ALASKA. 



49 



Mmos as <j:rciit every year, compared with the table, owing to 

 the greater aetivity and energy of oar traders : 



xablc f<hou'in(i the number of shins taken hi/ the Un-man American Company from 

 the Yukon dintriet, iluriny the period between 1842 and IbGl, twenty years. 



Guided by this exhibit, if I could rely on what has been 

 affirmed by the traders w^hom 1 have met in the Territory, the 

 catch in the Yukon district during the last three years has 

 averaged six times as much as the Russian annual average. 



THE PENINSULAR AND KODIAK. 



Oagashik : 



This is the only trading-station on the north shore of the 

 Peninsula, and it is in itself inconsiderable ; the people have a 

 few red foxes, a few beaver, but quite a fair number of reindeer- 

 skins, the country being fairly alive v.?ith these animals; they 

 also are adjacent to the large walrus hauling-grounds in Bris- 

 tol Bay, and some ivory is secured by them ; they have a few 

 brown bears, an occasional wolf-skin, and a little swans'-down. 



Belcovskie : 



A sea-otter post: the natives bring in the skins of these 

 animals, which they obtain at Saauach and the Chernobour 

 Rocks; the trade otherwise is unimportant — a few red foxes 

 and brown bears. 



iSaauach. A sea-otter post recently established : nearly two- 

 thirds of the sea-otters captured in the whole Alaskan district 

 are taken around this island. 



U)iga. A sea-otter post, with small trade in red foxes, black 

 and brown bears, «&c. 



KodiaJc, or Saint PmiVs. — Once the headquarters of the old 

 Russian American Company, but since 1825 it has been a 

 mere trading post; a large number of sea-otter hunters make 

 it their home, and bring in their quarry for trade there; all the 

 trade of Kenai and Cook's Inlet came in here under the old 

 4 AL 



