REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 45 



cussed methods and results of the seal census, the quota of 1921 and 

 subsequent years, the length of the seal-killing season, etc. It was the 

 sentiment of the conference that representatives of the interested 

 nations should visit the Alaskan. Japanese, and Russian seal islands 

 at an early date. 



In June, 1921, a representative of the Bureau authenticated at Sitka 

 199 fur-seal skins legally taken by natives in the spring of this year, 

 vrhen the seal herd was migrating northward. A patrol of the seal- 

 ing grounds was maintained by the Bureau's vessels Murre and 

 Auklet in the latter part of May, while the herd was in that vicinity. 



THE TAKE OF SEALSKINS. 



The number of seals killed under governmental supervision on the 

 Pribilof Islands in 1920 was 26.648, of which 25.978 were taken 

 during the regular season ending on August 10 and the remainder in 

 fall and winter for the food purposes of the natives. Seals 3 and 4 

 years old yielded 25^297 of the total skins secured. 



The quota of seals to be killed during the calendar year 1921 was 

 tentatively fixed at 30,000. The first drives were made in June, and 

 the season closed on August 5, five days earlier than usual, to avoid 

 the risk of killing cows which about that time began to resort to 

 the hauling grounds of the bachelor seals. The seals taken num- 

 bered 22.546, mostly 3 years of age. The usual fall killing, beginning 

 October 20, will add some hundreds to the skins available for sale. 



As a result of extensive experimental work in 1920 certain innova- 

 tions and improvements in the taking and handling of fur-seal skins 

 were developed and put into effect along practical lines in 1921. It 

 was found that the highest grade of fijiished product could be secured 

 by removing the polt from the carcass with the least possible use of 

 the laiives, thus practically eliminating all cuts or flays on the under- 

 side of the polt previously unavoidable at times even by the most 

 skillful skinners. This was accomplished by suspending the seal 

 from a tripod, cuts beinp made around the flippers, head, and down 

 the abdomen, and the skin then being simply stripped off the carcass. 

 In continuance of the new methods, the skins are then blubbered and 

 washed in sea water before salting, the experiments last season having 

 shown the great advantage of washing the pelts. An improved 

 method of spreading and stretching them at the time of salting has 

 also been tried. By another year it is contemplated that all skins 

 will be taken in accordance with the new and improved processes, for 

 which special facilities have had to be provided. 



SALE OF SEALSKINS. 



In the fiscal year 1921 two public auction sales of fur-seal skins- 

 were held at St. Louis. At the sale on February 21, 1921, 10,120 skins 

 brought $355,689, and on May 23, 1921, 10,060 skins were sold for 

 $359,715, a total of $715,404. The lower prices received reflected the 

 general depression in the fur markets of the world. 



At the sale on February 21, 1921, there were also sold 111 sealskins 

 from the Japanese herd on Robben Island, representing the share of 

 the United States in the skins taken in the years 1918 and 1919. The 

 111 skins brought $3,434. 



