82 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1918. 
POWER LIGHTER. 
The sundry civil act approved July 1, 1918, contained an item of 
$20,000 for the purchase or construction of a power lighter for the 
Pribilof Islands. It had been pointed out to Congress that a vessel 
approximately 75 feet in length would be very valuable for purposes of 
communication between St. Paul and St. George Islands and for trips 
to Unalaska, 250 miles distant, the nearest port of call by regular 
commercial vessels. It was indicated also that such a tender or 
lighter would be of much use in assisting with the loading and dis- 
charging of freight at the islands, it being necessary for the supply 
ship to anchor some distance offshore. Still another use for such a 
vessel would be in guard duty, it being the intention to mount guns 
on the boat. 
In due time plans were drawn by Lee and Brinton, naval architects 
at Seattle, for a sea-going vessel 70 feet in length, 17 feet in beam, and 
equipped with an 80-horsepower heavy-duty engine. Fuel tanks 
were provided for a cruising radius of more than 2,000 miles; the 
vessel’s cargo capacity was to be about 30 tons. Adequate accommo- 
dations were to be provided for crew and passengers. Bids were 
opened at the Seattle office on December 3, 1918, but as the lowest 
was in the sum of $27,500 nothing could be done because of the 
inadequacy of the appropriation. After readvertisement bids were 
again opened at the Seattle office on January 8, 1919, but the lowest 
was $26,900. It is the purpose to secure, if possible, a supplemental 
appropriation by Congress in order that this vessel may te built or 
a suitable substitute purchased. 
INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC LIGHTS. 
Through cooperation with Gunner L. B. Dustin of the Naval 
Radio Station the Bureau was able to install a small electric-lighting 
plant in the village on St. Paul Island. Almost all of the equipment 
except the engine was borrowed from the radio station and was sub- 
ject to return at any time. The miscellaneous supplies which were 
borrowed have been returned, but the Bureau is still using the 
generator and switchboard. 
The engine and generator were placed on the concrete basement 
floor of the Government shop and belt was run to the floor above 
which operated band saw, lathe, and grindstone. Lights were 
installed in the shop, company house, dispensary, club house, and 
Government house. es wiring consisted chiefly of scraps picked 
up about the station. Properly insulated wires protected by mold- 
ings were placed inside. The distributing switches are protected 
with fuses and outlets to lines are made in an approved manner. 
The wiring was done by the electricians of the radio station. 
The engine was equipped to burn kerosene and it was found that 
the quantity used was less than two-thirds that which had formerly 
been used in the same buildings in kerosene lamps. Owing to the 
economy thus secured and the superior surroundings which electric 
lights provide, lans are being made for the lighting of the villages 
on both islands by this means. 
The Bureau is under great obligation to the personnel of the radio 
station in this matter. 
