REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 43 
to Alaska have successfully opposed all efforts on the part of the 
Department to have Congress give to Alaska a new fishery code 
adapted to the needs of the industry and have prevented the passage 
by-Congress of constructive measures that have received favorable 
action in committee after protracted hearings. 
It is the well-known desire of the Department to give to Alaska 
the most direct administration of the fisheries compatible with the 
requirements of law, and a large measure of independent action has 
been vested in the responsible representatives in various parts of 
the Territory. As a matter of fact, the fisheries of Alaska are now 
administered largely without reference to the Washington office, 
and the criticism properly made about the attempts at long-range 
control does not apply. With the exception of the power of appoint- 
ment to statutory positions which is vested in the Secretary of Com- 
merce, and the interpretation of questions of law which is vested in 
the Department of Justice, practically full authority without recourse 
to Washington is reposed in the Department’s agents charged with 
the protection of the fisheries of Alaska. Of the 68 persons em- 
ployed in the enforcement of law and regulation for the protection of 
the Alaska fisheries in 1921, 40 were regular residents of Alaska. An 
even larger proportion of appointments from Alaska would be made 
if suitable persons could be secured at the salaries that are available. 
ALASKA FUR-SEAL SERVICE. 
GENERAL ACTIVITIES AT THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 
The administration of the Pribilof Islands, with their dependent 
native inhabitants and with their valuable herds of fur seals and 
blue foxes, is one of the most important duties devolving on the 
Bureau. The material interests of the Government arise from inter- 
national relations having to do with the utilization of the fur seals 
and from the fact that the annual return from the islands is more 
than a million dollars. 
The affairs of the Government on the Pribilofs are managed by a 
staff of about 15 white people, augmented by more than 300 natives. 
These natives, the descendants of Aleuts taken to the islands by the 
Russians more than a century ago, are undoubtedly as well cared 
for as any other native people in Alaska. They are furnished food, 
fuel, clothing, shelter, and other necessities, and have the benefit of 
schools and competent medical supervision. In return they per- 
form most of the labor involved in taking and caring for the valu- 
able products of the islands and in maintaining the Government 
plants. They receive cash remuneration in proportion to the amount 
and grade of service rendered. In recent years the local force of 
able-bodied natives has been supplemented during the few weeks of 
the active sealing season by 30 native laborers from the Aleutian 
Islands. 
In 1920 a dentist was engaged to spend a few months at the 
Pribilof Islands. An excellent start was made in this much-needed 
field, for which special provision had never before been made. In 
order to continue the work thus inaugurated a dentist was sent to 
the Pribilofs in the summer of 192i; he will remain through the 
winter or until such time as his services are no longer required. 
