THE SALMON AND SALMON FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 25 
butclieis have made as high as $5,60 a day. The work is not steady, but for the 
season the native Avomeii make from $80 to $100, and tlie better class of men $200. 
Fishermen are paid $2 a day, without board, and laborers $1.50 per day, for the 
time employed. 
The complaint is made everywhere that Indian labor — tliat is, the labor of the 
men — is uncertain. Alter making sufficient Avages to supply their personal wants and 
getting a few dollars ahead, the desire for hunting or fishing seizes them and they 
are apt to leave when they are most VA’anted. To provide against this contingency, 
a contract is made with the fishermen, upon which they are paid $1.50 down for every 
day’s Avork, and the remainder is held until the end of the season; it is then paid it 
tliey remain, but forfeited if they leave without permission. 
Topjiiug uiacbiue. 
The Indians are doubtless improvident, knowing that nature has provided for 
them Avithout much labor. Their frequent l)oast is that white men and Chinese must 
Avork to get something to eat, Avhile the Avaters and the forests furnish the Indians 
Avith all they Avant. A very small amount of money Avill supply them Avith the few 
necessaries which money alone will imrchase. 
In the spring of the year, when the cannery is oj)ened, the Indian has spent his 
money and consumed his supplies. His wants are many, and he is willing to do any 
Avork; after these wants are satisfied he relapses, becomes lazy, and demands more 
Avages. The Indians fancy the cannery is getting $6 and $7 a case for salmon, and 
that they are not getting Avhat is due them. The manager at Klawak said that year 
after year he had acceded to their demands, but that noAv they -had passed beyond 
the limit. The Indian is perfectly capable and can irrobably do the Avork as well as 
the Chinese if he could only be made to understand the exact conditions. 
