FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 295 



Q. Have you observed any policy on the part of the company that 

 yon thought opposed to the public interests of that Territory ? — A. No, 

 sir J on the contrary, I think they have done more for Alaska thnn any 

 other company could, and I believe more than was required by the Gov- 

 ernment. 



Q. Do you think that the Government could make any other disposi- 

 tion of the seal islands that would be more in the public interests than 

 it is now ? — A. I do not. 



Q. Have you any information connected with the killing of seals in 

 the waters of Bering Sea and the North Pacific "?— A. Not much. I was 

 on the island one day when they were killing seal, and I was kindly 

 shown around by Mr. Tingle and Dr. Mclntyre. 



Q. You know nothing in regard to the killing in the Bering Sea and 

 Pacific? — A. Only that many seals have been taken by the marauders, 

 and mostly the female seal. 



Q. Do you consider the fur seal interest, the herd of fur seals, of suffi- 

 cient importance to justify rigid measures on the part of the Govern- 

 ment to protect them '] — A. Certainly I do, sir. If an order were issued 

 and signed by the President, it would have good elfect. 



Mr. Felton. Have you ever given any thought or had any opinion 

 as to the policy of the Government taking charge of these islands and 

 killing the seal, etc."? 



The Witness. 1 do not believe it would be a good policy. I think it 

 is in better hands now than the Government hands. They get more 

 money out of it if pioperly protected. 



The Chairman. You think it is better policy for the Government to 

 lease it than to undertake the business itself? 



The Witness. Yes, sir. 



Q. Mr. Wilkinson, the only question is whether the Government gets 

 all they ought to out of it? — A. I do not know. The Territory, I be- 

 lieve, cost about $7,000,000 and they have got over $8,000,000 out of it 

 to date, so they could not be much out on this showing. 



Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 



Washington, D. C, Tuesday, January 8, 1889. 

 The Chairman (to the attorney of the Alaska Commercial Company). 

 I will pass this morning upon your application, contained in your writ- 

 ten communication to the committee of January 7, in relation to the 

 matters to be covered by this investigation. 



The chairman read the communication, and also the resolution under 

 which the committee are acting, as follows : 



Washington, D. C, January 7, 1889. 

 Sir: Before calling witnesses in behalf of the Alaska Commercial Company, i.s to 

 the manner in which it has performed its contract with the United States, I beg to 

 snbmit to the honorable committee a statement, which I deem important, as to the 

 course to be pursued by the company in reference to the pending investigation. 



The committee is doubtless aware of the charges which have appeared in certain 

 newspapers, accusing said company with oppn ssing and outraging the native inhab- 

 itants of Alaska Territory; and in an official report by its governor the company is 

 charged with opposing immigration and settlement, and with driving out competition 

 in its trade, monopolizing its business, and oppressing the natives. 



The object of this communication is to respectfully ask the committee to allow me, 

 on behalf of said company, to show, by sworn testimony, that said publications and 

 official statements are unfounded: 



1. I desire to prove that the only business in which said company is engaged in 

 Alaska— outside of the seal islands — is the purchase of land furs and sea-otrer skins 

 from the hunters and natives, who bring their peltry to its trading stations, and the 

 sale oisuch goods and provisions as these people wish to buy. 



