FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY. 
PRIBILOF ISLANDS.¢ 
GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES. 
The Pribilof Islands, in Bering Sea, are the breeding grounds of the 
North American fur-seal herd, and these islands are the only places 
where the seals come to land at any time. So long as pelagic sealing 
is prohibited these islands naturally become the base of any opera- 
tions having to do with the taking of skins. And whether skins are 
taken for commercial purposes or not, the need of affording protec- 
tion to the seals while on the islands from raiders, the maintenance of 
the Government property, and the obligation on the part of the Goy- 
ernment to support the native inhabitants, who in times of non- 
commercial killing of seals are deprived of their principal means of 
obtaining a livelihood (that of taking sealskins), make it necessary 
for the Department of Commerce to carry on active operations there 
at all times. 
PURCHASE AND TRANSPORTATION OF SUPPLIES. 
Some of the necessities of life for the approximately 300 native 
inhabitants of the Pribilof Islands are secured there or from the 
surrounding waters. There is an abundance of seal meat, and a 
limited quantity of fish may be secured. In addition wild birds may 
be taken at certaim times of the year and their eggs are utilized 
occasionally in the summer. Some driftwood is available for fuel. 
But with these exceptions, practically all the items of food, fuel, 
clothing, and materials for shelter have to be provided for the main- 
tenance of these people. 
SUPPLIES. 
Early in the year a limited quantity of supplies was purchased at 
Seattle and forwarded to the Pribilofs on the schooner Bender Bros. 
Delivery at the islands was effected April 1, 1915. 
As has been the custom in previous years, it was planned to ship 
the bulk of the annual supplies in the summer. From requisitions 
submitted by the agents at the islands, schedules, 31 in number, 
were prepared of the various classes of supplies desired. These 
schedules were printed and distributed among various merchants 
@ The manuscript reports of H. C. Fassett, A. H. Proctor, and others have been drawn on freely in the 
preparation of this section. 
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