FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY. (3 



On the first trip the ^■essel left Seattle July 7 and arrived at St. 

 George Island July 21, having touched en route at Ketchikan, Akutan, 

 and Unalaska. After discharging a part of the St. George cargo the 

 vessel left for St. Paul Island on July 22, arriving there on the 23d. 

 The work of discharging cargo, taking aboard sealskins, fox skins, 

 bones, and other products of the islands for delivery at Seattle, and 

 affording transportation to employees between St. Paul and St. 

 George Islands, occupied the time until August 1, when the Roose- 

 velt left for Seattle. The vessel stopped at Akutan, Ketchikan, and 

 Prince Rupert on the way and Seattle was reached on August 18. 

 An accident which occurred to the machinery soon after the vessel 

 left Akutan caused some delay and a reduction in speed for the bal- 

 ance of the trip to Seattle. 



The Roosevelt left Seattle with another cargo of supplies September 

 7 and arrived at Ketchikan September 11. An accident having 

 occurred to the machinery the vessel returned to Seattle for repairs. 

 A start was again made from Seattle October 23 and the Pribilofs 

 were reached November 13, stops having been made en route at 

 Ketchikan, Akutan, and Unalaska. Before returning to Seattle 

 the Roosevelt made a trip from the islands to Unalaska for a supply 

 of coal, 265 tons, which it delivered at the islands. The vessel finally- 

 left the Pribilofs on December 17, 1917, and arrived at Seattle on 

 January 14, 1918. Stops were made en route at Unalaska, Akutan, 

 Sand Point, Cold Bay, Cordova, and Ketchikan. When the vessel 

 left the islands on December 17, there was taken along, at the re- 

 quest of the officer in charge of the St. Paul radio station, a man who 

 had been emplo3"ed as cook at that station but who had become in- 

 sane. The man later became so violent that he was turned over to 

 the civil authorities at Unalaska, facilities for caring for him aboard 

 the Roosevelt being inade(|uate. 



NATIVES OP THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



The Bureau is developing ways and means whereby the natives of 

 the Pribilofs may be enabled to support themselves and to secure 

 benefits for themselves individually over and above the bare necessi- 

 ties of life in proportion as they are industrious, economical, and 

 thrifty. They now receive $5 in cash for each fox skin taken 

 for the Government, and arrangements have been made whereby 

 they receive payment for seal and other bones gathered for sale. 

 It is probable that when definite plans are made for commercial 

 sealing operations in 1918 some arrangement wiU be had whereby 

 the natives will receive compensation in money for their sealing work 

 in proportion to the number of properly taken skins. 



Physicians were maintained on both St. Paul and St. George Islands 

 throughout the year. 



As the result of suggestions made by the resident physician on 

 St. Paul Island, Dr. W. Byrd Hunter, the following instructions were 

 issued September 11, 1917, for both islands. 



(«) The physician shall have direct charge of all matters pertaining to health and 

 sanitation on the island. This, however, is not to be independent of the general 

 authority of the agent in charge, as divided control in administrative matters is re- 



