ALASKA. 57 



is stimulated by the traders, and is rendered still more deadly 

 to the sea-otter by the use of rifles of the best make, which, in 

 the hands of the young and ambitious natives, in spite of the 

 warnings of the old men, must result in the extermination of 

 these animals, as no authority exists in the land to prevent it. 

 These same old men, in order to successfully compete with 

 their rivals, have to drop their bone spears and arrows and 

 take up fire-arms in self-defense. So the bad work goes on 

 rapidly, though a majority of the natives and the traders 

 deprecate it. 



With a view to check this evil and to perpetuate the life of 

 the sea-otter in the Territory, I offer the following suggestions 

 to the Department : 



1st. Prohibit the use of fire-arms of any description in the 

 hunting of the sea-otter in the Territory of Alaska. 



2d. Make it unlawful for any party or parties to hunt this 

 animal during the months of June, July, and August, fixing a 

 suitable penalty, fine, or punishment. 



The first proposition gives the seaotter a chance to live ; and, 

 with the second, may possibly promote an increase in the nuui- 

 ber of this valuable animal. 



Theenforcementby theGovernraentof this prohibition will not 

 be difficult, as it is desired by a great majority of the natives 

 and all the traders having any real interest in the perpetuation 

 of the business. A good deputy attached to the customs, whose 

 salary and expenses might be more than paid by a trifling tax 

 upon each otter-skin, say $1, could, if provided with a sound 

 whale-boat, make his headquarters at Saanach and Belcovski 

 and carry the law into effect. The trade of the Kodiak dis- 

 trict centers at the village of that name, and the presence of 

 the collector or his deputy will exert authority, and cause the 

 old native hunters and many of the younger who have reflec- 

 tion to comply with his demands. The collector then being 

 provided with the small revenue-steamer spoken of in my 

 chapter upon the duty of the Government toward the Territory, 

 can insure compliance with the instructions given him, and 

 punish violations. 



This proposed action on the part of the Government is urgent 

 and humane, for upon the successful hunting of the seaotter 

 some five thousand Christianized natives are entirely dependent 

 for the means to live in a condition superior to barbarism. 



