4 FISHERIES IN ALASKA. 



in surveying the fishing banks on our coast from the Cortez hank to Behring's 

 straits. 



I desire to ask you for such information as will enlighten us on this all- 

 important subject. The facilities on Puget sound for furnishing shelter, water, 

 coal of the best quality at $5 per ton, oak timber, and every needed element in 

 the construction and repair of ships, should appeal in earnest to our government, 

 and orders should be issued to the admiral of this station at once to rendezvous 

 a portion of his fleet on the sound. 



The acquisition of Russian America, with its hordes of savages, should be an 

 additional incentive to such orders forthwith. 



I have located a claim inside of" Ketron island," some three miles above this 

 place, which I have offered to Admiral Thatcher for a dry dock and naval arsenal. 

 The above claim is well supplied with water power for any purpose, plenty of 

 stately firs for spars and planking, with choice pasture oaks fit for every purpose 

 of ship repairing and building. Good granite rock abounds on the claim, and I 

 am informed that excellent soft coal-beds are to be found below the surface, but 

 of this I will inform myself better soon. 



I solicit your opinion at your earliest convenience. 

 Yours, very sincerely, 



i. s. Mcdonald. 



Hon. G. Welles, 



Secretary of the United States Navy, 



Washington City, D. C. 



I am the father, prompter, and writer of the territorial memorial above referred 

 to, and hope, in this my 48th year, to receive the approbation of my country. — 

 Ibid. 



P. S. — Our late delegate to Congress, Hon. A. I. Denny, arrived home yester- 

 day ; consequently we have no delegate at your government at present, but hope 

 to send you soon a man of commercial experience. 



I.S. McD. 



No. 4. 



Mr. Chappell to Mr. Seward. 



New London, Connecticut, May 30, 1S67. 



Dear Sir : I have to own receipt of your esteemed favor of the 25th instant, 

 and thank you for the information conveyed, and a map of the territory of Russia 

 lately ceded to the United States, so kindly forwarded. 



I desire to send a master, by next California steamer, to Sandwich islands to 

 take charge of one of my vessels there, and proceed from thence, about the 25th 

 of July next, to the Aleutian islands, for the purpose of trading, sealing, fish- 

 ing, &c. 



I beg leave to inquire if I should be fully warranted in doing this. Also, if 

 the Department of State would grant to me a letter which would justify the 

 master of such a vessel in the lawful prosecution of his voyage, in case he should 

 meet any of the inhabitants of said islands. 



An early reply would much oblige, very respectfully, yours, 



RICHARD H. CHAPPELL. 



Hon. William H. Seward, 



Secretary of State, Washington. 



