72 ALASKA FISHERIES AXD FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1917. 



As between the use of canvas or sea-lion skins as covers for bidarras, 

 each material has some advantage over the other. With the great 

 diminution in the supply of sea lions, the finding of some substitute 

 for sea-lion skins seemed imperative. Sea-lion skins will withstand 

 without puncture greater blows against jagged rocks than will can- 

 vas, and for this reason may be looked upon as being to some extent 

 safer. 



NEW BUILDINGS AND REPAIR WORK. 



The act of Congress making appropriations for sundry civil ex- 

 penses of the Government for the fiscal year 1917, and for other pur- 

 poses, contained an item providing $20,000 for new buildings and 

 other improvements at the Pribilof Islands. The appropriation 

 became available too late to permit the purchase and shipment of 

 supplies to the islands in the calendar year 1916. 



It was decided that a number of new buildings, including houses 

 for the natives and salt houses for use in salting and storing seal- 

 skins, repairs to existing buildings,, and improvements to the water- 

 supply systems for the villages were the most urgent requirements. 



Six houses of the "knock-down" type were purchased and sent to 

 the islands in 1917, four to St. Paul and two to St. George. The 

 plans provided that each house should have a kitchen, living room, 

 bathroom, and three bedrooms, all on one floor. It was provided 

 also that the roof of each should be sufficiently high to permit the 

 construction of two additional rooms on a second floor at small cost, 

 although it was thought that the accommodations on the first floor 

 would be sufficient for any of the large families on the islands. The 

 agent on St. Paul Island, however, made modifications in the plans 

 furnished him with the result that additional material wiH be re- 

 quired to complete the construction of four houses. On St. George 

 other work interfered with beginning the erection of the two houses 

 for that island until so late in the season that it was deemed advis- 

 able to postpone their construction until the spring of 1918. 



In 1917 there were also shipped to the islands the major part of the 

 materials for two salt houses, one for St. Paul and one for St. George, 

 and for the proposed new water-supply system for St. George Island, 

 as well as miscellaneous supplies for repairing already existing build- 

 ings. It is proposed to send the balance of the materials, mcluding 

 the supplies for the water-supply system on St. Paul Island, in 1918. 



USE OF STEAMER "ROOSEVELT." 



Previous to 1917 the Bureau in securing the transportation of 

 persons and supplies to and from the Pribilofs had to depend upon 

 courtesies afforded by other departments and upon private vessels 

 hired or chartered. In 1917 the Bureau was able to make use of a 

 vessel of its own, the Roosevelt, for the major part of the year's w^ork. 

 The Bureau was particularly fortunate in not being obliged to secure 

 a privately-owned vessel, when the demand for shipping was so keen. 



The Roosevelt arrived at Seattle on April 23, 1917, completing her 

 voyage from the Atlantic seaboard. The principal use made of the 

 vessel for the remainder of the year was tlie transportation of sup- 

 plies and employees between Seattle and the Pribilofs. Two trips 

 were made from Seattle to the islands. 



