ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUE INDUSTRIES, 1911. 91 



DEFICIENCY IN PERSONNEL. 



Never before was the fur-seal service so handicapped as to em- 

 ployees as in the summer of 1911. Deprived by death of two of 

 the most important of its members, it was still further depleted by the 

 unfortunate illness of Dr. Pedro A. de Figaniere and the pressing 

 private affairs of Dr. Norman P. Morgan and one of the school teach- 

 ers, Mr, Ned B, Campbell, compelling all three to leave on the first 

 return trip of the supply vessel, which carried also the storekeeper, 

 Mr. A. H. Proctor, who was required to go to San Francisco to pur- 

 chase supplies for the second trip of the Homer. In the absence of six 

 of the small working force, the islands were thus left with only Agents 

 Lembkey and Judge and one school teacher, Simeon A, Melo\idov, 

 on St. Paul, with Agent Clark and Dr. H. C. Mills on St. Geoi^e. 

 There was no physician on St. Paul during the summer. 



Notwithstanding this handicap, the work on the islands progressed 

 satisfactorily, although the activities of those present were, of neces- 

 sity, confined to the cairyhig forward of work which was imperative. 

 The reserving of young male seals, the killing of the surplus males, 

 the curing and shipment of skins, the sale of merchandise and the 

 accounting for the cash were the important duties and were carefully 

 attended to. It is regretted that the limited force on the islands did 

 not allow the usual detailed observations and the various minor 

 enumerations of seal life to be made. 



AFFAIRS OF THE NATIVES- 

 BANK ACCOUNTS. 



With the expiration of the contract of the North American Com- 

 mercial Co. in 1910, it became necessary for the Government to look 

 after the savings accounts of the natives, which previously had been 

 handled by the company. Drafts were issued by the company to the 

 natives except where the amounts did not exceed $25, in which event 

 settlement was made in cash. The natives turned the drafts over to 

 Agent Lembkey who, duly clothed with power of attorney, acted 

 as their trustee and opened savings accounts with the Union Trust 

 Co. at San Francisco. These accounts draw interest at the rate of 3^ 

 per cent per annum. 



As stated in the report of the seal fisheries for 1910, the savings 

 of the St. George natives, amounting to $1,055.35, could not be de- 

 posited because through an oversight the drafts had not been in- 

 dorsed. At the first opportunity in the spring of 1911 the drafts were 

 taken back to St. George and after indorsement were returned and 

 deposited with the Union Trust Co. In the meantime the Nortii 

 American Commercial Co. had protected the drafts by a deposit of 

 tiie fuU amount thereof. 



