160 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
ation each summer since that time, was maintained on a year-round 
basis during 1939-40. a 
Important service was rendered by the Coast Guard in providing a 
patrol for the protection of fur seals and sea otters along the Pacific 
coast and in Bering Sea, as well as in giving other assistance in the 
Bureau’s work. The Navy Department detailed the U.S. S. Capella 
to carry the annual shipment of supplies from Seattle to the Pribilof 
Islands and to bring out the season’s take of sealskins. 
The administration of the fur-seal service suffered a distinct loss in 
the death of Superintendent Harry J. Christoffers at Seattle on Sep- 
tember 8, 1939, after a brief illness. Mr. Christoffers had been iden- 
tified with the Alaska work of the Bureau since 1911, and for the last 
16 years had been in direct charge of fur-seal operations centering at 
the Pribilof Islands. To his constructive and untiring efforts, more 
than to those of any other single person, may be attributed the excel- 
lent results achieved in the management of the fur-seal industry and 
the improvements in housing and other conditions for the welfare of 
the natives. 
TRANSPORTATION OF SUPPLIES 
The U.S.S. Capella sailed from Seattle on August 2 for the Pribilof 
Islands with the annual shipment of supplies, which aggregated 2,274 
tons of general freight and 455,791 board feet of lumber. Of this 
total, 1,525 tons of cargo and 323,175 board feet of lumber were for 
St. Paul Island and 749 tons of cargo and 132,616 board feet of lumber 
were for St. George Island. The vessel arrived at the islands on 
August 12. 
On the return trip to Seattle, covering the period from August 24 
to September 1, the vessel brought out 60,470 fur-seal skins, 489,174 
pounds of seal meal, 25 barrels of blubber, and miscellaneous freight. 
Five passengers for the Bureau returned to Seattle on this trip. 
Additional supplies for the Pribilof Islands were shipped during the 
year on the Penguin. 
Power VEsse. ‘ PENGUIN” 
Five round trips between Seattle and the Pribilof Islands were made 
in 1939 by the Penguin, carrying passengers and supplies. In addition 
the vessel performed interisland service and made trips to Indian 
settlements along the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands to 
transport native laborers hired for fur-seal work at the Pribilofs during 
the summer. One trip was made to Amchitka Island in July in 
connection with the sea-otter patrol. 
A full cargo of freight, chiefly perishable foodstuffs, was carried on 
each trip from Seattle, and outgoing shipments from the Islands 
included the 1938-39 take of fox skins, transported to Seattle in 
March, and the fur-seal oil produced at the byproducts plant on St. 
Paul Island, which was brought out in August and November. A 
shipment of live white foxes was transported from the Pribilofs to 
Petersburg, Alaska, in November, and delivered to the Alaska Game 
Commission to be used at the Petersburg Experimental Fur Farm for 
experimentation in crossbreeding. 
The north-bound voyages of the Penguin were as follows: February 
16-March 3, May 1-13, June 10-22, September 6-19, and October 
