FUE-SEAL FISHEEIES OF ALASKA. 283 



the steamer was not able to land at St. George Island, owing to rough 

 weather, and we went ou to St. Paul, so that I did not have an oppor- 

 tunity to see Mr. Gavitt until some time after I arrived in the country. 

 However, he had au opportunity of writing to me after I landed and 

 told his story about the winter's troubles, lie wrote several letters to 

 me under date of June 3, making comjdaints against the Alaska Com- 

 mercial Company's agents who were with him on St. George. He seemed 

 to have quarreled with everybody. There was not a single good mau 

 on the island, not one. I, of course, investigated the matter thoroughly, 

 and in reply to these letters I wrote this official letter, a copy of which I 

 would like to read as part of my evidence. 

 The letter was read as follows : 



Office of Special Agent Treasury Department, 



St. Paul, June 8, 1888. 



Sir: Your various letters of June 3 received by the return of the steamer St. Paul. 



You will restore Eustin Swetzoff, whom I deprived of his privilege as sealer last 

 year as punishment for his refusing to obey Dr. Noyes, acting assistant Treasury 

 agent, and for inciting a riot; tell him he goes to work by my order. 



From your own showing, the school was kept eight school months from September 

 5 to April 30, and you will so enter ou the account and repbrt to me when you send 

 me your report of the season. 



Your recommendation as to sending the Austeggoffs from the island will remain 

 for my action when I come over to the island. 



As to the old broken furniture you speak of in the house, you and Captain Loud 

 can dispose of as you may deem best ; if there is anything the captain wishes to re- 

 pair and keep for his use, let him do so. 



Your order preventing the company from killing seals on the 1st day of June was 

 wrong, the law lixes that absolutely ; during the "killing season, commencing 1st day 

 of June, they have charge of the seal killing. 



Your order served on the company's local agent vacating the company's lease was, 

 as you must know, irregular. You or I have no power under the law to say when 

 they have violated their contract with the Government and forfeited their lease. I 

 am expected to report all facts, including violations of law, and it is your duty to re- 

 port to me, and no one else, all facts and violations of law that I may report to the 

 Department. You did wrong in making a report to the Alaska Commercial Com- 

 pany's general agent in writing of matters pertaiuing to the island under your 

 charge. You are, under the regulations and the law, required to report to the Treas- 

 ury agent in charge only. 



As to the matters personal to myself, of which I have been informed fully, I will 

 speak to you in person. 



I will come over when I can to close the business of the season. Should the Thetis 

 arrive and land on St. George with the governor and officers of the Territory ou board, 

 and they should wish any information regarding the fui-seal islands, you will refer 

 them to me as the proper person.to give them full information, as the books and pa- 

 pers are all kept here by me. You will pursue the same course as to the Congres- 

 sional committee, should they arrive. Treat the governor and his party with the 

 courtesy their positions entitle them to. 

 I am, very respectfully, 



Geo. R. Tingle, 



Treasury Agent. 

 William Gavitt, Esq., 



Assistant Treasury Agent, St. George Island. 



I heard nothing more from Mr. Gavitt until I went over there to con- 

 tinue the investigation. I made a full investigation of the matter com 

 l)lained of, and before I left the island 1 wrote to Captain Loud, who 

 was in charge, this letter. 



The letter was read as follows : 



Office op Special Agent Treasury Department, 



St. Paul Island, Alaska, August 10, 1888. 



Sir : In the matter of the charges and complaints of William Gavitt, assistant 



Treasury agent, against the Alaska Commercial Company's employ6s on St. George 



Island, as spread on the Journal in the Treasury agent's office, and as set forth to me 



iu his letters .of the ,\^: June, on tile in the office, I have to say that I made an ex- 



