410 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



their treatment either by the ageut or any one else connected with the company. 

 So far as the relations existing between themselves and the company are concerned, 

 they are jjrobably as well if not better off than an equal number of white workmen 

 to be found anywhere in the States. 



On the other hand, it seems to me that the authority exercised over them by the 

 Government agents is rather arbitrary and oppressive. While at Oonalaska on my 

 return trip from the Arctic, I was called on by a delegation claiming to represent 

 the people of St. Paul Island, who complained bitterly of the restrictions placed upon 

 their actions by the Government agents. 



As I have stated, they are not permitted to sell anything without permission, and 

 the delegation in question complained that on days when the store was open the as- 

 sistant agent assumed the right to act as clerk not only, but also to decide for them 

 what they should and should not buy. They claimed that he had discharged the sec- 

 ond chief from the position to which he had been elected for no other reason than 

 that he had gone tishing without first having obtained permission; that no one is 

 permitted to leave the islands without consent of the agent, and instanced cases 

 where they had been refused permission to receive visits from friends and relatives, 

 though the company was perfectly willing they should come, and offered to give them 

 free transportation on its steamers. 



In flaying seals a few of the skins are accidentally cut, and these, together with 

 those which are pronounced " stagy," are rejected by the company. These skins, 

 the delegation claimed, would be of use to the people in various ways, but instead of 

 being allowed to keep them they are cut up and thrown away by order of the Gov- 

 ernment agents. This is the delegation which I have referred to as complaining that 

 the fire-arms sold to them by the company had been taken away from them, for what 

 reason they professed not to know. I know nothing of my own personal knowledge 

 concerning the truth of the statements made to me by the complaining delegation, 

 but I do know that the natives of the islands are not permitted to sell property rec- 

 ognized on all hands as belonging to themselves without first obtaining permission 

 of the Government agents. 



It it would seem to me, in view of the fact that none but Government vessels and 

 officials and those of the company are allowed to call at or land upon these islands, 

 that the natives might be permitted to sell without let or hindrance that which is 

 admittedly their own; nor does it appear to me at all necessary to their well being 

 that they should be restricted to the enjoyment of only such rights and privileges as 

 the Government agents in their wisdom may see fit to prescribe. On the contrary, 

 it seems to me that the duty of these agents, so far as their relations to and with the 

 natives are concerned, lies in the direction of protecting them in the full enjoyment 

 of all their just rights and privileges, and not in the way of their abridgement. 



In my last annual report I submitted very briefly my views as to the policy which 

 should, in my opinion, be adopted by the Government in regard to the fur-seal indus- 

 try. A visit to the rookeries has not served to change or modify those views. I can 

 see no good reason why the present monopoly of the business may not be abolished, 

 not only without loss to the Government, but to its very great advantage so far as the 

 amount of revenue to be derived is concerned. The present system of farming out the 

 rookeries is not only obnoxious to every sense of right and justice, but, as I think I 

 have shown, is in a very great degree inimical to the best interests of the Territory. 

 But if it be concluded that the plan briefly outlined in my last report is impracticable, 

 then I respectfully suggest that the law authorizing the lease of the seal islands should 

 be so amended as to positively prohibit the lessees, under penalty of forfeiture, from 

 engaging either as a corporation or as individuals, directly or indirectly, in any other 

 business than the taking of fur seals within the limits of Alaska Territory. 



If it is considered that there is no other way of dealing with the question so as to 

 perpetuate the industry, and at the same time secure a revenue to the Government, if 

 the business must be mouopolized in order to prevent its destruction, then on behalf 

 of Alaska, in this my last official report, I beg and pray tbat the monopoly thus created 

 and perpetuated by Congress may be restricted to the leased islands, and not be per- 

 mitted to spread itself all over the Territory to the detriment of almost every other 

 interest within it« borders. 

 Very respectfully, 



A. P. SWIXEFORD, 



Governor of Alaska. 



