FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY. 85 
The labor connected with the taking of upward of 30,000 sealskins 
in the short period of about two months was very fatiguing to the 
natives, because it had been so jong since they had been employed to 
such an extent before. Not since 1889 had as many been taken, 
which was of course before most workmen of the present generation 
were old enough to go on the killing fields. It is believed that in 
subsequent seasons this difficulty will not be encountered to such an 
appreciable extent. 
Several major operations were successfully performed by the 
island physicians, most notable among which was that by Dr. W. 
Byrd Hunter on account of the unfortunate fall from a cliff on St. 
Paul Island of Dr. Harold Heath, of Stanford University, temporarily 
in the Bureau’s service as naturalist. The trail over which he was 
walking near Tolstoi rookery caved away, and he fell upon jagged 
rocks about 45 feet below. Fractures of both legs and of a number of 
face bones resulted. Through prompt and efficient medical and hos- 
pital Soanies his life was saved, but he was incapacitated for many 
months. 
The Bureau sent to St. Paul Island some lantern slides which were 
received from the Public Health Service. These were shown in 
connection. with motion-picture exhibitions and were productive of 
considerable interest among both natives and emplayees. 
As with the schools, progress toward an, ideal situation in medical 
and sanitary matters is necessarily slow. Notable progress, however, 
is made each season, and when it is considered that 60 years ago the 
population was living in underground hovels, the results in the 
aggregate are highly satisfactory. Each year marks a step forward 
in the betterment of the natives from both medical and moral stand- 
points. One of the greatest results obtained has seemed to be the 
elimination of church practices which were conducive to the spread 
of tuberculosis and other communicable diseases. The natives in 
general are amenable to discipline and after a little cheerful persuasion 
are willing to abandon inherited and acquired customs which are 
believed to beinjurious. Physicians have compared the island com- 
munities most favorably with such places as coal-mining camps. 
Some of the Bureau’s officials who have had occasion to visit many 
parts of Alaska in the course of their duties have stated that the 
conditions on the Pribilofs are much better than among the other 
native communities. 
In the fall of 1918 A. C. Reynolds, then assistant agent on St. 
Paul Island, was taken ill with what was diagnosed brain tumor. 
His condition became so serious that the physician asked for his 
immediate removal to the States. Through the cooperation of the 
Coast Guard the cutter Bear called at St. Paul Island and took Mr. 
Reynolds and his wife to Seattle. On November 9, a few days after 
arrival, he passed away. His loss is seriously felt by all concerned. 
SCHOOLS. 
It is believed that the earnest efforts of the school-teachers on 
St. Paul and St. George Islands have been rewarded with encouraging 
progress. In any one year it would be impossible to effect a revolu- 
tion in the entire social life of the natives, yet this would be necessary 
to produce the condition which is most desired. The making over of 
