FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 389 



catch, uot at tbe "beggarly prices," etc., but the same price they are offered, by the 

 numerous white huuters wlio freely hunt and trade in Alaskan waters. In many cases 

 the natives do uot catch euough to pay in full the book account against them in the 

 company's store, whilst the more fortunate hunter will keep square and always have 

 a couifortable balance in the hands of the company, bearing interest. In fact, the 

 natives, as a class, in Alaska, are better treated and more liberally dealt with by 

 your company than any set of laboring men I have ever known anywhere, and my 

 exi^erience has been extensive. It is, to my own personal knowledge, the practice 

 of your company's agents to see that the natives' actual wants are supplied, with or 

 without money ; and I have yet the first native to complain to me of oppression or 

 ill-treatment on the part of any of the company's employ6s. 



No. 3. " That to effect a monopoly of the trade, it has marked and mutilated the 

 United States coin, and refused to receive any other from the natives, in payment of 

 goods sold them." 



The Alaska Commercial Company have by contract with the Government a mo- 

 nopoly of the fur-seal trade in Bering Sea. The islands of St. Paul and St. George 

 being a Government reservation, no person outside of Government officials and em- 

 ployes of the lessees are allowed, under regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury, 

 to land ou the islands. It is, however, within the power of the Secretary to grant 

 permits for any number of citizens he may see proper to establish stores on the fur- 

 seal islands, and supply the natives with goods, if they wish to experiment and take 

 chances for profit. It is my opinion, however, the " monopoly " would retain the 

 custom of the natives as it has their confidence and respect. Outside of the seal 

 islands the whole of Alaska is open to the free occupancy of any person courageous 

 enough to establish himself in that vast field for "enterprise and capital." There 

 are no restrictions except as provided by act of Congress. A store, or a dozen, may 

 be established anywhere in Alaska alongside of the Alaska Company's stores and 

 compete for business, as do the stores in this or any other city. The cry of monopoly 

 comes from those who would Hke to possess the lease your company holds, and it is 

 all false as to the defacing of United States coin. I have no knowledge that it has 

 been defaced by any person for the purposes of trade. The circulating medium is gold 

 and silver in Alaska. The usual punching and marking of coins is indulged in by 

 natives and white people as well in Alaska as elsewhere. I saw a collection of such 

 coins this summer in the hands of your agent. Dr. H. H. Mclntyre, which was the ac- 

 cumulation of years at your various stations. The amount, though not large, was 

 shipped to the city for sale as mutilated coin. I have never known your agents in 

 Alaska to deface coin in any way. 



No. 4. "That it has boycotted and driven from the islands Government officers 

 who refused to do the bidding of its agents." 



This charge is absolutely untrue, having no foundation whatever since I have been 

 connected with the service. What was done i)rior to my coming to the islands, I can 

 only judge from the practice and deportment of your agents since I have been in 

 charge, and also from the records and journals on file in the Government offices on 

 St. Paul and St. George. I have failed to find recorded by any Treasury agent who 

 preceded me in office the slightest comj)laint against the company's agents for inter- 

 ference with them in the discharge of their duty; there is no record of any complaints 

 having ever been made against the company's agents by a Government agent. I 

 therefore have no hesitation in saying that before any tribunal in the land no such 

 charge could be proven. 



No. 5. "That it is hostile to the settlement of the country, discourages immigration 

 and the investment of capital in the development of its great natural resources." 



Your company, if hostile to the settlement of the country, takes a queer way of 

 showing its hostility, for on every trip of your steamer St. Paul in the spring, when 

 I have been a passenger, she has been crowded with persons, their luggage, and even 

 some with their store-goods going up to establish themselves in the Territory, 

 know it has been and is the practice of your company to carry any person wishing 

 to go to Alaska on any of your vessels, whether for the purpose of prospecting or 

 locating. And just here I will say that the natives are carried by your vessels from 

 place to place when desiring to visit, or for any purpose, free of any charge. 



"The great natural resources " spoken of have never yet been discovered by me ; it 

 is true in southeastern Alaska, as I am told, there are some " natural resources." 



Outside of that and the fur-seal islands they do not exist. The fish interests will 

 be of importance when developed. This industry is open to the world, and no im- 

 pediment is placed, in the way by your company, nor could it, if so disposed, moifopo- 

 llze the catch of salmon and cod-fish covering a coast-line of 3,000 miles within the 

 boundaries of the salmon grounds. Capital is as free to seek investment in Alaska as 

 in any State or Territory of the United States, but I would advjse any one contem- 

 plating investing to spend a summer on one of your vessels visiting your trading 

 stations along the coast and on the Aleutian chain, which, I feel sure, would convince 

 the most venturesome that the " great natural resources " possessed, no attractions for 

 additional capital or enterprise. 



