St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-06
GOV. KNAPP REPORTS.
The Seal Industry-Produc OF
AIaska-Suggesti

Inc seal SCFy-IfOUuctS Oh
AIaska-Suggesti
WASHINGTON, Oct. ). - Lyman f.
Knapp, governor of Alaska. in his an
nual report TO the secretary of the in
terror devotes considerable space to the
seal islands and the seal industry. The
most serious difficulty in the matter,
says the governor. is the illegitimate
slaughter of the females and the young
in the open sea. There is no doubt that
nest valuable industry and fruitful
source of national income Is in danger.
More than a hundred maraudlng yes
sells have been lowering about the
islands in Behring sea during the sea-
son, and large numbers of skins have
been taken. The steamer Danube made
a special trip to the Northern Pacific
during the latter part of June. reaching
Victoria on return July 6 last, having
on board nearly $4,000 sealSkins re-
ceived from some thirty-fve sealing
vessels. which it met apparently by APP
pointmeut. Those delivering their car
goes to the Danube were all British
vessels. The governor estimates the
number illegally taken during small
portion of last season at from $4,000 to
10000.
The products of Alaska exported dur
ing the year and their value are stated
as follows: Six hundred and eighty
eight thousand, three hundred and
thirty-two cases of salmon. valued at
$52, 753, 1913; 4, $50 pounds of ivory, worth
Sc. 507: 23l.2S2 pounds of Whalebone,
worth Sl.503,333; IA, $50 gallons of whale
oil, worth 81, 467; 1,l30,000 Goldfish, $685.
600; 1900 barrels Salted salmon, S13, 900;
gold and silver bullion, Sl,0O0,0 900;
1886 fur seals. taken under lease. S647,-
$50; 10000 skins taken by poachers,
Sl,S00,0O0; other furS and skins, $3.50, 600:
curios, SO, 900; otner prouucts, S106, 600;
total, SS,941, 5l5.
The report gives an account of the
progress made in education and details
the work as carried on by the govern
ment. He suggests that the manage
ment of the schools should be made, as
far as possible, local, and that they
should be nOn-partiSan and nOn-Sectar-
ian. He tavorS the appointment of
territorial board of public instruction,
to be appointed by the secretary of the
interior and under the control of the
commissioner of education. to have full
authority as to the government schools,
and as to the expenditure of the public
money. In reaching this conclusion he
had in view the remOtenesS of the ter
ritory and the fact that not less than
dozen fellSlOuS societies are pressing
for share of government funds to be
distributed 20 contract schools.
The governor comments upon the
need OF additional legislation. and states
that in the last seven years congress
has given the territory no new laws,
except the town site and land acts. 1t
is important now, he thinks, that the
methods of drawing juries be modified,
and also the other regulations relative
TO juries and other details of the gov
eminent administration. He considers
that the territorial form of government
is impracticable, as the revenue would
not be sutfcint to meet the expenses of
the same. He, however. makes no
specific recommendation on the subject.
The town site law passed by the last
congress, he thinks, should be supple
mented with legislation providing for
municipal corporations. He thinks
that congress should appoint special
committee to look after Alaskan legis-
lation and Alaskan interests, and that
the legal and political status of the
native population should be defined by
legislative enactment