f 
144 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE 
number under the provisions of the fur-seal treaty of 1911, continued 
the practice of sharing in the proceeds of sale, rather than taking 
actual delivery of the skins. 
Two hundred and ten fur-seal skins taken by the Japanese Govern- 
ment on Robben Island in 1988 were allotted to the United States as 
its share under the treaty provisions and were shipped to the Depart- 
ment’s selling agents at St. Louis, Mo., for processing and sale. 
A new contract for the processing and sale of Government-owned 
fur-seal and other skins was entered into by the Acting Secretary of 
Commerce and the Fouke Fur Co., St. Louis, Mo., under date of 
June 9, 1939, covering sealskins taken in 1939 and the following 
season, and thereafter until the contract is terminated by either 
party. 
SEAL HERD 
The computed number of animals in the Pribilof Islands fur-seal 
herd on August 10, 1988, was 1,872,438, an increase of 33,319, or about 
2 percent over the corresponding figure for the preceding year. This 
comparatively small increase is accounted for by the fact that it has 
been found necessary to apply higher mortality rates for animals in 
their first year at sea and to make , adjustments accordingly in respect 
to certain age groups. 
TAKE OF SEALSKINS 
In the calendar year 1938 there were taken on the Pribilof Islands 
58,364 fur-seal skins, of which 46,082 were from St. Paul Island 
and 12,282 from St. George Island. This was an increase of 3,184 
over the total take in 1937. Insofar as possible, killmgs were con- 
fined to 3-year-old males. A suitable number of this age class was 
reserved for breeding stock. 
SALE OF SEALSKINS 
Two public auction sales of fur-seal skins were held at St. Louis in 
the fiscal year 1939. At the sale on October 10, 1938, there were sold 
9,754 skins dyed black, 14,490 skins dyed safari ‘brown, and 46 miscel- 
laneous skins for a or oss total of $509,293.75. On May 29, 1939, 7,800 
skins dyed black and 12,720 dyed safari brown brought a gross sum 
of $344,338.75. 
Sealskins sold at private sales under special authorization by the 
Secretary of Commerce consisted of 324 dyed black, 487 dyed safari 
brown, 1 partly processed, and 73 raw-salted skins, ‘which brought a 
gross total of $17,713. In all, 45,695 fur-seal skins were sold for the 
account of the Government in the fiscal year 1939, for a total gross 
sum of $871,845.50. 
FOXES 
The care of blue foxes on the Pribilof Islands is an important 
seasonal activity, requiring attention only during the winter months 
when sealing operations are at a minimum. During the 1938-389 
season 219 blue and 5 white foxskins were taken on St. Paul Island 
and 799 blue and 6 white foxskins were taken on St. George Island, 
a total of 1,029. Suitable reserves for breeding purposes were made 
