FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 305 



the island except for medical i^urposes? — A. Not that I know of. I 

 certainly never beard of any one bringing any liquor tbere. 



Q. Do I understand you to say tbat it is brought in pursuance of a 

 requisition or order signed by the Government agent and the physi- 

 cian ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. In pursuance of that requisition the company brings it in ? — A. 

 We make a requisition for a certain amount. 



By Mr. Felton : 



Q. It is brought by the company through the officer in charge ! — A. 

 Yes, sir. 



Q. In any other way f — A. No, sir. 



Q. Can you state how much is brought to the islands for medical 

 purposes? — A. Last year I had eighteen bottles of whisky and I 

 think about a gallon of brandy. I had very little. 



Q. How many inhabitants are there on the island? — A. About 111. 

 I had a very small amount of liquor for the entire winter. 



Q. As I understand you, no permission is ever given to individuals 

 to bring intoxicating liquors to the islands. It must all come in as sup- 

 plies? — A. Yes, sir. 



By Mr. Jeffries : 



Q. You make the requisition for what liquor you think is necessary 

 for medical purposes for the season ; you take that to the Government 

 agent and he approves it ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Tliat is sent down to San Francisco and the liquor is forwarded, 

 consigned to you ? — A. Not to me directly. It is sent up to the island 

 among the company's supplies, and of course I put it away. 



Q. It is delivered to you ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. The whole of it? — A. Yes, sir; and I examine it to see if it is the 

 quantity applied for in the requisition. 



By Mr. Dingley : 



Q. Do the natives obtain any intoxicating liquors upon the islands? — 

 A. Never, unless they are sick. They might get it from time to time as 

 medicine. 



Q. Then intoxication is rare? — A. Yes, sir; very rare. Sometimes 

 they might make some themselves in some way by preparing it from 

 something sweet. 



Mr. Dingley. As I understand it, Mr. Chairman, this company have 

 stations upon the main-land, where they carry on bnsiness that has 

 been authorized by contract with the Government. Now, under the 

 ruling that you have made, could we inquire as to the treatment of the 

 natives and their condition at these several stations? 



The Chairman. I think so. 



Mr. Dingley. Of course the only islands exclusively occupied by 

 this company are the seal islands. 



The Chairman. In the decisions I have made I have stated that they 

 may show the number and location of these trading stations, as tending 

 to show whether (*r not the possession of the lease of the fnr-seal islands 

 enables the company to maintain in Alaska an establishment which 

 would dominate the Territory and affect its trade and commerce. I 

 have stated that they might show the number and location of these 

 stations, but that we could not go into an investigation of the abuse of 

 the natives at those stations. The general question has been put as to 

 the condition of the natives there, and it runs clear through the evi- 

 • dence. 



9984 20 



