FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY 



PRIBILOF ISLANDS 

 GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE WORK 



In the calendar year 1925, 19,860 fur-seal skins were taken on the 

 Pribilof Islands, of which 15,082 were taken on St. Paul Island and 

 4,778 on St. George Island. Seven thousand one hundred and thirty- 

 three of the sealskins taken were blubbered before being salted, this 

 number being somewhat smaller than in the last few years. Careful 

 attention was given to the improved method of feeding foxes recently 

 put into practice, which should greatly increase the production of fox 

 skins within the next few years. The by-products plant on St. Paul 

 Island was not operated, as a sufficient quantity of oil and meal to 

 meet the bureau's immediate requirements was on hand. 



Several concrete houses were constructed on St. Paul Island for 

 occupancy by the natives. The new water-supply systems on St. 

 Paul and St. George Islands were so nearly completed that it was 

 possible to operate them. The construction of necessary roads on 

 St. Paul Island was greatly advanced. 



Through the courtesy of the Navy Department, the general supplies 

 for the season were transported from Seattle to the Pribilof Islands 

 by the U. S. S. Vega. Minor supplies were transported by commercial 

 vessels and by the United States fisheries schooner Eider. 



The United States Coast Guard maintained an efficient patrol for 

 the protection of fur seals in the waters surrounding the Pribilof 

 Islands as well as those waters that are frequented by the seals in 

 their spring migration. The bureau is under obligation to the Coast 

 Guard for many services rendered in connection with administrative 

 work at the Pribilof s. 



PURCHASE AND TRANSPORTATION OF SUPPLIES 



On May 31, Assistant Agent Albert K. Brown left the Washington 

 office for Seattle to purchase and ship the annual supplies for the 

 Pribilof Islands and the Eider. With the exception of small shipments 

 made at various times, transportation from Seattle to the islands, 

 through the courtesy of the Navy Department, was afforded on the 

 U. S. S. Vega. The vessel left Seattle on July 31 and arrived at St. 

 Paul Island on August 10. The conditions for handling cargo at 

 the Pribilofs were favorable, and the Vega left St. George Island on 

 August 25 and arrived at Bremerton, Wash., on September 1. The 

 annual supplies for the power vessel Eider were transported by the 

 Vega with the island supplies. All of these supplies amounted to 

 about 1,600 tons of miscellaneous freight and 158,000 feet of lumber. 



Minor shipments for the Pribilof Islands and the Eider were made 

 from Seattle. In April about 20 tons of food materials were forwarded 

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