FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 291 



of nervous irritability, such as to render himself almost irresponsible, and we think 

 that under the circumstances his charges do not merit serious consideration. 

 Very respectfully, 



A. Buhner, 



First Lieutenant. 



F. M. DUNWOODY, 



Second Lieutenant. 

 A. L. Churchill, 



Chief Engineer. 

 W. D. Braxton, 

 Past Assistant Surgeon, M. H. S. 

 Capt. M. A. IlEALY, U. S. R. M, 



Commanding Revenue Steamer Bear. 



U. S. Revenue-Marine Steamer Bear, 



San Francisco, Cal., December 21, 1888. 

 Sir : During the recent cruise of the Bear in Alaskau waters, while at St. George 

 Island, Mr. William Gavitt, special agent of the Treasury, visited this vessel, and made 

 a number of statements relative to some ii-regularities which occurred on the island 

 since our last visit. I deemed it my duty to inquire into the matter, and accordingly 

 directed Lieutenants Buhner and Dunwoody, Chief Engineer Churchill, Second Assist- 

 ant Engineer Cutchin, and Based jjAssistant Surgeon Brattou to investigate the 

 charges. 



The board convened at the Government house, and, after hearing the charges and 

 questioning a number of the natives, arrived at the conclusion that they were in the 

 main frivolous and of a personal nature, and as regards those of a serious nature, the 

 evidence in support was not satisfactory. They were of the opinion that that Mr. 

 Gavitt had worked himself into such a state of nervous excitement as to render him 

 almost irresponsible, and that under the circumstances his charges did not merit 

 serious consideration. A verbal report to this efiect was made to me by the board. 

 I did not consider the matter of sufficient importance to make a note of it in my report 

 on my return to San Francisco ; but now that there is being so much published in the 

 newspapers relative to the treatment of the natives in Alaska and on the seal islands 

 by the Alaska Commercial Company and its agents, I herewith transmit, for the in- 

 formation of the Department, a written report, signed by all the members of the 

 board, with the exception of Mr. Cutchin, who is now in Port Townsend. 

 Very respectfully, your obebient servant, 



M. A. Healy, 

 Captain, U. S. R. M. 

 The Secretary of the Treasury, 



Washington, D. C. 



By Mr. Felt ON: 



Q. In Mr. Gravitfe testimony, as I recollect, he stated there was a 

 Government house there provided for the agent. — A. Yes, sir; one on 

 each island, furnished by the Government. 



Q. And that he was compelled to eat with the employes of the Alaska 

 Commercial Company, and thiit under the circumstances was very dis- 

 agreeable ; they could do nothing else but accept that. Now is there 

 anything in the law that compels them to that sort of living"? — A. No, 

 sir. 



Q. I asked him the question, and he said he applied to them and they 

 refused to sell him a stove. — A. He told me the same story, but the 

 truth is they did not have a suitable stove. They only had one, and 

 that was a range. If he desired it, and there had been any necessity, 

 he could have gotten a stove. They would have supplied him with the 

 necessaries. 



The Chairman. Did you hear any complaints made by him to your- 

 self or others that he was compelled to eat at the table in the company 

 house, and that his wife Lad to eat with him, and submit to hearing im- 

 proper language used by the employes, and that the conduct was gen- 

 erally discourteous i 



