58 KEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



In the calendar year 1919 there were taken on St. Paul Island 

 24,053 sealskins and on St. George Island 3,768, a total of 27,821. Of 

 these skins, 2,513 were from seals 6 years of age and 5,218 from seals 

 7 years of age and upward, in an effort to reduce the number of old 

 surplus bulls. In 1920 there were taken through August 10, 21,936 

 skins on St. Paul Island and 4,042 on St. George Island, a total of 

 25,978. The take for 1920 will be increased somewhat by fall killings 

 to provide food for the natives. 



The provisional quota of seals to be killed at the Pribilof Islands in 

 the calendar year 1920 was fixed at 35,000, of which 31,000 were to be 

 taken on St. Paul Island and 4,000 on St. George Island ; but as the 

 sealing season progressed it became apparent that the surplus adult 

 males, which constituted about 25 per cent of the contemplated quota, 

 were not present in the expected numbers. On the recommendation 

 of the responsible agents of the islands telegraphic authority was 

 given to take, in addition to the numbers previously determined, 3,000 

 3-year-olds and 1,000 4-year-olds, these classes of seals being present 

 in sufficient abundance on St. Paul Island to fully warrant the in- 

 creased killings. 



The different elements of the fur-seal herd, as determined by re- 

 cent observations, now closely approximate the proper proportions 

 in respect to the various age classes. The efforts of the past two sea- 

 sons to reduce the excess of breeding males have been successful, as" 

 indicated by the fact that the average number of cows per harem in- 

 creased from 30 in 1919 to 41 in 1920. 



Experimental Avork in the season of 1920 may lead to the adoption 

 of marked changes in methods of handling fur-seal skins, but final 

 decision must aAvait the outcome of the dressing and dyeing. The 

 experiments have included an improved method of salting the skins ; 

 the washing of the pelts before salting, in order to remove blood and 

 dirt ; and, in addition, there have been extensive practical tests of the 

 advisability of removing blubber from the pelts before salting. 



In the fiscal year 1920 three sales of Pribilof Islands fur-seal skins 

 were held at St. Louis. At the first sale, September 10, 1919, 9,055 

 skins were disposed of at the bid price of $827,112.50. At the sec- 

 ond sale, February 2, 1920, 9,100 skins were sold for $1,282,905. At 

 the third sale. May 10, 1920, 5,752 skins brought $424,166. The total 

 number of sealskins sold during the fiscal year was, therefore, 23.907, 

 at the aggregate price of $2,534,183.50. The high prices received are 

 indicative of the excellent quality of the skins, wliich prior to sale 

 are dressed, dyed, and machined at the modern plant located in St. 

 Louis. The output of this plant unquestionably surpasses anything 

 of the kind ever produced heretofore in Europe or elsewhere. 



As a net result of the sales of fur-seal skins in tlie fiscal year 1920 

 there was deposited in the Treasury of the United States the sum of 

 $1,457,790.57. This amount represents, in part, some of the skins 

 sold in previous fiscal years for which returns did not come in until 

 1920. In addition to the amount stated the sum of $271,894.48 was 

 set aside for payment to Great Britain and Japan oi the shares to 

 which those nations are entitled under the North Pacific Sealing Con- 

 vention of 1911. 



Pursuant to the provisions of the fur-seal conAxntion, there have 

 been received by the United States 111 sealskins from the Japanese 



