New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-31
TIE Fur TRADE AND FISHERIES or
ALASKA.

EXPORT or ARECiAL AGENT ELLIOlT ~ HE 'i'Dn'
URY DEPARTMENT THE INTERESTS OF 1hS
UNITED STATES INJURED FOR WANT OF A PROPER
GOVERNMENT IN TIE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
FACTS REGARDING THE FUR TRADE, SEAL FISH
ERIES, AND RESOURCES or ALASKA.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.-Iienry w. Elilott,
Special Agent OF the Treasury Department, has SUD-
mtted to the Secretary the Treasury bis report upon
tho condition Importance OF the fur trade IN tho
Territory Of Alaska, the present condition OF INC se'
fisheries Of Alaska the baunts and habits OF tne sea'
tho preservation and extension OF the hsncrles as
source Of revenue to the United States, with IKE
information respecting tho fur.bearing apimaIS Oh
Alaska generally the statistics OF the fur trade ana the
condition OF the people or natives especially those upon
whom the successful prosecution OF the fisheries aud
fur trade il dependent The first measure suggested Dy
the investigation Of Mr. Elliott this season was one QI
change and reform IN the present shado"y government
OF the Territory II was not intended 10 Wasto "mo
and money az matters are now conducted, "hen 'no
same annual expenditure would give prompt ana eHecC
supervision the part OF the Government over S
now sadly neglected interest in the Territory.
This mistake in the Government, as 1t now
exists In Alaska Ia not attributable TO any other cause
than that of the universal aud special ignorance pre-
yang IN the Uuilcd States at the tme OF the transfer
Ia regard to the form Of government needed anu sco
then no seems 10 have taken any lhteiNRcht OF
active interest in the matter The pccunlory Valoe OF
highly important that the Treasury Department, no"
nrnsted with its care and supervision, should possess
definite and authoritative information as to ts proper
for perpetuat0n III It's original lDtc9
rity nj least.
Mr. Elliott cal attention especially 10 the aHconpa-
pying report upOn the subject, which einOohlcs INC
results of three seasons OF close personal observation
and research tic ground, with maps and lll"sia-
tons In connection with the condition OF tho natives
OF the Territory Oh whom the successful prosecution or
the fur trade IL dependent he has been I'D INTO
o very careful study OF the history ana
habits Of the scaottcr in tins country to the sno-
ccssul hunting Of which between 1000 anu oo"o
Christian Acutians, and Kodakcrs look Tor
means OF livelihood. Snce the transfer, Firearms,
formerly proscribed have been introduced among The
otter hunters. This, III combination wIh mo k'ch's,
rivalry Of opposition traders make. ~ ohy IusiOn
of very short these valuable ana interesting
animals cXtrrmnatcd on the eXistcnee OI whlch 80
many Cbristmnzcl natives arc totally dependent lor
ali the comforts aud many even Of the ncccssitlcs OF
scnrcviized life. TIE remedy for thls 10 VERY slho
and effective whlch Mr. E!iot discusses under tue
head OF the sea otter and lie hunters x,,,.. -,
IC will bc from the report that Mt EIEott has
gwen the YUKON AeuiLn and Skan sections close at
tcuinn, having yet fully to examine the kQdilR,
Cooks Inlet aud Copper River districts; that H. mas IA
connection with Lieut. washburn Miynard u 5. NJ
hls associate daring the past season, carefully
rrsurvcycd the area and position OF the breed
i I3ey surveyed S. Matthews Ioi.nd, which is cotG
and entirely unknown anu unInhahe'l, ID Or
ucr 10 settle the lacSu qucnlly asked aud 10
which 10 definite reply could bc gwen, az 10 whether
suitable GROUND IOf hea'5 10
and breed should these ANIMALS ever become dis:atiS,
ii Il with their present LOCALITY ana ho has crhphel
IRON Russian ana uh"r auho1i rs facts ana satisfies
AZ 10 tue extent Of fur trade III tue carly days VI the
terri orr, 10 compare with TIC condition OF inns
tradcrs and agents in the country generally. The
IrmLr bC ncrodse III the cafrE Or iuF-DearinS animals
since the change Of ownership Of the country Is most
siunlng bur 10 pcrcc harmony with the sir0ng con-
tr,st nrtN cen The iud0lcnt makcst manage mcnt Ct
the Russian American Far Company IN the later time
ana thai OF or energetic economical traders.
Tnc cxtravugaut statements winch have been MADE IN
nf Ial Ia
one band true would liz IL for the future reception
hgnly civilized ponui"on; wnllc on me Other u
and entire loss OF S7,O0GO0 OF pchHs" mDnen, Dt-
sizes huing burdcn to tie General GINcrhnient Idrso
announcements often made ami reiterated Throughout
our country caused AIR. Elliott 10 pay great atten-
non 70 the subject and ia Ills report has cndcavorrd
TO rive concise description OF tho agricultural charar-
ter the Territory. az he las seen IT, wnrb mus Tar,
more acres OF better laud lying now ne
Wilderness and Jungle III sisht on tue mountain
P,un,y lyania Road, than 6c found III all AldsKa
aud when is remembered that this iahi; Wild ia tIG
heart OF one Of our oldest and most thrky p"puatcu
States, VIII rfuaIn as IL now Isl cheap ana nilSturbod
tor lndrni'e time to come III spltc OF u.s. q FG puA
pgislng men, not difficult 10 estimate the VtIu2 81
The Alaskan ncrrS, rs E"y arr" and barred out by
n most u,agrcraUc bracOast climate, leaving OLt
altogether the Great West and vast agricultural regions
british America but then, Girrcty TO thc CONTRARY IL
wGud he wrong 10 h'nt by TINS statement, uue AZ H.
that the country il Worthless, 'or On tHc sea- 'slthGr
the GoycrEncnt poa>"NHns lrop'I'y wNl'h woniI
not remain tie mdrEct many days nIsoI
were n otrcd for s. nGOO0. ana from which the annual
pruUcr government Oi the HiiO,c Territory II the mat
Ter curIec,'y adjusted. ANA tIcn again II shoni
Le understood that, beyond lew Uhtcrops OF tertiary
coal and coalclds SikL, OF gold aEd sIivcf w!h
reports native copper III Site MOI hlng Il kn0wh what
ever of TIC mineral wealth OF Tie Trrr"iy AT Tie prcs
emf writing 80 tar as Mr. Elliott could learn, bit which
he has reason 10 think Viii develop into some VALUE
The value ana probable yield OF the cod banks Ot ALASKA
have been greatly oyeraIcd, but II may DC Reasonably
anticipated that the success attending the canning Ol
salmon on the Columbia kNer viii stimulate the pros
ecutOn this industry at the mouth OF all the large
81 dreams and rivers OF tne Territory.
Ou
Ctnrr almost unknown section OF tile world was ever
brought INTO notice suddenly about which mere has
ben most cmphaticaliy aud positively written, based
Uuite entirely upon The whims aud caprIces Of the
authors and 1t Will DO surprising thCtrutl III
regard To the Territory does not frequently come into
conflict With many erroneous popular Opinions lerpecL
Ing IT,