Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-01-14
Alaska.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3

Henry w. LlllOtt, OpcCidl hBCut VI SnC
Treasury Department, has submitted to
the Secretary of the Treasury his report
upon the condition and Importance OF
the haunts and habits of the seal, the
preservation and extension of the fish
cries as q source of revenue to the United
States, with like information respecting
the fur-bearing animals of Alaska gen.
orally, the statistics of the fur trade,
and the condition of the people or
natives, especially those upon whom the
successful prosecution OF the fisheries
and fur trade is dependent.
The first measure suggested by the in
| vestigation of Mr.. Elliott this season
| was one of change and reform in the
present shadowy government of the Ter
ritory. 1t was not intended to waste
| time and money as matters are now con-
| Quoted, when the same annual expendl-
| ture would give prompt and effective
| supervision on the part of the Govern
ment over it's new sadly-neglected inter-
ests in the Territory. This mistake in
| the Government as it now exists in
| Alaska is not attributable to any other
cause than that of the universal and
special ignorance prevailing in the
| United States at the time of the transfer
| in regard to the form of government
| needed, and since then no one seems to
have taken any intelligent or active in
terest in the matter. The pecuniary
value of the fur-seal interests of the
Government renders it highly important
that the Treasury Department, now in
| trusted with its care and supervision,
should possess definite and authoritative
information as to the proper management
for its perpetuation in its original In
tegrity at least.
Mr.. Elliott calls attention especially
to the accompanying report upon the
subject which embodies the results Of
three seasons of close personal observa-
ton and research on the ground, with maps
| and illustrations. In connection with
ritory, on whom the successful prosecu-
ton Of the fur trade is dependent, he has
| been led into very careful study Of the
| history and habits of the sea-otter in
| this country, to the successful hunting
| of which between four and five thousand
| Christian Aleutians and Kodiakers look
! for means of livelihood. Since the
| transfer of the Territory firearms, for
merly prescribed, have been introduced
an ong the otter-hunters. This in COM
bination with the keenest rivalry of OPP
| position traders makes it only ques-
| ton of a very short time at which these
| valuable and interesting animals shall
be extcrminated, although on their ex-
istence so many Christianized natives
are totally dependent for all the comforts
and many even of the necessities of q
semicivilized life. The remedy for this
| Mr.. Elliott says, is very simple and
| effective one and he discusses it under
the head of the sea-otter and its hunters.
The report shows that Mr.. Elliott has
| given the Yukon, Aleutian and Sitkan
sections close attention, leaving the full.
er examination of the Kodiak, Cooks In
let and Copper River districts to the flu
ture; and that he has, in connection with
Lieut.. Washburn Maynard, United States
navy, his associate during the past sea-
| son, carefully resurveyed the area and
position of the breeding-ground of the
| fur-seal on the Prybilor Islands. They
surveyed st. Matthew's Island, which is
contiguous, and was entirely unknown
and uninhabited, in order to settle the
question SO frequently asked, and to
| which no definite reply could be given,
whether or not it was suitable ground for
| fur-scals to land upon and breed, should
these animals ever become dissatisfied
WIFI tuCA PiCo~ut ioSuhey uuu uC Auo
compiled from Russian and other author
| tiles facts and statistics as to the extent
of the fur trade in the early days of the
Territory, so as to compare with the con-
dition of this business at present, as he
obtained it from traders and agents in
the country generally. The remarkable
increase in the catch of fur-bearing ami
mails since the change of ownership of
the country Is most striking, but is in
perfect harmony with the strong contrast
between the indolent, make shift man.
agement of the Russian-American Fur
Company in the latter time and that of
our energetic, economical traders.
I'he extravagant statements which
nave been made in regard to the reve-
nues of the Territory, which, If true,
would either prove its fitness for the
future reception of highly-civilized
population or show 1t to be land of
utter desolation, and the 81, 000,0 900 pur-
chase money total loss to the General
Government, have caused Mr.. Elliott to
paw great attention to the subject; and
In his report he has endeavored TO give a
concise description of the agricultural
character Of the Territory as he has seen