296 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



2. In its entire business in Alaska — outside of the seal islands — the company is an 

 independent trader, like all others who choose to engage in that or any other business 

 in the Territory. It was so engaged at the date of tis contract. It has no relation to 

 or connection with the Government in reference to this business, and of course no 

 special advantage or privilege from the United States concerning it. The only por- 

 tion of Alaska Territory in which this company has any connection with the United 

 States Government is the Pribylov Islands, in Bering Sea, nearly 2,000 miles from 

 Sitka and 200 miles from the nearest land. 



3. In the purchase of land furs and sea-otter skins it competes with the other trad- 

 ers, but with the other branches of industry in the Territory it has nothing whatever 

 to do. It takes no part in, and has no connection with, or interest in the business of 

 salmon fishing, cod fishing, herring fishing, salmon canning, whaling, or mining, all 

 of which is carried on throughout the Territory and gives employment to a large 

 number of persons. 



4. Within the entire Territory of Alaska — outside of the seal islands — the Alaska 

 Commercial Company has in its service forty-three men, covering a range of over 

 2,700 miles, embracing the entire chain of Aleutian Islands ; the eastern coast of Ber- 

 ing Sea; the island of Kodiak, and the coast of the North Pacific Ocean. 



In all of southeastern Alaska, in which the capital, Sitka, the town of Juneau, and 

 other white settlements are located, this company has no trading station, agent, or 

 employ^. 



5. I am now prepared to prove that whatever outrage or oppression exists in 

 Alaska, if there be any, will be found in a section of the country far remote from the 

 operations of the company ; that wherever the Alaska Commercial Company has come 

 in contact with the native inhabitants the condition of the latter is improved, both 

 morally and physically ; and that the natives who deal and have intercourse with the 

 company are far in advance of those in other sections of the Territory. 



6. I am prepared to disprove all these charges against the company by reputable 

 and credible witnesses, including the bishop of Alaska, officers of the Navy and of the 

 Merchant and Revenue Marine and of the Signal-Service ; Territorial officers, officers 

 of the U. S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries; the United States agent of education 

 in Alaska ; the Catholic, Moravian, and other missionaries, and by leading citizens of 

 Alaska and elsewhere doing business in the Territory. 



I respectfully request that I be permitted to prove the facts herein stated. 

 Respectfully submitted. 



N. L. Jeffries, 

 Attorney for Alaska Commercial Company. 



Hon. POINDEXTER DUNN, 



Chairman, etc., Investigating Affairs of the 



Alaska Commercial Company. 



Resolved, That the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries be authorized and 

 directed to fully and thoroughly investigate the fur-seal fisheries of Alaska, and all 

 contracts or leases made by the Government with any persons or companies for the 

 taking of fur seals or other fur-bearing animals in Alaska ; the character, duration, 

 and conditions of such contracts or leases, and whether and to what extent the same 

 have been enforced and complied with or violated ; the receipts therefrom and the 

 expenses incurred by the Government on account of any such contracts or leases ; 

 and to fully investigate and report upon the nature and extent of the rights and in- 

 terests of the United States in the fur-seal and other fisheries in the Bering Sea, in 

 Alaska ; whether and to what extent the same have been violated, and by whom ; 

 and what, if any, legislation is necessary for the better protection and preservation 

 of the same ; that said committee be authorized to sit during the sessions of the 

 House, send for persons and papers and administer oaths, employ a messenger if 

 found necessary, and that aU expenses of such investigation shall be paid out of the 

 contingent fund of the House. 



The Chairman. The subjects which the committee are directed to in- 

 vestigate are specified aad definitely stated in the resolution, and there 

 is no authority to deal with any other subject. I have heretofore held, 

 in the course of this investigation, that so much of the accusations as 

 have been made in publications and otherwise, of a state of a moral de- 

 pravity existing in Alaska, and of the immoral and bad conduct of peo- 

 ple who are doing business or visiting there or hunting, etc., were out- 

 side of the scope of this investigation. This committee will confine itself 

 to the investigation of the general subjects incident to or connected 

 with the administration of the lease of tlie Alaska Commercial Company. 

 I have also ruled heretofore that any general question might be asked 



