ALASKA FISHEEY AKD FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES, 1920. 73 



The officers and crew of the Eider deserve commendation for mak- 

 ing hazardous trips to the islands during the winter season and at 

 times of the year when no vessel ever before was at the Pribilofs. 



departjMextal order regarding visiting of fur-seal rookeries. 



For the purpose of definitely regulating the movements of persons 

 temporarily or otherwise present at the Pribilof Islands, the follow- 

 ing order was issued by the Secretary of Commerce on March 2, 

 1920, and the regulations therein were put into etfect at the islands 

 during the summer of 1920 : 



Section 293, Couipiletl Laws of Alaska, 1913, provides that it shall be unlaw- 

 ful for any person to land or rem:iin on any of the Pribilof Islands, except 

 tliroush stress of weather or like unavoidable cause or by authority oif the 

 Secretary of Commerce. 



In order that the interests of the Government may be properly served in the 

 matter of protecting the fur-seal rookeries from unnecessary disturbance and 

 in the matter of avoiding the driving of hauling-ground seals into the water, 

 the following regulations are iiereljy promulgateil : 



1. Persons lawfully landing, whether to remain temporarily or otherwise, 

 must contine them.selves to their lawful activities, and any visiting of rookeries 

 or hauling grounds of seals or .sea lions must lirst hv authorized by the Depart- 

 ment's agents in charge. 



2. In order that persons authorized or pernutted to land may have an oppor- 

 tunity to observe seal life, the Deiuirtnu-nt's agents in charge will provide 

 escorts, when practicable, to accompany interestetl persons to proper observa- 

 tion points. No side digressions from tlie designate<l observation points will be 

 permitte<l. There will be no visiting of rookeries except under sucli escorts. 

 On St. Paul Island the usual observation point for i>ersons temporarily present 

 shall be what are conmionly known as "Observation Kocks " at Gorbatch 

 rookerj-. 



3. Persons authorized to land at St. Paul Island, whether to remain tem- 

 porarily or otherwise, are required, except under circumstances specifically 

 authorized by the Department's agent in charge, to remain on that jmrtion of the 

 island in and about the village (»f St. Paul which is bounded by tlie shore line, 

 including that of the salt lagoon and its outlet, and two stiaiglit lines ruruiing 

 approximately as follows: The first from the sluire at Black Bluffs to the 

 southerly portion of the salt lagoon, pa.ssing to the eastward of the natives' 

 cemetery, the natives' wells, and the by-pro<lucts plant; the second to cut 

 across the isthmus at Zolotoi Sands. The land lines as described will be indi- 

 cated by notices posted at suitable inter\als. 



4. Any person willfully violating these regulations will be regarded as a 

 trespasser and will be re<iuired to leave the islands at the first opportunity, 

 or will be subject to such other action as may be deemed appropriate. 



The above rules have become necessary primarily because of the 

 great importance of nondisturbance of hauling groimd seals during 

 the few weeks of active commercial sealing when a thoughtless intru- 

 sion upon the seals of that class might mean a large financial loss 

 to the T'^nited States. The unnecessary disturbance of seals on 

 their breeding areas is also quite undesirable. Signs designating 

 the limits of the unrestricted district in the vicinity of the village 

 were posted on St. Paul Island, and on St. George Island a definite 

 observation point was selected and marked where visitors, under 

 escort, might see the rookery life without disturbing seals of any 

 class. 



CONSTRUCTION WORK. 



Considerable construction work has been accomplished at the Pri- 

 bilofs during the year. On St. Paul Island a new salt house was com- 



