The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-10-24
SEAL REVENUES, PROFITS, AND
 THEIR DIVISION.

THEIR DlNlSlON.
 Acting Secretary E. F. Morgan of the Depart ment of Commerce writing to the local Chamber of Commerce makes the positive statement that there are no profits from the sealing operations carried on by the Federal Government through the United States Bureau of Fisheries, on the Prloilof Islands To prove his contention he quotes figures for expenditures and receipts for the fiscal years, 1880 and 1881 As far as these go undoubtedly he is But these figures do not establish his asser- ton that it is unproftable industry.
 Gov Parks, in his annual report for the period ending June 3O l93O the latest available gives statistics covering the sealing industry from 1918 to l93O l3 years in all. These, of course, were furnished to him by the Bureau of Fisheries They should be correct and probably no item of expndi- ture was overlooked when they were compiled. They give both receipts of $5 251 87931 and expenditures of s2571 o574o, a net profit of $268oS21sl.
 Summarizing them, the Governor wrote in his report as follows
 It will be noted from the foregoing report
 that in the 13 years from 1918 to 1880, in
 elusive, a net profit of S2680 l9l has been
 made as a result of the activities at the
 Pribiof Islands, Alaska It must be remem-
 bered that this profit has been made in the
 face of the fact that in recent years there
 have been heavy expenditures for the con-
 struction of roads replacement of all na-
 tive dwellings with modern buildings, for
 the most part of concrete, and the carrying
 out of otherwise large reconstruction
 program including the erection of ware
 houses, shops, barns and other structures,
 as well as the erection of salt houses
 to handle the larger take of sealskins.
 Now as to the specific fiscal year of 1880. MT. Morgan gives the receipts being $27399l, and ex- penditures, s34e 2S8.41, leaving deficit of s75,- 2774l. These are exactly the same figures that Gov. Parks used in his report quoted heretofore. tta fc reason for the deficit follows The substantial increase in expenditures for the fiscal year l930 is entirely accounted for by the construction of a tender at cost of upward of S140000 for the Prbilof Islands to replace one longer suitable for the work and which will hereafter be used in fisheries patrol work" Last year that is for the fiscal year ending June 3o 1881, the expenditures were $266,- Ol925 considerably smaller than in 1880, but still many thousands of dollars above the l3year average between 1918 and l93O which was s19777360. The receipts were only s96 624865 as compared to a 13- year average of S403 99071 The of the excess of expenditures the average cannot be assigned until the Department Of Commerce makes its de- tailed report on it's operations at the Pribilofs but the loss in receipts probably the result of post ponement of the sale of skins taken during the year. This take was the largest up to that time in the history of the Governments control of the saal herds, and is exceeded only by the take made late this summer. Since 1929, of course the reVe- nues have suffered from the current depression which MT Morgans own department has assured us is but temporary and, therefore, it is to be expected that the effects will soon pass away.
 Undoubtedly the seals will continue to pay their way. In four of the 13 years covered in Gov Parkss report for 930, there deficits varying from few hundred dollars to as high as $94,375 3s If the Department of Commerce is sincere in its assumption that no more profits can be expected by the public from the enormous seal herds, now numbering over 100000 animals, and with the take approaching 5oOOo annually. then it is hisf gation of the administration of the Pribiofs In the face of the records of the Department of Commerce his statement is astounding.
 But the most astounding part of MT Morgan. letter is his statement that after careful con- sideraton7 of the entire matter and in view of tht fact that the expenses of administration of tht Pribilof Islands and of the protection of thel resources are borne by the Federal Government NC SOUND REASONS APPEAR TO EXIST AS TIC WHY ANY FUNDS DERIVED FROM THIS SOURCE SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TIC THE TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT OF ALASKA From lesser official this assertion would be me with amusement, but coming from the Acting Sec retary the head of the Department of Commerce it cannot be accepted as other than officia declaration of policy of the Administration o which he is member.
 And it is a view that Alaska must combat. Il is contrary to the whole philosophy of American territorial government. It is not borne out by either precept or practice. Here is resource that is indigenous to the Territory. It is administered controlled developed worked and marketed by the Federal Government. Part of the revenues accruine