FUR-SEAL SERVICE IN 1911. 



By Walter I. Lembkby, 

 Agent in charge. 



The season of 1911 was the second during T^ich the Bureau of 

 Fisheries, acting directly for the Government and depending solely 

 upon its own resources, has successfully conducted the business of 

 taking fur-seal skins on the Pribilof Islands, the handling of the 

 various business problems connected therewith, and the care of the 

 native inhabitants. Whatever doubt may have existed regarding 

 the ability of this Government to conduct for itself the taking and 

 marketing of sealskins, thereby eliminating the lessee operating 

 under a royalty, all such questions may be considered as disposed 

 of by the successful performance of these functions by the Bureau 

 during the past two years. During this period at least as high a 

 standard of efficiency was maintained as during that of the two 

 leases. 



SUPPLIES FOR THE ISLANDS. 



The agent, who had spent the winter in Washington, arrived in 

 San Francisco on April 20, 1911, and at once began purchasing the 

 food, clothing, and other supplies needed for the islands. The 

 steamer Homer, which had been chartered for the season of 1910, was 

 again chartered for the season of 1911 on the same terms as in the 

 previous year. 



The Department has been furnished with the various inventories 

 of merchandise and reports showing the transactions attending 

 purchase of supplies and the sale of merchandise to the natives and 

 others. 



The system of accounting adopted July 1, 1911, is sufficient, it is 

 believed, to trace every item of goods disposed of. Duplicate cash 

 slips are made for every cash sale, the originals of which are sent to 

 the Department. Every article of merchandise, whether sold to a 

 native against his credit for wages or used for the upkeep of the 

 stations, is likewise recorded on duplicate slips, the originals of which 

 are forwarded to the Department at the close of the year. Trans- 

 actions of all descriptions are recorded in a double-entry system of 

 books, from which a trial balance is taken monthly. The cash is 

 balanced daily in the summer season and two or three times a week 

 during the winter, when the store is open only at intervals. 



