REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 89 
The terms formerly used represented the fortuitous outgrowth of 
years and were in some cases misleading in that they gave the un- 
initiated the impression that skins were taken from seals which are 
never killed for commercial purposes at the Pribilofs. The new 
terms avoid the faults of the old, and each one means that the skin 
to which it-is applied has a length varying only within specified 
limits. It is believed that this innovation will meet with general ap- 
proval by the fur-buying public. A comparison of the old and new 
terms, with the size limits of the new terms, follows: 
Old classification. : New classification. Lengths. 
: y Inches. 
UE oS ae or Rea SUBECe Waseca 5 S56 hH IoaeSe ae Wiss eee: See P . ye Leta aisle SES Above 55 
He nrtiigs Wepa SRR CTT OUNCE OT tp eamem extra langal gy) .s455-f.Lescndla casas 49 to 55 
Sinaliswss, cbse se eesd ols bests ee eetnecere scant | xttavlantes. ctewny res ao oes oct a! faek be 46 to 48 
WAT PON Seer an acon so aerate Seis na'se serene mins UAC Pe tetste cision oe ciel civinions ese ania as meee ea 43 to 45 
Madd apap Dsecs sa seet hearer sneer cneeeeeee Modi miss: 2 gras fobs see ao sse hele + eee ease 39 to 42 
Sil Tobis pogeAnp oldu pe sneece eo soe secre ae rees DSTA LOCUS eee ee Se aan ceebing aac naeere 35 to 38 
RESUMPTION OF. SEAL KILLINGS FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES. 
By the provisions of the act of Congress approved August 24, 1912, 
giving effect to the North Pacific Sealing Convention of July 7, 1911, 
it became permissible to take fur-seal skins for commercial purposes 
at the Pribilof Islands after August 24,1917. The season when seal- 
skins can be obtained for commercial purposes to best advantage ends 
about August 10, and for this reason no considerable number of skins 
were secured in 1917. Early in 1918 the Secretary of Commerce 
tentatively authorized the taking of 25,000 skins during 1918, this 
number to be increased later should the conditions warrant. The 
quota was apportioned between the two islands as follows: 20,000 to 
St. Paul Island and 5,000 to St. George Island. By July 81, 1918, 
the take of sealskins on St. Paul Island in the calendar year was 
23,889 and on St. George Island 6,711. Following the unanimous 
opinion expressed by responsible Government representatives on the 
islands, the Secretary in July, 1918, autherized an increase in the 
season’s quota from 25,000 to 35,000 skins, 28,000 being apportioned 
to St. Paul Island and 7,000 to St. George Island. To August 10, 
1918, the skins taken numbered 33,881. 
In connection with the expansion of sealing operations at the Pribi- 
lofs it was evident that outside assistance would be necessary on St. 
Paul Island if the desired number of skins was to be taken. Ar- 
rangements were accordingly made whereby Funsten Bros. & Co., of 
St. Louis, the firm which sells for the Department the sealskins taken 
at the Pribilofs, sent 5 men to assist with those features of the work 
which require more or less expert knowledge of the handling and care 
of furs. To supplement the services of the natives of St. Paul in the 
killing of seals, the taking of skins, etc., 11 natives were hired at 
Unalaska and taken to the islands early in the sealing season. 
AUTHENTICATION OF FUR-SEAL SKINS TAKEN BY WASHINGTON INDIANS. 
The Bureau has again had the cooperation of the superintendent 
of the United States Indian Service at Neah Bay, Wash., in the mat- 
ter of authenticating fur-seal skins lawfully taken by Indians dwell- 
