FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 271 



Q. Nothing came iiuder your observation to lead you to believe that 

 the agents of the company and other white people there were debanch- 

 ing the native women ? — A. No, sir. I was ac<|uainted there with Mr. 

 Eedpath, who was there while I was there, and during the sealing sea- 

 son Mr. Morgan and some others, and they were ail gentlemen, every 

 one of them. 



Q. Did the agents of the company there accord ready obedience and 

 execute the laws and orders of the agents of the Government ? — A. It 

 seemed to me they were just as much conversant with law and the re- 

 quirements of the law as we were. We never had any difficulty in car- 

 rying out the law. 



Q. Is it your opinion that the herd of seals are of sufficient vahie and 

 importance to justify the Government in making a reservation of these 

 islands aud protecting them at the great expeuse it incurs ? — A. I think 

 so , especially the seals ought to be more protected in the water. 



Q. You think a very rigid protection should be extended in the 

 waters of the sea awav from the islands "? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Do you think the herd could be increased over the number the 

 Government takes now, 100,000 a year, if they were thoroughly pro- 

 tected in the waters of Bering Sea ? Do you think it could be increased 

 in numbers f — A. If there be no depredations outside of the seal islands, 

 I think they will be increased in number. But they are slaughtered 

 recklessly outside, which will undoubtedly decrease the number. 



Q. I think that you have stated before that you have no knowledge 

 of any violation of law in any respect. What do you say of the unau- 

 thorized hunting of seal; was there any I — A. I have no experience 

 about that. Only in one case the chief reported to me he had seen a 

 vessel, so I, together with the agent of the company, went out to the 

 jjlace, East Kookery, they called it, about 3 miles distant. After we got 

 there we found that a vessel had been there, as we found some ropes aud 

 cartridges and such things that they left there. That is the only time 

 I recollect any ])irates being around. 



Q. Do you think seal life could be better preserved by any policy than 

 the one now pursued by the Government f— A. I do not know what 

 method is pursued now. 



Q. It is the same now as it was when you were there. — A. It ought 

 to be more protected by having revenue-cutters. 



Q. Against the killing of seals ? — A. Yes. . At that time there was 

 only one revenue-cutter only there once a year. 



Q. What would be the result if the Government should withdraw 

 this protection and abolish the reservation"? — A. They would be ex- 

 terminated. 



Q. Is it your opiidon, from your observation there, that the eff'3ct of 

 having control of those islands by the lease enables the Commercial 

 Company to dominate the business interests of the Territory gener- 

 ally ?— A. I think it does. 



Q. To what extent and howl — A. Well, when I went there there was 

 competition there. The Western Fur Company had a station at differ- 

 ent islands, but did not interfere with the seal islands, only on the otter 

 islands, and at that time they consolidated the two together. 



Q. The evidence here is that the Alaska Commercial Comi)any bought 

 the Western Company out. — A. They either consolidated or bought 

 them out, as I siiy. There is no competition any more in compensating 

 the natives of the different islands for their furs and skins. 



Q. Did furs go down or up? — A. Go down, I think ; that is, not on 

 the general market, but up there on the islands for the hunters. 



