274 



During the 1970 season a new wage standard was established for plant laborers 

 who were semi-skilled in the work duties. Three workmen were paid under the new 

 wage standard to receive $4.20 per hour. All other laborers in both skin-curing 

 plants were paid $3.98 per hour. Deductions of $53.30 per week were made from 

 the pay of temporary workmen who were housed and fed in the Alaska Dormi- 

 tory. This rate remained constant throughout the season. 



According to procedures initiated in 1963, whereby we attempted to inject an 

 element of competition and encourage production, we again conferred awards 

 to the blubberers in each of the categories (skilled and unskilled) who had the 

 highest production and best quality of skins blubbered per hour. This policy is 

 to encourage improved production because no form of piece work can be paid in 

 federal employment. 



First place blubberers received an award of $200 and second place blubberers 

 received $150. A third place award of $100 appMed to employees who exceeded 

 the past season's averages by 25 percent in each of the categories. The following 

 table depicts the awards for each of the categories : 



MACHINE BLUBBERING 



Testing the Aulson Fleshing Machine during the 1969 season demonstrated 

 that modifications were necessary to improve the quality of the blubbering and 

 minimize damage. Several changes were incorporated to make the adjiLstments 

 more precise. New positive stops were made increasing the number of threads 

 ■per inch and a calibrated dial was adapted to the stop screw. A freshwater 

 spray was a,lso installed on each machine. Other minor changes were made 

 during the testing period to increase the efficiency of the machine. 



It was found that in flensing the skin it must be saturated with water prior 

 to being blubbered. The blubbering process deteriorated as the skins became 

 progressively drier. One skin ultimately was destroyed due to the absence 

 of free moisture during the removal of blubber by the machine. Therefore 

 the remaining skins were resoaked prior to machine running with no damages 

 resulting. 



Daring the season 1,600 sealskins ^vere used to test the quality of the ma- 

 chine is feasible with complete confidence. It may be well to note that during the 

 processor for an early evaluation. As of this writing reports are favorable. 

 All skins tested on the fleshing machine appeared to be of quality equal or 

 superior to skins blubbered by hand. To blubber a season's production by ma- 

 chine is feasible with complete confidence. It may .be well to note that during the 

 draining time of the sealskins for barreling some oxidation (pinkish discolora- 

 tion) develops along the edges of a number of hand blubbered skins. It was 

 observed that during the same period of draining time on machined blubbered 

 skins the oxidation was minor or non-existent. 



SHIPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF SEALSKINS 



Following the same format which was established in 1958 whereby Canada 

 and Japan ajtemate between even and odd numbers each year to make impar- 

 tial selection of their respective shares, Japan picked numbers 8, 10 and IS 

 out of each series of 20 barrels of sealskins, and Canada picked numbers 3, 9 

 and 17. This resulted in the distribution shown in Appendix A. The total 

 commercial sealskin production was transported aboard tlie M/V PRIBILOF 

 which arrived in Seattle September 19. This shipment totaled 527 barrels of 

 which 78 were St George skins and 449 St. Paul. In addition to the 449 St. 

 Paul barrels. 719 skins were packed into 3 cardboard cartons. This, was for 

 the purpose of a feasibility study on using reinforced cardboard cartons in 

 lieu of barrels as a cheaper method of stiipping sealskins. 



