*92 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE 



At the second sale, held on May 15, 1933, 20,621 black-dyed and 

 5,000 logwood brown-dyed skins were sold for $394,303.80. At the 

 same time 282 black-dyed, 229 raw, and 1 unhaired Japanese fur-seal 

 skins sold for $1,755.75. These 512 skins were the United States 

 Government's share of sealskins taken by the Japanese Government 

 at Robben Island in the years 1930 to 1932, inclusive. There was 

 sold also 1 confiscated fur-seal skin, dyed logwood-brown, for $23. 



Special sales of Pribilof Islands sealskins authorized by the Sec- 

 retary of Commerce in the fiscal year 1933 consisted of 184 black 

 dyed, 226 logwood brown-dyed, 10 raw, and 9 exhibition skins, at a 

 total of $7,566.02. 



FOXES 



The blue-fox herds on St. Paul and St. George Islands are a 

 profitable adjunct to the fur-seal industry, and provide employment 

 during the inactive period of sealing operations. 



In the fiscal year 1933 there were sold at public auction 1,401 blue 

 and 25 white fox skins that had been taken in the 1931-32 season. 

 The blue pelts brought $32,151.50, and the white pelts $336.50, a 

 total of $32,488. 



Foxing operations in the season of 1932-33 resulted in a take of 

 249 blue and 22 white fox skins on St. Paul Island and 871 blue 

 and 1 white on St. George Island, a total of 1,143 slrins. Thirty-two 

 foxes trapped on St. Paul Island and 408 on St. George Island were 

 marked and released for breeding purposes. 



FUR-SEAL SKINS TAKEN BY NATIVES 



Exercising the privilege granted them under the provisions of 

 the North Pacific Sealing Convention of July 7, 1911, Indians of the 

 United States and Canada took 1,938 fur-seal skins in 1932, which 

 were duly authenticated by officials of the respective Governments. 

 Of these skins, 78 were taken by natives of southeast Alaska, 73 

 by natives of Washington, and 1,787 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, supplemented in the 

 spring by two of the Bureau's fishery patrol vessels. 



PROTECTION OF SEA OTTERS, WALRUSES, AND SEA LIONS 



No changes were made in the regulations for the protection of 

 sea otters, walruses, and sea lions. The taking of sea otters is pro- 

 hibited at all times, and the killing of walruses and sea lions is 

 authorized only under specified conditions. 



LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION 



The appropriation for enforcing the law regulating interstate 

 transportation of black bas,s, and for cooperation with local. State, 

 and Federal authorities in protecting and increasing largemouth and 

 smallmouth black bass was reduced 25 percent from last year's ap- 



