XXXVI REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES 



ALASKA FUR-SEAL SERVICE 

 (iKXKRAL ACT[VrriKS AT 'JIIE I'lMBILOF ISLANDS 



A resource of <rreat \aliu' is tlie fur-seal herd, now numbering^ 

 nearly 700,000 animals. AA-liich annually resorts to the Pribilof 

 Islands in Berinjr Sea for breedinii^ purposes. This herd contains 

 more than 90 per cent of the fui- seals of the world, and is therefore 

 of ^reat importance in su})])lyiii<!: a \al\uxble product of trade. 



The protection of tlie fui'-seal herd, the taking; of sealskins, the 

 care of the blue-fox herds and the takinji' of fox pelts, and the sup- 

 port of the native inhabitants constitute the chief features of the 

 ^Aork at the Pribilof Islands. Tiie 025 native residents are virtual 



ards of the Government, and their maintenance is a unique gov- 

 ernmental activity. involvin>:' as it does the furnishin<]i: of all neces- 

 .saiies of life, includin<i: educational and medical facilities. In re- 

 tiun they conduct most of the sealing-, foxin^:. and other work at 

 these islands, under the sui)er\"ision of a staff of about 15 white 

 employees of the bureau. 



The bulk of the annual sui)i)lies i-equirecl for the islands was 

 transj^orted from Seattle by tlie U. S. S. Gold Star through the 

 cooperation of the Navy Department. A number of employees were 

 also afforded transportation by the same vessel. Valuable assistance 

 in the matter of transportation of employees, mail, and freight was 

 also given by vessels of the United States Coast Guard. Some serv- 

 ice was obtained from tl^e prixately owned steamship Buford. 



The new method of stripjjing skins from seals was extended to 

 cover practically all the skins taken on St. Paul Island during the 

 regular sealing season, and all the skins so taken were washed and 

 l>lubbered at the island before being cured. Improvements and ad- 

 ditions were made to the washing and blubbering plant, thereby 

 completing this e(jui])ment. Buildings were constructed on St. 

 < Jeorge Island with a view to taking up similar work there ulti- 

 luately. 



A number of additional buildings for the use of employees and 

 natives were erected on both islands, and on St. Paul Island consid- 

 erable time was devoted to the construction of a road to the sealing 

 grounds. 



SEAL HERD 



Computations showed a total of G5o,008 fur seals in the herd on 

 August 10, 1923. This is an increase of 48,046 over the figures for 

 the corresponding date in 1022, and is regarded as showing a satis- 

 factory increase in nujnbers. 



TAKE OF SEALSKIXS 



In the calendar year 192;> there were secured on the Pribilof 

 Islands 15.920 sealskins, of which 12.841 were taken on St. Paul 

 Island and o,079 on St. (k'orge Island. The smaller take as com- 

 pared with the past fVw yeais was for the purpose of increasing the 

 breeding reserve. 



