REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 45 
cussed methods and results of the seal census, the quota of 1921 and 
subsequent years, the length of the seal-killing season, etc. It was the 
sentiment of the conference that representatives of the interested 
nations should visit the Alaskan, Japanese, and Russian seal islands 
at an early date. 
In June, 1921, a representative of the Bureau authenticated at Sitka 
199 fur-seal skins legally taken by natives in the spring of this year, 
when the seal herd was migrating northward. A patrol of the seal- 
ing grounds was maintained by the Bureau’s vessels Murre and 
Avklet in the latter part of May, while the herd was in that vicinity. 
THE TAKE OF SEALSKINS. 
The number of seals killed under governmental supervision on the 
Pribilof Islands in 1920 was 26.648, of which 25,978 were taken 
during the regular season ending on August 10 and the remainder in 
fall and winter for the food purposes of the natives. Seals 3 and 4 
years old yielded 25.297 of the total skins secured. 
The quota of seals to be killed during the calendar year 1921 was 
tentatively fixed at 30,000. The first drives were made in June, and 
the season closed on August 5, five days earlier than usual, to avoid 
the risk of killing cows which about that time began to resort to 
the hauling grounds of the bachelor seals. The seals taken num- 
bered 22,546, mostly 3 years of age. The usual fall killing, beginning 
October 20, will add some hundreds to the skins available for sale. 
As a result of extensive experimental work in 1920 certain innova- 
tions and improvements in the taking and handling of fur-seal skins 
were developed and put into effect along practical lines in 1921. It 
was found that the highest grade of finished product could be secured 
by removing the pelt from the carcass with the least possible use of 
the knives, thus practically eliminating all cuts or flays on the under- 
side of the pelt previously unavoidable at times even by the most 
skillful skinners. This was accomplished by suspending the seal 
from a tripod, cuts being made around the flippers, head, and down 
the abdomen, and the skin then being simply stripped off the carcass. 
In continuance of the new methods. the skins are then blubbered and 
washed in sea water before salting, the experiments last season having 
shown the great advantage of washing the pelts. An improved 
method of spreading and stretching them at the time of salting has 
also been tried. By another year it is contemplated that all skins 
will be taken in accordance with the new and improved processes, for 
which special facilities have had to be provided. 
SALE OF SEALSKINS. 
In the fiscal year 1921 two public auction sales of fur-seal skins 
were held at St. Louis. At the sale on February 21, 1921, 10,120 skins 
brought $355,689, and on May 23, 1921, 10,060 skins were sold for 
$359,715, a total of $715,404. The lower prices received reflected the 
general depression in the fur markets of the world. 
At the sale on February 21, 1921, there were also sold i11 sealskins 
from the Japanese herd on Robben Island, representing the share of 
the United States in the skins taken in the years 1918 and 1919. The 
111 skins brought $3,434. 
