PUR SEALS AND OTHER UFE, PRIBILOF ISLANDS, I914. 95 



COLD-STORAGE PLANTS. 



With the resumption of seahng on a commercial scale and with better methods of 

 local transportation, it is believed that the establishment on each island of a small cold- 

 storage plant would be a wise and economical project. The great quantities of seal 

 meat, above what can be used by the natives and to support the fox herd, should not 

 be allowed to go to waste. Cold storage would not only provide for preserving the win- 

 ter supply of meat for the natives and for the fox herd, but would allow the surplus to 

 be economically utilized for other purposes. There are on the Aleutian Islands and else- 

 where in northern Alaska many communities of natives which have been reduced to 

 actual want through the cessation of sea-otter hunting, the extirpation or reduction in 

 numbers of other animals formerly relied on, or from the desertion of routes of trade 

 which formerly brought them employment. The partial or entire support of some of 

 these people must eventually be borne by the Government. Unalaska was formerly 

 the center of a prosperous sea-otter trade, and later the scene of much activity by reason 

 of its being a stopping place for vessels bound for northern Alaska, but is now of little 

 importance as a port, and its inhabitants are much reduced in circumstances. To such 

 a community a portion of the seal meat which might be wasted on the Pribilofs, only 

 200 miles away, would be of the utmost importance. It is also by no means unlikely that 

 a market for a quantity of the surplus meat, which is very nourishing and not unpalatable, 

 might be found among the poorer classes in the cities of the west coast of the United 

 States. 



A further important advantage to be gained by the use of cold storage would be 

 found in the possibility of limiting the driving and kilHng of seals to the season when 

 females are not associated with the young males. The accidental and very undesirable 

 killing of even a few cows might thus be almost entirely avoided. 



ROOKERY IMPROVEMENTS. 



Some work in improving the ground on several of the breeding rookeries should be 

 done. This is a matter which has been frequently discussed, but very little has been 

 accomplished. The perpetuation of the series of marked rocks to facilitate the taking 

 and recording of observations is also important. 



Marked rocks. — On each of the rookeries is a series of rocks marked by numbers put 

 on with white paint, the work of the Coast and Geodetic Sur\^ey. These rocks ser\'e as 

 landmarks for locating and recording the harems and the boundaries of hauling grounds. 

 Many of the numbers, from long exposure to the weather, are becoming obliterated and 

 in some cases can no longer be deciphered. Since these marked rocks have figured in 

 the records of obser\-ations for several years, it is very important that they be repainted 

 when necessary. 



Observation stations. — In some of the more crowded rookeries it is very difficult to 

 count the harems, and as it will be desirable to count them for several years at least, a 

 few observation stands should be built. They may be towers of rock a few feet in 

 height, and in some cases will need to be connected with the rear of the occupied space 

 by lanes protected by walls of rock which afford a safe path through the rookery mass. 

 At present Reef Rookery is most in need of these observation towers. In 191 4 it was 

 84512°— S. Doc. 9S0, 63-3 7 



