for almost the entire year of 1851, pel was back in the netherlands, working on an article about hunting on the gold coast and four zoological publications. in january 1852, pel resumed his duties in the colonial administration of the gold coast as bookkeeper, fiscal, secretary and cashier, an office he had earlier occupied in an ad interim position. this office made pel second-in-command of the colony, but also prevented him from devoting much time to taxidermy. pel moved back to the netherlands in march 1855 and was honourably discharged from his duties by royal decree of 1 september 1855.