FUR SEAL INDUSTRY 



PRIBILOF ISLANDS 

 GEXEKAL ADMINISTRATIVE WORK 



In the calendar year 1923. 15.920 fur-seal skins were taken on the 

 Pribilof Islands. Approximately 10,000 3-year-old male seals re- 

 served for breeders were marked for the purpose of fully complying 

 with the law. Additions and improvements were made to the wash- 

 ing and blubbering plant on St. Paul Island, and the number of 

 sealskins washed and blubbered there during the year was 11,115. 

 Work was continued on the new water-supply system for the village 

 of St. Paul, and progress was made on the construction of the road 

 from that village to Northeast Point. Systematic work, in charge 

 of a specialist, was undertaken for the development of the fox herds 

 of the islands. The construction of three houses for the use of white 

 employees of the bureau on St. Paul Island was undertaken and 

 carried well toward completion. 



The regular annual supplies were transported to the islands by 

 the U. S. S. Gold Star. In addition to the maintenance of the usual 

 fur-seal patrol by the Coast Guard, vessels of that service rendered 

 valuable assistance in transporting passengers, mail, and freight for 

 the Pribilof Islands. The bureau's power vessel Eider was utilized 

 principally in connection with the Pribilof Islands work. The Eider 

 made a trip to Seattle, where a new l^O-horsepower engine of the 

 Diesel type was installed. 



VISIT BY JAPANESE GOVERNMENT VESSEL 



Following arrangements made through the Japanese Ambassador 

 at Washington and the Department of State, the Japanese patrol 

 ship HahuJioo Maru arrived at St. Paul Island August 2, bringing 

 Mr. Keishi Ishino, fur-farming expert, of the Imperial Fisheries 

 Bureau. ]Mr. Ishino remained at the Pribilofs until September 1, 

 making a careful study of questions pertaining to the fur seals, the 

 foxes, and to the Government's operations on the islands generally. 



PURCHASE AND TRANSPORTATION OF SUPPLIES 



The schedules of the general supplies required for the Pribilof 

 Islands were not printed this year. Competitive bids were secured 

 through the medium of separate schedules placed in the hands of 

 prospective bidders. The supplies were purchased early in the year 

 and were transported from Seattle to the Pribilof Islands aboard the 

 U. S. S. Gold Star, which left Seattle May 11. For this transporta- 

 tion the bureau is under obligation to the Navy Department. Like- 

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