ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1922. 109 



postmaster at Unalaska was delivered to the fleet of fishing vessels. In a 

 number of cases medical assistance was afforded to the fishermen. One man 

 in need of hospital treatment was transported to Unalaska and transferred to 

 the Jesse Lee Home, which institution maintains a hospital for the treatment 

 of sick seamen and others. All assistance possible was given to the fishing fleet 

 without neglecting other important duties required of the patrol force. During 

 the cruises of the several cutters all vessels fallen in with were boarded and ex- 

 amined, but no evidence was found of illegal sealing. The patrol vessels at all 

 times cooperated with the Government agents on the Pribilof Islands while 

 cruising in the vicinity. In April mail, supplies, and passengers were trans- 

 ported from Seattle, Wash., to St. Paul Island and St. George Island. During 

 the season mail and supplies for the islands were delivered as promptly as 

 possible after each arrival of the mail steamer at Unalaska. On request of 

 the agent of St. Paul Island transportation between St. Paul Island and St. 

 George Island and between Unalaska and the islands was afforded to various 

 officials, working parties, and natives. All villages on the Aleutian Islands 

 were visited several times during the season and conditions investigated, vital 

 statistics recorded, and medical assistance afforded to the sick. Aside from 

 various other duties performed by the cutters assigned to patrol duty in Alas- 

 kan waters, there were transported for otlier departments of the Government 

 163 tons of freight, consisting of general merchandise, lumber, provisions, oil, 

 gasoline, etc. During the cruise of the various cutters 38,729 miles were 

 covered and 143 vessels boarded. 



SEALING PRIVILEGES ACCORDED ABORIGINES. 



Early in the year the form of certificate used in authenticating 

 sealskins lawfully taken by Indians dwelling on the Pacific coast of 

 the United States was revised. A certificate in triplicate is pre- 

 pared for each skin by the officer authenticating the same, the origi- 

 nal going to the owner of the skin, one copy to the office of the Bu- 

 reau of Fisheries at Seattle, Wash., and one copy to the Washington 

 (D. C.) office. When authenticated skins are shipped the original 

 certificates must accompany them, and when the skins arrive at a 

 port of entry the customs authorities will forward the original to 

 the bureau's Seattle office, which will advise in regard to the legality 

 of the shipment and forward copies of the certificates to the con- 

 signee. "V^Hien the skins are dressed and dyed, the company doing 

 the work shall indorse the owner's copy of each certificate to show 

 the date and by whom each skin was dressed and dyed and shall 

 then send them to the owner of the skin. The dresser and dyer will, 

 before returning any skin to the owner, plainly and indelibly stamp 

 it as follows : " U. S. Authenticated Certificate No. — ", and the 

 trade-mark or name of the dresser and dyer. Provision is made on 

 the certificates for recording transfers in ownership of the skin. 

 "\"\lien the skins are authenticated, a numbered leather tag is attached 

 to each skin, the number on the tag corresponding to that placed 

 on the certificate. The tag will be removed by the dresser and dyer 

 and forwarded to the Commissioner of Fisheries, Washington, D. C., 

 together with the name and address of the person from whom the 

 skin was received. 



A total of 1,633 fur-seal skins was authenticated as having been 

 lawfully taken in 1922 by Indians in the waters off the coasts of 

 Washington and of southeast Alaska. Of the 1,633 skins 1,107 were 

 taken during May and June by the Indians of Washington and were 

 authenticated by A. D. Dodge, superintendent. United States Indian 

 School, Xeah Bay, Wash. Of these 641 were reported as having 

 been taken from male seals and 462 from females. The sex of the 

 remaining 4 seals from which skins were taken was not reported. 



