50 REPORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. 



natives of the seal islands; (2) the transportation of Government 

 employees and natives to and from the islands; (3) the maintenance 

 of schools; (4) the maintenance of a medical staff; (5) the general 

 care of the natives; (6) the handling and investment of funds belong- 

 ing to the natives; (7) the care of buildings and other Government 

 property; (8) the supervision and protection of the seal herds; (9) 

 the maintenance of a patrol for the protection of the islands against 

 possible raids; (10) the taking, preserving, packing, shipping, and 

 selling of sealskins; (11) the operation of a by-products plant for 

 utilizing seal carcasses; (12) the protection and care of herds of blue 

 foxes, and the taking, shipment, and sale of their pelts; (13) the care, 

 utilization, and improvement of reindeer herds; (14) the construction 

 of roads, the maintenance of proper sanitary conditions, the improve- 

 ment of landing facilities, etc. The activities in these and other lines 

 are discussed at length in the report entitled ''Alaska Fisheries and 

 Fur Industries in 1918," by the chief agent of the Alaska service. 



The advance in the cost of practically every article required for 

 the Pribilof Islands has for several years necessitated a reduction in 

 the requisitions to a point that makes impossible the purchasing of 

 any reserve supplies. When', as in 1919, the passage of the bill 

 carrying the appropriation for this service is delayed until mid- 

 summer, a serious situation arises from the exhaustion of the stocks 

 of food, medicine, fuel, and clothing. This emphasizes the need for 

 a substantial reserve supply of indispensable commodities, to be used 

 in emergencies, and should give force to the Bureau's appeal to Con- 

 gress for a small special appropriation for this purpose. 



Most of the supplies destined for the Pribilof Islands and the prod- 

 ucts therefrom were transported on the Bureau's steamer Roosevelt, 

 which made two voyages to the islands durin^ the fiscal year. In the 

 spring of 1919 the Roosevelt was surveyed with a view to determining 

 necessary repairs. It was found that dry-rot had started in the ship's 

 timbers to such an extent as to make repairs inadvisable. The ves- 

 sel was accordingly sold at public auction at Seattle on July 15, the 

 sum of $28,000 being realized. 



The appropriation of $20,000 that became available on July 1, 

 1918, for the construction or purchase of a power vessel for the 

 Pribilof Islands proved inadequate, and Congress subsequently pro- 

 vided a supplemental appropriation of $7,500. This has enabled the 

 Bureau to obtain by purchase an acceptable craft, which will be 

 extremely useful. 



The increase in the seal herd and in the commercial sealing opera- 

 tions, taken in connection with the important international aspects 

 of the matter, warrant and demand the presence at the islands of an 

 increased personnel competent to deal with the seals in the most 

 efficient manner from the scientific and industrial standpoints. In 

 the estimates of appropriations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 

 1920, provision is made for additional members of the staff, including 

 a superintendent, to have general direction and coordinate the admin- 

 istrative affairs of the Pribilof Islands, and a biologist whose c<)ntin- 

 uous studies and observations would be the Bureau's guide in the 

 management of the seals and other animals of the islands. The re- 

 cent acquisition of means for independent interisland communica- 

 tion at all times makes possible the employment, to better advantage 

 than formerly, of general officials. 



