56 
FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1909. 
boat party is composed of from 3 to 5 men, and these use sailboats 
costing about $130 each. Repeating shotguns, costing from $25 to 
$35 each, are the only weapons used. The hunting is done in the 
open ocean, and the boats from the various camps cover an area of 
from 35 to 50 miles directly out from shore and about the same dis- 
tance up and down the coast. Good weather is essential, and this 
year the sealers were very fortunate, but few storms occurring during 
the season. 
The hunters on Tava Island secured 215 skins, those on Wrangell 
Island 84 skins, while those on Biorka Island secured 9T skins, a 
total of 396 skins. The largest number of skins secured by any one 
boat was 30, this boat having its headquarters on Biorka Island. 
One boat operating from the same island secured no skins at all, 
while another from Wrangell Island killed but one seal. The aver- 
age per boat was about 11J skins. The proportion of female skins to 
the total number killed was reported to be about 1 in 6. 
In outfitting these boats, the hunter, who is head man, furnishes 
the boat and gun, while the rowers furnish the ammunition and food. 
The gross proceeds arising from the sale of the skins taken are 
divided equally among the crew, with the exception of the hunter, 
who gets $3 or $4 more than the others. 
Upon the return to Sitka a committee of two is appointed to 
supervise the sale of the skins. Late in May the buyers from the 
States appear in Sitka, and as soon as possible thereafter the date 
of the sale is fixed, usually for some day between June 1 and 5. On 
this day the skins are all brought to one house, where they are 
sorted into three sizes — “ small,” “ medium,” and “ large ” — care 
being taken to keep each boat’s catch separate from the others. The 
“ small ” skins are those of the pups born during the previous two 
years. The “ medium ” skins are said to have the best fur, but the 
buyers prefer the “ large ” ones on account of their size. Large 
skins were a little more numerous this year than the medium skins. 
The buyers are not allowed to pick out the choice skins and bid on 
these alone, but must take them as they run, the subdivision in the 
beginning being made merely in order that the buyers might see 
what they were bidding on. 
Only two nonresident buyers were present at the sale this year. 
The best price offered was $20 per skin, but the Indians refused to 
sell for less than $25 per skin, the price received in 1908, and as a 
result the sale was declared off. Later on the skins were disposed of 
at private sale to local buyers, who paid $17 each for all but a few 
which brought $20 each. 
These skins are usually much sought after by the dealers, because, 
being taken by natives, and a certificate from the collector of customs 
to this effect being attached to each, they can, under the law, be 
