Macdonald : 



Q. Are the accommodations equal ?— A. Yes, sir; on the steamers 

 and the schooners also. 



Q. That is, you mean they are as good ? — A. Y^es, sir; as good. When 

 I was at Oonalaska acting in my official capacity, I received a good 

 many applications from native hunters and at other points also to be 

 allowed to go to the seal islands to work, and not only to work, but to 

 live continuously. I told them I had not authority to give them ])er- 

 mission. The idea was they received better pay for less work. The 

 hardships they undergo in hunting are very great and there are many 

 dangers connected with it. And then the very best of hunters fall 

 sometimes to make anything during the year, and they thought their 

 life would be easier there. That was not because they received any ill 

 treatment at the places where they belonged, but that they would pre- 

 fer to go there. 



Mr Jeffries (laughing). They wanted to go there and be oppressed? 



The Witness. Exactly. 



