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BULLETIN OF THE BUEEAU OF FISHERIES 
The writer wishes to express his thanks to Mr. Henry O'Malley, Commissioner 
of Fisheries, who made possible this visit to the Commander Islands, and who 
placed at our disposal every facility for visiting the various rookeries and for study- 
ing the fur-seal question from all angles, as well as securing for our assistance the 
services of Capt. C. E. Lindquist. To my old friend Captain Lindquist I also express 
my appreciation and thanks, and I gratefully acknowledge the help and courtesies 
received from all members of the crews of the Coast Guard cutters Mojave and 
Algonquin, on which transportation was had to and from the islands, and particularly 
from Ward T. Bower, of the Bureau of Fisheries, who contributed so much to the 
success of the investigation. 
INVESTIGATION OF THE COMMANDER ISLANDS IN 1922 
ITINERARY 
According to the original plan the investigation was to have continued for 
about one month, but because of bad weather, delays in transportation, etc., only 
16 days in all were spent on the islands, during most of which time conditions 
were unfavorable for photographing and inspecting the rookeries. 
The first place visited was Glinka, the southern rookery village of Copi")er 
Island, which was reached on July 24, 1922, on the Coast Guard cutter Algonquin. 
No officials were located at the village, only a rookery guard of 10 natives. These 
we interrogated as to the condition of the Glinka rookeries, intimating that it was 
desired to inspect them, but the guards were unwilling to allow this without a 
permit from the fisheries official located at the main village. We therefore pro- 
ceeded to that point and received permission to go ashore from the government 
manager of the fur industry of the islands. There being no sealing, all the 
inhabitants were assembled in the village and we were met with the greatest 
hospitality and good will. The condition of the natives was better than we had 
anticipated, though we found them lacking in good clothing, especially shoes, and 
also in certain provisions. 
The authority recognized by the officials and inhabitants was that of the 
Merkulof government at Vladivostok and of the governor of the Kamchatka district, 
and the old white-blue-red flag of Imperial Russia was displayed at the signal bluff 
above the village. We were told that a number of Japanese seal poachers were 
being held in custody, having been taken prisoner the day before, and their schooner, 
which had been seized, was seen lying at anchor in the little cove of the village. 
As the weather absolutely prevented any rookery work on Copper Island we 
decided to proceed as soon as possible to Bering Island. The island manager 
accompanied us in order to authorize our stay at that island, and toward evening 
on July 26 we landed at Nikolski, the main village. 
On July 28 North Rookery was inspected and, as far as the rain and gale would 
allow, photographed. The weather continued rainy with heavy fog until August 1, 
but the time was not entirely lost as the writer was given free access to the official 
archives from the records of which valuable extracts were made relating to the 
fur-seal industry of the islands during the 25 years since our last visit. 
