304 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR 
were detailed to the islands for several months to assist in the curing 
and packing of the skins. 
The byproducts plant on St. Paul Island was in operation again, 
rendering oil and meal from seal carcasses and blubber. The total 
production for the season amounted to 32,809 gallons of oil and 
502,914 pounds of seal meal. Small quantities of these products 
were retained at the islands to be used for fox food, but most of the 
oil and meal was shipped to Seattle for disposition. About 75 tons 
of seal meal was delivered to the Division of Fish Culture for use 
in Federal fish hatcheries, and the surplus meal and oil were sold 
through competitive bidding for the account of the Government. 
Four new frame houses were built for natives on St. Paul Island, 
and a new machine shop was almost completed. Other improvements 
included an addition to the boatways, the erection of a small pump- 
house, and the building of a reindeer corral. On St. George Island 
a new bunkhouse for natives was completed. 
Annual supplies for the Pribilof Islands were transported from 
Seattle aboard the U. S. S. Capella, through the cooperation of the 
Navy Department. The Coast Guard also rendered valuable cooper- 
ative service in patrolling waters of the North Pacific and Bering 
Sea for the protection of fur seals and sea otters, and in giving other 
assistance in the Bureau’s work. 
The entire season’s take of sealskins was shipped to St. Louis, Mo., 
to be processed and sold at public auction by the Fouke Fur Co. 
for the account of the Government, under the terms of the contract 
of June 9, 1939. In accordance with the terms of the fur-seal treaty 
of 1911, Japan will receive a 15-percent share in the proceeds of sale, 
and Canada will receive a like share. The Government of Canada 
discontinued the previous arrangement for taking delivery of the 
skins in kind. 
The United States received a shipment of 210 Robben Island fur- 
seal skins, or 10 percent of the number taken by Japan in 1939. This 
represents the annual share due this country under the terms of the 
fur-seal treaty. The Department’s selling agents at St. Louis, Mo., 
received the skins for processing and sale. 
Seal Herd 
The total number of animals in the Pribilof Islands fur-seal herd 
as of August 10, 1939, was 2,020,774. ‘This is an increase of 148,336 
over the computed number in the preceding year. 
Take of Sealskins 
In the calendar year 1939 a total of 60,473 fur-seal skins were 
taken on the Pribilof Islands, or 2,109 more than in the preceding 

