138 



REPORT OF ALASKA INVESTIGATIONS. 



the supply ship lies at anchor at a cost to the Government of $250 or more a day. It took 23 days to unload 

 this vessel at both islands this year. The sentimental part of this work the use of the native skin boat 

 should be eliminated, not only for the reason set forth, but owing to the fact that bidarrahs are expensive 

 to build and maintain, requiring a large number of sea-lion skins for their construction, and more or less 

 repairs are necessary every year. 



AERIAL CABLE FOR UNLOADING SHIPS. 



To improve existing conditions it would appear feasible to erect at both St. Paul and St. George Islands 

 an aerial cable that will permit the unloading of supplies from a vessel in a total of four or five days for 

 both islands. The cost of installing these cables would be in the neighborhood of $25,000, and as the 

 unloading under the present system has been costing from $6,000 to $7,000 per year, it can be seen at a 

 glance that the Government would soon be repaid for the installation of this new system. It would also 

 prove of advantage when commercial killing of seals is resumed, for the ship that would bring the skins 

 down to the States to be sold by the Government could take aboard the casks containing the skins directly 

 from the shore by means of these cables, thereby obviating taking the shipment out to the vessel by many 

 trips of smaller boats. If this suggestion seems a good one, it would be advisable to erect one of these 

 cables at St. Paul Island first. The plan for handling cargo, as here suggested, is entirely feasible and 

 practicable, as shown by similar practices in vogue elsewhere. 



LIGHTERS FOR UNLOADING SHIPS. 



Another method which is feasible and which would be better than the one in vogue is the use of lighters 

 in landing supplies from the vessels. For this purpose at least three 2o-ton lighters should be constructed 

 for each of the two islands, and there should also be one new launch for each island for towing purposes. 

 This equipment could be used to supplement the bidarrahs and old launches now in use. The total cost of 

 these lighters is estimated at $5,000 and the two launches would cost approximately $3,000 each. 



MIDWINTER SUPPLY SHIP. 



The question of landing supplies leads to another feature in the vessel question. It occurs to me that 

 it would be very wise if the Government would arrange for a vessel to go to the Pribilof Islands in January 

 or February of each year. The moral effect would be very good ; it would be an incentive and help to the 

 Government officials as well as to the natives. Fresh supplies as well as mail could be sent and the monotony 

 of the long winter would be broken to a considerable extent. On the whole, it would prove highly beneficial 

 at both ends and not be very costly to the Government. 



LANDING REGULATIONS. 



The matter of landing on the islands should receive more consideration. Stricter regulations should 

 be made permitting nobody but duly authorized officials of the Government to land, and when it is necessary 

 for crews or parts of crews to come ashore the contents of all packages they take back should be examined 

 by the one in charge of each island. And it is just as important that the contents of packages brought 

 ashore by the crews should be scrutinized by the commanding officer of the vessel, for report that liquor 



