FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 385 



sions froui unknown and irresponsible sources, to which the governor has given his 

 facile attention. A speciiication of these alone does.not seem to have been satisfac- 

 tory to gubernatorial ideas of duty, but they are supplemented by fierce denuncia- 

 tions cnlminatiug in the exhibition of this company as the devil-fish, so graphically 

 described in another work of fiction by the celebrated Victor Hugo. 



We are at a loss to understand how Governor Swiueford could have been so de- 

 ceived as to give credence to these old slanders, exhumed again for a further 2>08* mor- 

 tem examination. It is curious, too, that Avhilst the exploded conspiracy just referred 

 to called itself the "Auti- Monopoly Association," and purported to give an account 

 of the " wrongs of Alaska," so now the governor's report comes again with the old 

 outcry against monopoly and again sounds the refrain of the " wrongs of Alaska." 

 History repeats itself. The violence ol the attacks seems to be in proportion to the 

 weakness of the evidence. The monopoly which the Alaska Counnercial Company 

 has had has been the monopoly which the tenant enjoys of the premises leased from 

 his landlord, at a large rental. The wrongs it has done Alaska have been the pres- 

 ervation and protection of its greatest natural resource — the fur-seal industry — and 

 the furnishing of employment to a large number of its native population on' better 

 terms than elsewhere prevails. We have fulfilled our obligations to the Government 

 and to the natives, and have observed the laws and the regulations of the Treasury 

 Department. 



In view, therefore, of these facts and our own consciousness of rectitude in all of 

 our transactions, we believe that the confidence which has heretofore been reposed 

 in us, and the approving judgment you have given in the past, will continue during 

 the entire time of our official relations. 

 Very respectfully, 



The Alaska. Commkrcial Company. 

 By Louis Sloss, President. 



APPENDIX. 

 No. 1. 



EXTRACT OF REPORT BY LIEUT. JOHN E. LUTZ, OF THE U. S. R. M., TO CAPT. M. A. 

 HEALY. COMMANDING THE REVENUE STEAMER CORWIN. 



U. S. Revenue Marine Schooner Auele, 



San Francisco, Cal., October 6, 1884. 



Sir : I have the honor to submit the following report. In obedience to your orders 

 of May 22, a copy of which is herewith transmitted, I landed from the Corwin at St, 

 Paul Island June 1. 



I found the afl'airs of this island in excellent condition, wholesome sanitary regula 

 tions are enforced, and unusually good health has prevailed during the past year. All 

 of the natives are now living, rent free, in comfortable frame houses, which have been 

 erected by the lessees of the island, in phice of the damp and unhealthy "barrabhies" 

 in which these people formerly dwelt. Too much can not bo said in commendation 

 ot the manner in which the Alaska Commercial Company, the present lessees of the 

 island, fulfill faithfully all the terms of their contract with the Government. The 

 method of taking seal has been reduced to an admirable system, and every precaution 

 is taken to prevent a diminution of seal life. 



The natives are treated exceedingly well, and none of them are permitted to re- 

 main in want of the necessaries of life. They are not required to work, although 

 such as desire are given remunerative employment. By reason of the high price al- 

 lowed for the labor of skinning seals, these people are able to earn in less than two 

 months a sum amply sufficient to maintain them during the entire year — a sum much 

 larger, in fact, than the average amount received by the laboring men in the United 

 States for a year's work. In addition to this, they are supplied free of charge with a 

 quantity of fuel, salt meat, condensed milk, etc., while they have no rent to pay. 



In religion, they adhere firmly to the tenets of the Greek Church. While this 

 church doubtless exercises a good influence on these people spiritually, it drains their 

 pockets systematically to the extent of some thousands of dollars annually, not for the 

 church at St. Paul alone but for the benefit of the church authorities in San Francisco, 

 to whom the major portion is sent. 



Like all other primitive peojjle, these natives possess an inordinate longing for in- 

 toxicating liquors of any discriptiou. All means of gratifying that desire are now 

 denied them, fortunately. They are allowed neither sugar nor hops and can not, 



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