FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 377 



otlier intoxicating liquids. (See "Regulations governing the Seal Fisheries in 

 Alaslva," issued by Hon. Charles J. Folger, Secretary of Treasury, April 1:5, 1H82.) 



How this company, by carrying the United States mail upon its vessels, on their 

 route to and from it's places of business, " wall in" the natives and compel them " to 

 sell their furs to the company, at such prices as its agents see fit to ofter," is some- 

 what obscure. The United States mails are as sacred when carried on the company's 

 boats as elsewhere, and as much under the protection of the law. That this lawful 

 act, apparently so convenient and useful to all concerned, should he a means of en- 

 slaving the Aleuts, we confess ourselves unable to comprehend. 



Upon the subject of the treatment which the natives of the Aleutian chain sustain 

 at the hands of the company, we beg leave to refer to their condition as shown by Mr. 

 Ivan Petroff in his report to the Superintendent of the Census in 1882. ("Vol. VIII, 

 Tenth Census United States, pages 18 and following.) 



The following is from the same authority, the "trading firm" that he especially 

 alludes to being the Alaska Commercial Company. Speaking of Ooualaska (page 

 20), he says: 



"A school, in which both English and Russian are taught, is maintained by one of 

 trading firms, but the attendance is at best irregular. Nearly 50 per cent, of the adults 

 of Iliuliuk, however, are able to read and write iu the Aleutian language and a few in 

 the Russian. The same firm that maintains the school also employs a physician and 

 keeps a well-stocked dispensary, where natives are treated free of charge." 



We also refer to the statement of others on the same subject, likewise contained in 

 the appendix. 



This company has no disposition whatever to disparage any part of Alaska, but as 

 it has been charged with hostility to its interests, as well as with attempts to prevent 

 the iniinx of immigrants and the settlement of the country, reference in reply to this 

 accusation may be made to the archives of the Census Department, so that a sound 

 judgment may be formed on this topic in relation to the Aleutian chaiu, as well to 

 other parts of the Territory, 



If the official reports be true (independently of any statement we may make), the 

 Aleutian chaiu at present contains about as large a population as can there find 

 means of subsistence. The settlements are necessarily confined to the narrow mar- 

 gins of the sea-coast, the greater part of the interior of the islands being inaccessible. 



The natives confine themselves principally to hunting the sea-otter and fishing, and 

 the reason why they do this is well ascertained from the nature of the country and 

 the climate. It appears that the Russian missionary, Veniaminof, under the auspices 

 of the Russian Government, kept and recorded a careful account of the weather for 

 seven years. That record shows that during that time there were but ,'J3 clear days, 

 leaving 1,263 cloudy days and 1,230 days with snow, hail, or rain. Hay can be im- 

 ported from San Francisco cheaper than it can be raised on the islands, and even 

 potatoes are a failure there. The necessary resort of the people, therefore, is to hunt- 

 ing and fishing, and the principal of these is sea-otter hunting. The small accession 

 of white men, who having intermarried with the native women, has greatly changed 

 the latter occupation, the better vessels of the white hunters and their greater energy 

 enabling them to hunt at times when the Aleuts are kept at home by gales and 

 storms. The sea-otter seems thus destined to extermination at no remote period. 

 What a denser population on this chaiu of islands could resort to as a means of sub- 

 sistence we are uuable to suggest. 



Upon this general subject much valuable information will be found in the report 

 of Mr. Petroff to the Superintendent of Census in 1882 (Vol. VIII of Tenth Census, 

 1880, pp. 18 and fol.). 



VI.— Tkansactioxs of the Alaska Commercial Company upon the Main-land. 



The governor in his report states that this company "does not confine its operations 

 to the seal islands leased to it by the Government, but holds and possesses most of 

 the Aleutian chaiu and the greater part of the main land as a principaHti/ of its oivn, 

 over which it exercises undisputed sway.". He then proceeds to charge upon the com- 

 pany a series of misdeeds and acts of oppression, as well as acts of hostility to the 

 welfare of Alaska, and even crimes against the express letter of the statutes of the 

 United States. Most of these charges impliedly refer to the acts and doings of the 

 company on the niain-laud, as well as upon the Aleutian chain. The report further 

 alleges : 



" To its pernicious influence is due the fact that Alaska is not to-day largely popu- 

 lated with an industrious, enteri»risiug, ])rosperou8 people ; that millions, where there 

 are now only hundreds, have not ere this been invested in the development of her 

 many varied, aiul, as I believe, incomparably great natural resources." 



If these statements be true it is the first time in American history that the else- 

 where irresistible tide of emigration, seeking congenial fields, with "incomparably 



