BUREAU OF FISHERIES XIII 



At the sale on June 13, 1932, 3,788 black-dyed and 3,448 brown- 

 dyed skins brought $102,328.05. A number of skins were withdrawn 

 from the sale. 



Special sales of sealskins authorized by the Secretary of Com- 

 merce in the fiscal year 1932 consisted of 150 black-dyed, 150 brown- 

 dyed, and 5 exhibition skins, which sold for a gross price of $7,309.90. 

 All were taken at the Pribilof Islands. These special sales included 

 150 skins that were sent to Paris and manufactured into 19 coats, 

 which were returned to this country and used for advertising 

 purposes. 



FOXES 



The management of herds of blue foxes on St. Paul and St. George 

 Islands provides employment for the natives when sealing activities 

 are at a minimum and is a source of additional revenue to the 

 Government. 



The 889 blue and 26 white fox skins taken in the 1930-31 season 

 were sold at public auction in the fiscal year 1932. The blue pelts 

 brought $19,559.50 and the whites $466, a total of $20,025.50. 



In the season of 1931-32, 289 blue and 25 white fox skins were 

 taken on St. Paul Island and 1,112 blue fox skins on St. George 

 Island, a total of 1,426 skins. Of the blue foxes that were trapped, 

 37 on St. Paul Island and 432 on St. George Island were marked 

 and released for breeding purposes. 



FUR-SEAL SKINS TAKEN BY NATIVES 



The North Pacific Sealing Convention of 1911 provides that abo- 

 rigines of the Pacific coast may, under certain restrictions, take fur 

 seals at sea. Before the skins of such animals may enter into com- 

 merce they must be authenticated as having been lawfully taken. 

 In 1931 there were authenticated by officials of the respective Gov- 

 ernments 1,649 fur-seal skins, of which 21 were taken by natives of 

 southeast Alaska, 165 by natives of Washington, and 1,463 by natives 

 of British Columbia. 



FUR-SEAL PATROL 



A patrol for the protection of the fur-seal herd was maintained by 

 vessels of the United States Coast Guard. Two vessels of the Bureau 

 of Fisheries participated in this work in the spring, the Widgeon in 

 southeast Alaska and the Brcunt off the coast of Washington. 



PROTECTION OF SEA OTTERS, WALRUSES, AND SEA LIONS 



Revised regulations for the protection of walruses and sea lions 

 were issued as of May 1, 1932, extending the closed season on these 

 animals for another 2-year period, while permitting, as heretofore, 

 certain limited killing under specified conditions. The killing of sea 

 otters is prohibited at all times. 



PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD AND GAME FISHES 



The hatchery organization operated under the supervision of the 

 division of fish culture of the bureau was responsible for the distri- 

 bution of 7,073,935,200 fish and eggs during the fiscal year. This 



