156 INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



slaughtered the herd before anyone gets ready to start. It will be 

 his plan to kill old and young, to make a good showing. He will kill 

 yearlings, for the price of seal skins will insure him a return of his 

 money on them. He will use every effort to make as large a daily 

 killing as possible to flaunt in our faces. The new agents will see 

 this, and, not posted by Murray and Lavender, will be led astray. 

 This is surely the plan mapped out by the gang. Anything to down 

 our reports, if they have to pass through fire and brimstone, and, my 

 dear sir, that man Nettleton is a tool in their hands; he is the most 

 gay deceiver of all. I know some few secrets I will tell you when I see 

 you next. I hardly think an investigation will help our party, for 

 this is one of the foulest steals I ever knew, and it will give the Demo- 

 crats a war whoop in the coming campaign and one that will bear 

 fruit. 



If the seals are saved through your efforts you will have gained 

 your point, and why not then rest upon your well-earned laurels and 

 sleep upon your well-loaded arms for a future combat with Tingle, etc. 



Let me again warn you that there is a deep and well concocted 

 scheme to have reports come down this fall in direct opposition to 

 ours, and no one knows what all of this planning and skirmishing may 

 bring forth. A full Ohio delegation, one that could be trusted. Do 

 you think there is any ambiguity about that sentence? The cap- 

 tains or commanders of the cutters are against us. Tingle will raise 

 the cry that he who opposes will be deposed. You know how he will 

 coach his entire surrounding; then again, those we left behind may 

 fall into line under this great pressure, and we are left standing 

 alone. I know all of this won't make seals; they care not for that; 

 they are fighting for vindication, and when they have secured that 

 they will come forward and suggest a close season, claiming the 

 increase of poaching this year has made it a necessity. The public 

 will be none the wiser. They will take charge of the islands, and the 

 steal will go. Remember this, and also remember that what I 

 write you is "entre nous." 



When do you expect Murray and Lavender down? They will be 

 down early, I should think. Please keep me posted on their arrival. 

 With regards, your friend, 



Charles J. Goff. 



Montreal, August 16, 1891. 



My Dear Mr. Elliott: Tingle is surely trying, with the effort of 

 his life, to place us before the public in a ridiculous light; and I am 

 fearful that he will succeed, but, my dear sir, it will only be for a 

 short while. Murray will come down with his mendacious statement, 

 and Tingle will have one from him and all his emplo} r ees, and it will 

 present to the public a very plausible contradiction of my report, 

 and your thesis. 



You remember I told you Tingle would never cease working, that 

 he would resort to any means foul or fair to accomplish his end; see 

 the double duplicity of the man, securing, as he says he did, Murray's 

 removal while here, and then returning and courting his favor and 

 using him as a henchman to do his infamous work. Poor Murray; 

 was ever man so treated? It kept me constantly guarding him last 



