8 ALASKA FISHEKIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1917. 



the Pribilofs in 1917. Two round trips, the second extending into 

 January, 1918, were made from Seattle. 



The period provided by law, in which the killing of fur seals at the 

 Pribilof Islands was virtually limited to the food requirements of the 

 native inhabitants, expired August 24, 1917, after which date the 

 Department was free to resume the taking of skins for commercial 

 purposes. The securing of skins to any considerable extent in the 

 fall of the year, however, is necessarily restricted by reason of the 

 so-called stagy season extending for a period of several weeks after 

 August 24, unfavorable weather conditions, and the departure of the 

 seals on the annual migration southward. An important feature of 

 the work on the Pribilof Islands was the taking of a census of the 

 fur-seal herd. During the year three sales of fur-seal skins and one 

 of fox skins, products of the Pribilofs, were held at St. Louis, Mo. 



The enforcement of the general law for the protection of the mis- 

 cellaneous fur-bearing animals in Alaska remains as one of the duties 

 of the Bureau. Field work was carried on by wardens and other 

 employees of the Alaska service as far as practicable. Statistics of 

 shipment of furs from Alaska were collected. A reconsideration of 

 the method of cooperation on the part of the Post Office Department 

 in respect to shipments of furs resulted in a more satisfactory arrang- 

 ment being put in operation. 



The authors of this report are indebted to Assistant Agent E, M. 

 Ball for valuable aid in tabulating the statistics of the fisheries 

 and in the preparation of much of the accompanying text. 



EMPLOYEES, ALASKA SERVICE. 



During the year 1917 the following regular employees have been 

 identified with the Alaska service of the Bureau: 



Regular Employees Identified wrrn the Alaska Service in 1917. 



