292 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



The Witness. Yes, sir ; I beard that from Gavitt. 



Q. He stated so here ? — A. He so stated to me at the time I was mak- 

 ing the iuvestigatioM. 



Q. The investigation was in reference to that *? — A. Yes, sir, and all 

 his complaints ; there was not a word of truth in it. The cook at that 

 time always waited on the table, and he assured me positively there 

 was no truth in that statement ; and that he had instructions from 

 the agent of the company, when they wanted it, to carry Mr. and Mrs. 

 Gavitt's meals up to the house, and for a month or two before we landed 

 in the spring Mrs. Gavitt ate her meals in rhe Government house, or 

 for a while at least. There were no indignities offered Mr. Gavitt or 

 his wife in the company house at all ; at least in my investigation I 

 failed to find anybody who could testify to any indignities being offered 

 to him. He made it very disagreeable for Captain Loud and his wife, 

 and worried his own wife, who was a very innocent, clever lady. 



Mr. Macdonald. Did any person testify to anything of that kind 

 except Mr. Gavitt ? 



The Witness. No, sir ; no one but Mr. Gavitt. 



Cross-examination by Mr. Jeffries : 



Q. On the branch of inquiry to which your attention is just now be- 

 ing called, I want to ask you in regard to the cook. Mr. Gavitt testi- 

 fied that he insulted Mrs. Gavitt by coming into her presence with his 

 clothes disarranged ? — A. How ? 



Q. 1 do not know. In some way; indecent acts, by his pantaloons be- 

 ing open. Do you know anything about that? — A. My knowledge of 

 John Hall and association with him upon the island has always been in 

 the dining room. I have been there taking meals when he would be 

 waiting on the table. If I am correct in my recollection I do not think 

 I ever saw him in the dining-room when he was not very neatly and 

 cleanly dressed, and wore an apron, as servants do, tied around his 

 waist, and if his pants had been open there would have been no expos- 

 ure. 



Q. Did the apron go all around him? — A, I think so. I know it was 

 a white apron. 



Q. Did he wear them habitually in the dining-room ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Have you taken meals in that room with those people ! — A. Fre- 

 quently. 



Q. Was Mrs. Gavitt present? — A. Yes, sir; and Mr. Gavitt. 



Q. Were a number of ladies on the island? — A. No, sir; there was 

 Captain and Mrs. Loud and Mrs. Gavitt. 



Q. Now I want to ask you who the natives on the seal islands regard 

 as paramount authority on those islands? — A. The Government agent 

 in charge; for as soon as new agents land the first inquiry is, "Who is 

 the agent in charge." They do not consider the assistant Gov^ernment 

 agent as authority except when he is there by himself. When there are 

 two on the island together, the agent in charge and the assistant, they 

 look up to the agent in charge; and when the assistant is in charge, of 

 the island they look up to him. 



Q. What I want to make plain to the committee is, do they regard 

 the Government agent or the company people as paramount author- 

 ity ? — A. They regard the Treasury agent all the time as the paramount 

 authority there on the islands ? 



Q. Do .they understand that thoroughly? — A. Perfectly so. They 

 are recognized as such, and obeyed implicitly. The company's em- 

 ployes all look upon the Treasury agent in the same way. 



