330 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



■will be attracted to that section of the Territory, in consequence of the supposed ex- 

 istence of rich diggings in that district. Considering that the company's station at 

 St. Michaels is the nearest source of supply, an extra aiuouut of groceries and pro- 

 visions has been sent to you to meet the possible demands likely to be made upon you 

 during the coming winter. 



It must not be understood, however, that the shipment referred to is made for the 

 purpose of realizing prolits beyond the regular schedule of prices heretofore estab- 

 lished. Our object is to simply avoid any possible sutt'eriug which the large increase 

 of population insufficiently provided with articles of food might occasion. Hence, 

 yon are directed to store these supplies asareserve to meet the probable contingency 

 herein indicated, and in that case to dispose of the same to actual consumers only, 

 and in such quantities as will enable you to relieve the wants and necessities of each 

 and every person that may have occasion to ask for it. 



In this connection we deem it particularly necessary to say to you, that traders in 

 the employ of the company, or such others as draw their supplies from the stores of 

 the company, doing business on their own account, must not be permitted to charge 

 excessive profits, otherwise all business relations with such parties must cease, as 

 the company can not permit itself to be made an instrument of oppression towards 

 any one that they may come in contact with. 



It is useless to add that in case of absolute poverty and want, the person or per- 

 sons placed in that unfortunate position should be promptly furnished with the means 

 of su bsistence without p-dy, simply reporting such facts at your earliest convenience to 

 the home office. 



Asking your strict compliance with the foregoing instructions, which we hope will 

 be carried out with due discretion on your part, I am, with kind regards to yourself 

 and Mrs. Lorenz. 

 Yours, truly, 



Lewls Gerstle, President. 



Mr. M. Lorenz, 



Agent, St. Michaels, Alaska. 



Q. Was that letter sent"? — A. Yes, sir; and received by Mr, Lorenz. 



Q. What do you say as to that being the policy of the company ? — 

 A. That is the policy of the company in regard to the matters touched 

 upon. 



Q. Do you know whether or not the company has been in the habit 

 of carrying miners and missionaries, or anybody else, free of charge ? — 

 A. It was formerly the custom to carry all missionaries and all wlio 

 were destitute free of charge. 



Q. Is that the present practice % — A. That is the present practice 

 towards those who are destitute, but the missionaries became so numer- 

 ous that we had to charge them a small fee. 



Q. What is tlie policy of the company m reference to the transporta- 

 tion of goods and passengers ) or does it refuse to carry them % — A. No, 

 sir, it does not refuse ; and has carried them in some cases to its own 

 detrimeutj to the exclusion of the company's freight. 



Q. How are its charges ; reasonable ? — A. Very reasonable, compared 

 with other lines. 



Q. You said something about the company's taking care of the fam- 

 ilies of the hunters; how long are these men usually hunting? — A. 

 From a few days to several weeks, depending upon the distance they 

 have to go. 



Q! Their families are provided for by the company? — A. It has been 

 our custom to give sufticient funds to those men to purchase their out- 

 lit, and to issue provisions to their families while they are gone, taking 

 the chances of their return with a sufficient catch to balance the debt. 



Q. When the hunter returns with his catch is he bound to sell it to 

 the Alaska Commercial Company? — A. No, sir; there is no obligation 

 to do so. 



Q. As a matter of fact, he sells it to whoever will give him the most? — 

 A. He often sells to the other traders and leaves the company entirely 

 in the lurch. 



