FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1910. 31 



Killed for pelts : 



Blue males 126 



Blue females 86 



White males 5 



White females 4 



Skins from animals found dead, etc 6 



Skins accepted by lessee, blue 203 



Skins rejected by lessee, blue 6 



Skins mangey, etc., thrown away 9 



White fox skins accepted by lessee 9 



Total number of animals handled 335 



These pelts, having been taken during the period covered by the 

 contract of the North American Commercial Company, were deliv- 

 ered to it upon payment at the stipulated rate of $5 for each blue 

 skin and SI for each white skin. The money thus derived was used 

 exclusively for the support of natives. 



TRAPPING ON ST. PAUL ISLAND. 



During the winter of 1909-10, for the first time since 1904, there 

 were considered to be foxes enough on St. Paul to justify trapping, 

 which accordingly was carried on during a period of six days. 



On this island, unlike St. George, notwithstanding repeated efforts 

 to secure it, the foxes do not congregate in large groups, permitting 

 systematic feeding and selective trapping. Any trapping therefore on 

 St. Paul must be done with the spring steel trap, in the use of which 

 the native trappers must scatter over the entire island. 



In the 6 days of trapping mentioned the St. Paul natives secured 

 on that island 1.30 blue and 35 white foxes. In addition, a boat load 

 of native men went over to Otter Island, and there secured 19 blues 

 and 1 white. Observations made during the past summer indicate 

 that the fox herd on St. Paul Island has not diminished appreciably 

 as the result of this trapping of the previous winter. 



The skins taken on St. Paul and Otter Islands were delivered to 

 the North American ( ommereial Company and payment made at the 

 same rate as on St. George. This difference between the manage- 

 ment of the two islands exists, however, that whereas the earnings 

 on St. George from fox skins are formed into a community fund, on 

 St. Paul each individual trapper is given the use of the money from 

 such fox skins as he has been able to secure. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 

 KILLING OF BACHELOR SEALS. 



The methods used in taking seals during the past season of 1910 

 were the same as those used by the two lessees in the preceding 

 40 years' tenure of the sealing right, and the same, in fact, in all 



