ALASKA FISHERY AND FUR-SEAL INDUSTRIES 141 



The cutter Onondaga patrolled between the Oregon-Washington 

 boundarj^ and the Strait of Juan de Fuca from March 20 to April 1 

 and was then relieved by the cutter Redwing, which continued the 

 patrol in that vicinity and northward to Dixon Entrance, southeast 

 Alaska, until April 20. The cutter Tallapoosa carried on the patrol 

 from Dixon Entrance to Unalaska from April 20 to May 15, and the 

 sea-otter patrol along the Aleutian Islands from May 28 to August 6. 



Vessels of the Coast Guard which patrolled in the North Pacific 

 and Bering Sea, with base at Unalaska, were the cutter Ingham, from 

 April 20 to July 28 ; the patrol boats Cyane and Morris, from April 20 

 to July 7 and July 20, respectively; the patrol boat Daphne, from 

 July 1 to September 30; the patrol boat Alert, from July 15 to Sep- 

 tember 8; and the cutter Duane from July 15 to November 6. The 

 cutter Northland made its annual cruise to the Arctic Ocean during 

 the period from May 2 1 to October 1 and patrolled in Bering Sea and 

 adjacent waters. 



BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



One vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries, the Scoter, participated in the 

 fur-seal patrol for a short time off the coast of Washington in the 

 spring of 1937 during the northward migration of the fur-seal herd. 

 The vessel was stationed at Neah Bay from March 26 to April 9. 



A. M. Rafn, special agent of the Bureau, was again stationed at 

 Lapush, Wash., to observe sealing activities and secure compliance 

 with provisions of the fur-seal treaty and the law giving effect thereto 

 in respect to the prohibition of the use of power-propelled boats and 

 of firearms in the taking of fur seals by aborigines. Mr. Rafn was on 

 seal-patrol duty in the vicinity of Lapush from March 29 to May 21. 



SEALING PRIVILEGES ACCORDED ABORIGINES 



Under the provisions of the international treaty of July 7, 1911, for 

 the protection of the fur seals of the North Pacific, Indians and other 

 aborigines dwelling on the coasts of North America are permitted to 

 hunt fur seals by primitive methods — that is, in boats propelled by 

 oars or sails, and without the use of firearms — except that no one may 

 engage in such sealing who is in the employment of other persons or 

 under contract to deliver the skins to any person. 



In 1937 there were taken and duly authenticated by officials of the 

 respective Governments 2,832 fur-seal skins, of which 161 were taken 

 by Indians under the jurisdiction of the United States and 2,671 by 

 Indians of Canada. The details are as follows: 



Washington. — Forty -five sealskins taken by Indians of Washington 

 were authenticated. Of these, 10 were from male seals and 35 from 

 females. The skins were taken by Indians of Lapush and Neah Bay 

 in the months from January to May, inclusive, and were authenticated 

 by A. M. Rafn, special agent of the Bureau, and by N. O. Nicholson, 

 superintendent of the Taholah Indian Agency, Hoquiam, Wash. 



Alaska. — One hundred and sixteen sealskins taken by natives of 

 Sitka from February to May, inclusive, were authenticated by Bureau 

 employees. Of these skins, 19 were from male and 97 from female 

 seals. 



British Columbia. — Indians along the British Columbia coast took 

 2,671 fur-seal skins in 1937, according to an official report. 



