FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY. 81 
which were landed at St. Paul. On the return voyage the vessel 
left the Pribilofs June 22, the chief items of the cargo being 3,542 fur- 
seal skins and 711 fox skins. The ship arrived at Seattle July 7. 
Certain repairs were then undertaken as a result of some damage 
received while the vessel was engaged in rescue work in Bristol Bay. 
It is remarkable that only very slight damage was done to the 
Roosevelt notwithstanding that the vessel broke through 16 feet of 
ice in places. 
In the work in Bristol Bay the Roosevelt succeeded after a long 
search in rescuing 21 persons from a camp on an ice floe where they 
had taken refuge after the cannery ship Tacoma had sunk. The 
cannery ships St. Nicholas, Centennial, and Star of Chili were brought 
to safety by the Roosevelt. It is said that the St. Nicholas would 
robably have been a total loss inside of 12 hours, with all hands. 
ere were over 300 people on board, including 115 of the Tacoma’s 
complement. The Centennial, with 161 persons on board, would 
probably have been a total loss inside of another week. The Star of 
Ohili, which had 220 persons aboard, was in no immediate danger. 
The Roosevelt was actively engaged in this work for a period of 
approximately 16 days, beginning from the time of departure from 
Unalaska on May 27. Much credit is due Capt. Bierd and the officers 
and crew for the splendid results achieved. In this connection it 
seems appropriate to quote from a letter of July 2, 1918, from the 
Association of Pacific Fisheries, through its secretary, in regard to 
services performed by the Roosevelt: 
We wish to express the appreciation of the association and its members, especially 
those engaged in Bering Sea operations, to you and through you to the officers and 
crew of the steamer Roosevelt, for the excellent service rendered by that vessel in 
extricating the large fleet of cannery vessels from the pronounced danger of the ice 
in the Bristol Bay district. Many of the packers concerned have doubtless expressed 
themselves on this subject, and it is our pleasure to convey to you the thanks of the 
association in its entirety. 
Letters commendatory of the excellent work done by the Roosevelt 
in respect to the rescue of vessels in Bristol Bay were received from 
Messrs. H. F. Fortmann of the Alaska Packers Association, and F. 
Barker of the Columbia River Packers’ Association. 
On July 26 the Roosevelt sailed from Seattle, arriving at the islands 
in August. After discharging, a trip was made to Unalaskafor coal for 
island use. On September 16 the vessel left the Pribilofs with 17,816 
sealskins and about 55 tons of old bones on board, arriving at Seattle 
October 3. Some delay occurred at Unalaska on account of illness of 
the first and second officers. 
The Roosevelt left Seattle October 15 and arrived at the Pribilofs 
November 3, after having called en route at Akutan and Unalaska. 
Severe weather was encountered around the islands, which so delayed 
the discharge of cargo that it became necessary for the vessel to pro- 
ceed to Akutan the latter part of November for fuel oil. The ship 
arrived back at the Pribilofs December 2, and left there December 12 
with 7,483 sealskins and minor items of cargo aboard. Seattle was 
reached January 3, 1919. 
