412 FUE-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



and that the condition in the lease relative to a tax of 55 cents per gal- 

 lon on seal oil was rescinded by a letter dated February IG, 1874, of 

 Hon. W. A. Eichardson, then Secretary of the Treasury, a copy of 

 -which accompanies the copy of lease. 



I have the honor further to state that the total receipts from the 

 sources mentioned in the resolution, from May 1, 1870, to June 30, 

 1887, were $5,059,005.67, and the expenditures during the same period 

 $299,901.94, as shown in detail for each year, in the statement herewith 

 marked B ; that the records of this Department so far as I am advised 

 do not show any violation of the terms and conditions of said lease by 

 the lessees, and that other persons and vessels than those authorized 

 by the laws of the United States to do so have been reported and seized 

 for engaging in taking fur seals during the past three years, as exhib- 

 ited in the statement marked C, also submitted herewith. 

 EespectfuUy yours, 



0. S. Fairchild, 



Secretary. 



Hon. John G. Carlisle, 



Sjpeaker of the Rouse of Representatives. 



Exhibit A. 



Copy of lease from the United States to the Alaska Commercial Company of the right to talce 

 fur seals in Alaska, delivered August 31, 1870. 



This indenture, in duplicate, made this third day of August, A. D., eighteen hundred 

 and seventy, by and between William A. Richardson, Acting Secretary of the Treas- 

 ury, u\ pursuance of an act of Congress, approved July 1st, 1870, entitled "An act to 

 prevent the extermination of fur-bearing animals in Alaska," and the Alaska Commer- 

 cial Company, a corporation duly established under the laws of the State of California, 

 acting by John F. Miller, its president and agent, in accordance with a resolution of said 

 corporation duly adopted at a meeting of its board of trustees held January 31st, 1870. 

 Witnesseth : 



That the said Secretary hereby leases to the said Alaska Commercial Company, with- 

 out power of transfer, for the term of twenty years from the first day of May, 1870, the 

 right to engage in the business of taking fur seals on the islands of St. George and St. 

 Paul within the Territory of Alaska, and to send a vessel or vessels to said islands for 

 the skins of such seals. 



And the said Alaska Commercial Company, in consideration of their right under 

 this lease, hereby covenant and agree to pay for each year during said term, and in 

 proportion during any part thereof, the sum of $55,000 into the Treasury of the United 

 Staies, in accordance with the regulations of the Secretary to be made for this pur- 

 pose under said act, which payment shall be secured by deposit of United States bonds 

 to that amount; and also covenant and agree to pay annually into the Treasury of 

 the United States under said rules and regulations, a revenue tax or duty of $2 upon 

 each fur-seal skin taken and shipped by them, in accordance with the provisions of 

 the act aforesaid; and also the sum of 62^ cents for each fur-seal ekin taken and 

 shipped, and 55 cents per gallon for each gallouof oil obtained from said seals for sale 

 on said island or elsewhere and sold by said company. And also covenant and agree, 

 in accordance with said rules and regulations to furnish, free of charge, the mhabit- 

 ants of the islands of St. Paul and St. George annually, during said terra, 25,000 dried 

 salmon, 60 cords lire- wood, a sufficient quantity of salt, and a sufficient number of 

 barrels for preserving the necessary supply of meat. 



And the said lessess also hereby covenant and agree during the term aforesaid, to 

 maintain a school on each island in accordance with said rules and regulations and 

 suitable for the education of the natives of said islands for a period of not less than 

 eight months in each year. 



And the said lessees further covenant and agree not to kill upon said island of St. 

 Paul raore than 75^000 fur seals, and upon the island of St. George not more than 



