REPORT OF THE COMMISSIOlSrER OF FISHERIES. 43 



to Alaska have successfully opposed all efforts on the part of the 

 Department to have Congress give to Alaska a new fishery code 

 adapted to the needs of the industry and have prevented the passage 

 by Congress of constructive measures that have received favorable 

 action in committee after protracted hearings. 



It is the well-known desire of the Department to give to Alaska 

 the most direct administration of the fisheries compatible with the 

 requirements of law, and a large measure of independent action has 

 been vested in the responsible representatives in various parts of 

 the Territory. As a matter of fact, the fisheries of Alaska are now 

 administered largely without reference to the Washington office, 

 and the criticism properly made about the attempts at long-range 

 control does not apply. With the exception of the power of appoint- 

 ment to statutory positions which is vested in the iSecretaiy of Com- 

 merce, and the interpretation of questions of law which is vested in 

 the Dei)artment of Justice, practically full autliority without recourse 

 to "Washington is reposed in the De])artment's agents charged with 

 the protection of the fisheries of Alaska. Of the 63 persons em- 

 ployed in the enforcement of laAv and regulation for the protection of 

 the Alaska fisheries in 1921, 40 were regular residents of Alaska. An 

 even larger proportion of appointments from Alaska would be made 

 if suitable persons could be secured at the salaries that are availal)le. 



ALASKA FUR-SEAL SERVICE. 



GEKERAL ACTIVITIES AT THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



The administration of the Pril)ilof Islands, with their dependent 

 native inhabitants and with their valuable herds of fur seals and 

 blue foxes, is one of the most imjxu-tant duties devolving on the 

 Bureau. The material interests of the Govoi-nment arise from inter- 

 national relations having to do with the utilization of the fur seals 

 and from the fact that the annual return from the islands is more 

 than a million dollars. 



The affairs of the Government on the Pribilofs arc managed by a 

 staff of about 15 white people, augmented by more than 300 natives. 

 These natives, the descendants of Aleuts taken to the islands by the 

 Russians more than a centui\y ago, are undoubtedly as well cai'ed 

 for as anv other native people in Alaska. They are furnished food, 

 fuel, clothing, shelter, and other necessities, and have the benefit of 

 schools and competent medical supervision. In return they per- 

 form most of the labor involved in taking and caring for the valu- 

 able products of the islands and in maintaining the (Tovernment 

 plants. They receive cash remuneration in proportion to the amount 

 and grade of service rendered. In recent years the loc^il force of 

 able-bodied natives has been supplemented during the few weeks of 

 the active sealing season by 30 native laborers from the Aleutian 

 Islands. 



In 1920 a dentist was engaged to spend a few months at the 

 Pribilof Islands. An excellent stall was made in this much-needed 

 field, for which sj>ecial provision had never before been made. In 

 order to continue the work thus inaugurated a dentist was sent to 

 the Pribilofs in the summer of 1921; he will i-emain through the 

 winter or until such time as iiis services are no longer recjuired. 



