ALASKA. 45 



render communication between their wide-scattered posts more 

 frequent and regular. It will be more difficult every year for 

 small or inexperienced traders to do anything at the fur-trade 

 in this Territory, and the trade does not appear extensive 

 enough to support the operations of two companies, each with 

 as much capital Invested as the one in question. The result 

 would be that one would have to withdraw. As far, however, 

 as the Government is concerned, the field for trade in Alaska 

 is free and open to all; a practical illustration of which is 

 shown in the following statement of affiiirs existing at Ouna- 

 lashka : 



Ouualashka is an Aleutian village of some four hundred 

 souls, men, women, and children; of these sixty are flrat-class 

 sea-otter hunters, and this is their profession. The Alaska 

 Commercial Company have erected three large warehouses 

 fronting a wharf, where their vessels unload and load ; a large 

 store-house, filled with a most extensive selection of goods ; a 

 very large dwelling-house for their traders ; with office, court- 

 yard, stables for cattle and sheep, a blacksmith-shop, &c., all 

 finished in first-class style, and furnished thoroughly through- 

 out. The company have also erected and are building snug 

 cottages for their best hunters to live in ; and there is a school- 

 house, where the native children are invited to attend, which 

 some do. In opposition to this, a young man is placed in a 

 small, weather-worn, rickety shanty, which is made to serve 

 as warehouse, store, and living-room for the agent ; a most 

 meager stock of goods, no assortment whatever; and yet this 

 young man, who has not got one dollar to back him, came to 

 me and complained of the almost total loss of his trade, and 

 said in explanation that it was due to the fact that though the 

 natives wanted to trade with him, yet they were living under 

 the influence of fear to such an extent that they dared not do 

 it, and hence transferred their trade. I told him, after looking 

 about the place and talking with the natives and their priest 

 for three or four days, that the only fear that these people of 

 Ounalashka had in the matter was a most wholesome one; it 

 was the fear, coupled with an absolute certainty, that, as he 

 was situated for trade, they would not do as well at his estab- 

 lishment as they could at his opponent's, and the dullest of 

 them could readily appreciate it ; therefore, if any successful 

 opposition to the Alaska Commercial Company is to be made 

 in the Territory where it is established, money must, be freely 



