REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 107 
take of Alaskan fur-seal skins may be dressed and dyed before being 
offered for sale. The actual treatment of fur-seal skins for this pur- 
pose was begun in St. Louis in December, 1915, and the results ob- 
tained indicate that the work will be highly successful. A limited 
offermg of such skins was made at the tubke auction held in St. 
Louis in September, 1916, and the Department has reason to be 
pleased with the outcome. The interests of the trade and the Gov- 
ernment are favored by the offering of dressed instead of raw skins, 
and general satisfaction has been expressed over this important 
innovation. 
SUPPORT OF THE NATIVES. 
The native inhabitants of the Pribilof Islands on June 30, 1915, 
numbered 314, of whom 193 were on St. Paul and 121 on St. George. 
The population remains fairly uniform from year to year. 
The physical condition of these people is excellent, all things con- 
sidered. Improved sanitary measures have been enforced, and the 
promiscuous making and use of intoxicating liquors, once prevalent 
and sanctioned by the Government, has been entirely BUPRtEEAte 
Congress has recently provided new housing facilities, which, with 
additional improvements that are contemplated, will conduce still 
further to the comfort, contentment, and advancement of the natives. 
The teaching staff on the islands has performed efficient service, 
and the native schools are in a satisfactory condition. Stress is 
being laid on manual training and on the use of the English language 
instead of Aleut or Russian. 
Owing to the delay in making the steamer Roosevelt available for 
carrying supplies to the islands other arrangements had to be made, 
a navy collier being availed of in the fall of 1915 and a private ves- 
sel in the summer of 1916. The very satisfactory and economical 
method of purchasing supplies, as mentioned in last year’s report, 
has been followed. 
In 1911 small numbers of reimdeer were placed on both St. Paul 
and St. George Islands to serve as a nucleus for herds which would 
contribute materially to the support and welfare of the natives. 
The herds have thrived and have shown satisfactory increases from 
year to year. In 1915 the number of fawns born was 45 and the 
total number of all ages was 154. The natives, however, have not 
thus far shown the interest in the reindeer that was hoped for, and 
it will probably be necessary for the Bureau’s officers on the islands 
to direct most of the activities in respect to these herds for a number 
of years to come. Early in 1916 comprehensive plans were prepared 
in connection with this work. These plans, in addition to the man- 
agement of the herd itself, contemplate that the inhabitants of the 
islands shall be trained to make economic use of the skins, horns, 
and other parts by manufacturing them into articles of clothing and 
household furnishings for local use and perhaps export for sale for 
the natives’ benefit. 
BLUE FOXES. 
The herds of blue foxes which inhabit the Pribilof Islands continue 
productive of revenue to the natives and the Government. The 
taking of foxes in the season of 1915-16 was begun in November on 
