404 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



Third. " That we have stamped, and mutilated the coin of the United States, refns- 

 ing to accept any other from the natives in payment of goods sold them." 



This is something that I liuow little or nothing about, but to me it has the stamp of a 

 lie on the face of iib. I have seen the natives (and have made change for them) pay 

 coin for goods that had no stamp or mark on the coin. This is the first time that \ 

 ever heai'd of the thing, and believe it to be a falsehood out of whole cloth. 



On different occasions I have found it necessary to visit Alaska to get wood, water, 

 and stores for my ship? also to ship oil and whalebone by the company's steamers. 

 At such and at all times I have received from the Alaska Commercial Company 

 every assistance that lay in their power to render rae. When at Oonalaska I have 

 used their wharf, force-pump, and hose, they making no charge for the use of the 

 same. Last year 1 insisted that I should pay for the use of the wharf, pump, and hose. 

 They liave taken whalebone on freight by their steamers for one-tenth of the auiouut 

 that it would have cost me to ship in vessels owned and controlled by the house I 

 sail for. They have furnished my ship with pilot bread at one-fourth of a cent per 

 pound advance on San Francisco wholesale prices. This would not more than pay 

 interest and insurance, leaving no charge for freight. Butter and sugar at one cent 

 per pound advance. 



Allow me to ask, does this look like oppression or a desire to prohibit immigration 

 into the Territory? I have nothing to say against the treatment that I have always 

 received at the hands of the Alaska Commercial Company and their agents. 



I have been at several of their stations in the Territory, and have always found the 

 natives well clothed and living in good frame houses, which many of the natives then 

 owned, having paid from $500 to $900 for them, according to the size of the house. 

 So far as I have been able to learn, after strict inquiry, the company have never 

 broken their lease by killing more seals than their contract called for ; to my personal 

 knowledge there are more seal in Bering Sea to-day than there were before the United 

 States Government bought the Territory. 



Again, the company sells no breech-loading rifles or fixed ammunition to the natives ; 

 they sell no spirituous liquors to the natives, and are so strict in this that they will 

 not sell molasses or brown sugar for fear the natives will make "quass," selling 

 nothing but white sugar, and should the natives save up their sugar to make " quass " 

 then the company stops their allowance of sugar altogether. 



The inquiries that I have made, at different times, when in the Territory, have 

 been close and searching; and it is my opinion, as a citizen and a tax-payer, that the 

 Alaska Commercial Company have been a credit to themselves and a benefit to 

 Alaska Territory. 



Respectfully, yours, 



Edmund Kellky, 

 Master Bark Eliza. 



General N. L. Jeffkies, 



Washington, D. C. 



Portland, Me., Decemher 13, 1887. 



Sir : In view of certain criticisms adverse to the Alaska Commercial Company, Mr. 

 Louis Sloss has jisked me to put in writing the opinions I formed on the points in 

 question during my visit to Alaska in 1883, I do so briefly. 



I spent nearly six weeks at Oonalaska, was twice at St. Paul Island and St. 

 Michaels, and visited the native villages on the Siberian coast and on our own as far 

 north as Point Hope. I was a close observer and in familiar intercourse with officials 

 of the United States and of the company. 



(1) I could not but observe with pleasure the greatly improved condition of the na- 

 tives at Oonalaska, the Pribylov islauds, and ISt. Michaels, and the many comforts 

 accruing to them from the wages of the company. 



They had exchanged huts for comfortable houses; they had good medical attendance ; 

 were well fed and well clad, some even extravagantly so ; goods of every kind were 

 to be had at reasonable prices, and some of the thrifty ones had, through the agency 

 of the company, deposits in a San Francisco bank. Finally, thej- were able to sup- 

 port their own priest, and were left unhampered in the practice of their religion. 



(•2) I was told the prices paid for different skins. I did not regard them as unfair, 

 especially after I had seen what was paid for the same by other traders. I was also 

 given to understand that the outfit and provisions were supplied by the company, 

 -which took care of the widows and orphans of hunters lost in their service. 



(3) As far as 1 could learn or observe the natives were treated kindly ; were free to 

 go or come, to work or not, as they listed. I can not recall any accusation of oppres- 

 sion from a reliable source. 



(4) I met many natives who were not in the service of the company, especially on 

 the main-laud from St. Michaels northward. They were ready to trade with ftll 

 comers. 



