96 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1919. 



reindeer to an extent wliifli would permit of tlieir beins; driven to 

 corrals at will, where selections could be made of animals to be killed 

 and of those to be reserved for breeders, would require supervision 

 and experience beyond present facilities. The herds, however, in 

 their present status are very valuable; they yield a not inconsider- 

 able amount of food and cost the Government nothing. 



Owing to the Anldness of the reindeer and the considerable expanse 

 of territory over which they roam, the task of making even an approxi- 

 mately accurate count of them demands the suspension of other 

 work to an extent which can not often be afforded. It was estimated 

 that the herd on St. Paul Island at the end of the year 1919 consisted of 

 35 males and 129 females, a total of 164. Fourteen reindeer were 

 killed on St. Paul for food in 1919. A rough census of the St. George 

 herd was taken in March, 1919, with the following results: Males, 1 

 yeai" old and over, 5; males, less than 1 year old, 19; females, 1 year 

 old and over, 60; females, less than 1 year old, 27; a total of 111 

 animals. At the end of the year the herd numbered approximately 

 123, of which 18 were males and 105 females. Twenty-two reindeer 

 were killed for food on St. George in the year 1919. 



The totals of 164 for St. Paul and 123 for St. George give an aggre- 

 gate of 287 reindeer on both islands at the end of the year 1919, a net 

 increase of 18 over the corresponding total a year previous. In 1918, 

 20 were killed for food, and in 1919, 36. 



PATROL OF NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN AND BERING SEA. 



The Coast Guard cutters Unalga and Bear were on duty in the 

 North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in the season of 1919. 



The Unalga left San Francisco for the season's cruise April 20 and 

 returned to that port October 30. In addition to other multitudinous 

 duties of various kinds in the interests of the public welfare, the vessel 

 rendered valuable service to the Bureau. Freight and mail were 

 transported between UnaJaska and the Pribilofs; employees were 

 trans])orted between St. Paul and St. George Islands; at St. Paul 

 Island a quantity of salt was taken- from the village to Northeast 

 Point and a quantity of sealskins transported from Northeast Point 

 to the village. 



The Bear left Seattle for the season's cruise on May 15 and returned 

 there November 10. From Seattle there were aboard as passengers 

 four men employed by Funsten Bros. & Co., who were en route for 

 the Pribilofs to assist in sealing operations. The Bear after arriving 

 at Unalaska joined in the work of caring for the victims of influenza. 

 In line with the precautions taken to prevent the introduction of that 

 disease at the Pribilofs, it was deemed best that the vessel should not 

 stoj) there on its way northward from Unalaska. The four passengers 

 for the Pribilofs were accordingly taken to Nome where they later 

 secured passage to Seattle on the Victoria. Southbound on October 

 20, the Bear called at St. Paul Island and took aboard one passenger 

 and mail and freight for Seattle. 



Wfiile pelagic-sealing operations in connection with the North 

 American fur-seal herd have <-oased, the presence of patrol vessels 

 is necessary as a precautionary measure against the recurrence of 

 illicit activities. 



