1 6 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



The investigators remained on St. Paul Island until July lo when they went to St. George 

 Island on the Bureau of Fisheries steamship Albatross, Lieut. L. B. Porterfield com- 

 manding. Here they remained until July 15, when they were taken back to St. Paul 

 on the revenue cutter Tahoma, Capt. R. 0. Crisp commanding. The next day, July 16, 

 a trip to Walrus Island was made on the same vessel, and an opportunity for observing 

 its extensive bird rookeries was afforded. 



On July 24, Dr. T. Kitahara, the Japanese representative, arrived on St. Paul Island 

 on the United States revenue cutter Manning. 



A visit to Otter Island, formerly the site of an extensive hauling ground, was made 

 on July 27 on the Tahoma. On August 3 the entire party — Americans, Canadians, and 

 Japanese — having finished the count of the seal pups on St. Paul, went to St. George on 

 the Tahoma to make a similar count there. This work was finished on the morning of 

 August 5, and in the afternoon of that day all returned to St. Paul. 



On August 6, Mr. Parker, Mr. Kitahara, and Mr. Harmon left St. Paul for Seattle 

 and their respective homes. Messrs. Macoun, Osgood, and Preble continued to make 

 further observations until August 30, when, through the courtesy of Capt. W. E. Reynolds, 

 in command of the Bering Sea fleet, they left on the revenue cutter Manning, Capt. 

 F. G. Dodge commanding. The party arrived at Seward, Alaska, via Unalaska, on 

 September 6, and left Seward on the steamship Alameda on September 9, arriving 

 in Seattle on September 17. 



IMPARTIAL NATURE OF THE INVESTIGATION. 



In accordance with the desire of the Secretary of Commerce, the observations and 

 inquiries of 1914 were conducted, so far as possible, without reference to previous 

 opinions. The entire subject was approached without prejudice and with the desire 

 only to ascertain the actual conditions. Nothing was taken for granted, and whenever 

 it was found necessary to refer to previous conditions all points concerned were subjected 

 to scrutiny and verification by actual observation. The same policy has been pursued 

 in the preparation of the report, and though conclusions of others have been consulted 

 freely they have not been accepted unless confirmed by observations in 1914. In the 

 treatment of special subjects, it has sometimes been necessary, for the sake of clearness, 

 to repeat in part under one subject matter which may be found in full under another. 



The preparation of the report has been carried out mainly by Mr. Osgood and Mr. 

 Preble. Owing to the press of other duties, Mr. Parker has been unable to give con- 

 tinuous active assistance, but he has prepared certain sections, revised others, and 

 critically examined the entire manuscript. Therefore the complete report, both as to 

 detailed statement and general conclusions, is subscribed to by each of the co-authors. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 



In the course of the investigations material aid was received from many persons, 

 to all of whom grateful acknowledgment is made. Special thanks are due the officers 

 of the Revenue-Cutter Service, who were ready to aid at all times — the necessity of 

 moving back and forth between the two main islands in order to make particular obser- 

 vations at certain times rendered this ready cooperation invaluable. The agents and 

 other employees of the Bureau of Fisheries on the islands and elsewhere, and the 

 operators of the naval radio stations freely rendered ser\ice whenever required. Thanks 



