FUK-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 267 



Q. Does the bishop come there once in a while ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Where are his lieadqnarters ? — A. San Francisco. 



Q. Bishop of the Greek Church ! — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Does the priest and any leadiucf man, or anybody else on these 

 islands, have an opportunity of sending from the island any letters 

 and communications down witli the ship ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Is the priest in the habit of sending down to the bishop to — what 

 do they call it "l — A. Consistory. 



Q. To the consistory, reports and packages and papers you want to 

 send f — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. You know they do do it ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Is it not put up in a box by itself and closed np "? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. And put on board the vessel and delivered to the consistory ? — 

 A. Yes, sir. 



Q. So if you had a grievance against anybody or the company which 

 you wanted to send, you could put it up with the other papers'? — A. 

 Yes, sir ; you could. 



Q. Have you been at Oonalaska? — A. Yes, sir; I was down there. 



Q. What becomes of the widows and orphans jind the sick and poor 

 people who can not work on the island, who takes care of them, if any- 

 body ? — A. The company. 



Q. Do they provide for them well and make them comfortable I — A. 

 Yes, sir. 



Q. You know that to be true ? — A. Yes, sir. 



TESTIMONY OF LOUIS KIMMEL. 



Louis KiMMEL, sworn and examined. 



Q. What is your residence "? - A. My residence is La Fayette, Ind. 



Q. Have you at any time been an official of the Government, and if 

 so, in what capacity and where ?— A. Yes, sir ; I was assistant Treasury 

 agent at the seal islands, stationed on St. Georce Island. 



Q. When ?— A. From 1882 to 1883. Arrived' there in the latter part 

 of May, 1882, and left there in the early part of August, 1883. 



Q. What were your duties there ? — A. Well, to see that the contract 

 that the Government had with the Alaska Commercial Company was 

 carried out fiiith fully, that the natives were treated well, and to over- 

 see the sealing business. 



Q. To see that the laws of the Government were enforced ? — A. Yes, 

 sir. 



Q. Will you give the committee a statement of your observations and 

 administration of that office there; what you did and what transpired, 

 and the condition of things there during that time?— A. Well, the seal 

 business commenced in the latter part of June and continued until the 

 latter part of July. 



Q. That is the taking of seal skins there allowed by law ? — A. Yes, 

 sir. 



Q. What number were taken upon that island ? — A. I think there 

 were lo,()0() taken. 



Q. What kind of seal were taken f — A. Only the male seals from two 

 to live years old ; perhaps older than five ; but I do not think there were 

 any taken over live years old. 



Q. Were any female seals killed? — A. No, sir. 



Q. None under a year old ? — A, No, sir. 



