FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY. 71 



PURCHASE AND TRANSPORTATION OF SUPPLIES. 



Food, fuel, and clothing for the natives, supplies for the general 

 use of the Bureau's stations, materials for repairs and construction 

 of buildings, and salt and barrels for preserving and packing seal- 

 skins were for the most part forwarded to the islands from Seattle. 



Practically all the supplies purchased in 1917 for the Pribilofs 

 were secured from dealers who had made the most favorable terms 

 in response to the Bureau's requests for competitive bids. As in 

 previous years, the major portion of the Bureau's requirements for 

 the season of 1917 were described in a series of appropriate schedules 

 which were printed in pamphlet form and distributed among pros- 

 pective bidders. Owing to the disturbed conditions which obtained 

 in 1917, many substitutions had to be made for the commodities 

 regularly used in the past and unusual difficulty was experienced in 

 obtaining satisfactory bids. 



About 300 tons of supplies which had been held in Seattle since 

 the preceding fall, because facilities were not available for their 

 transportation, were placed aboard the U. S. S. Saturn on May 20 

 and delivered in due time at the Pribilof Islands. The Bureau is 

 under obligations to the Department of the Navy for the assistance 

 furnished by the Saturn. 



Through the courtesy of the Coast Guard the cutter Unalga, which 

 left Seattle on May 3, carried a considerable quantity of supplies for 

 the Pribilofs. The Bureau's su{)plies, together with some for the 

 St. Paul radio station, totaled probably 50 tons by measurement. 

 The vessel reached the Pribilofs with the supplies early in June. 



The Bureau 's steamer Roosevelt left Seattle on July 7 with a car^o 

 of approximately 275 tons of supplies for the Pribilofs. Minor addi- 

 tional supplies were taken aboard at Unalaska. The shipment con- 

 sisted in part of materials for six houses to be constructed for the use 

 of natives and for the improvement of the village water supply on 

 St. George Island. The vessel arrived at St. George Island July 21. 



The Roosevelt left Seattle with a second cargo of supplies, consisting 

 chiefly of foodstuffs and clothing, on September 7. An accident to 

 the vessel's machinery caused the master to deem it advisable for the 

 vessel to return to Seattle for repairs. The ship again left Seattle on 

 October 23, arriving at St. George Island on November 13. 



Landing supplies at Pribilofs. — It seems strange that under modern 

 conditions no substitute whicii would be recognized without question 

 as being superior to the primitive native boat, the bidarra, for lighter- 

 mg supplies ashore at the Pribilof Islands has been obtained. How- 

 ever, the bidarra is by no means an ineffective contrivance. In dis- 

 charging cargo at St. George in 1917 several loads of 8^ tons dead- 

 weight each were carried, but sucli loadings can only be carried when 

 little or no swell is running. 



The use of canvas in place of sea-lion skins as covers for bidarras 

 was tried in an experimental way on one at St. George Island in 

 1916. In order to protect the canvas from rocks, chafing strips of 

 half-round oak were placed on this bidarra in 1917. The strips 

 accomplished aU that was expected of them. Tlie agent in charge 

 at St. George believes that the canvas-covered ])idarra will prove as 

 useful as those covered with sea-lion skins and tliat less* Ubor wiU be 

 required to keep it in repair. 



