CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 27 



from the Pribiloff Islands in payment. Lozaref, sent by I*^"^- I'l'- ^04, 

 liussia, with two ships, readied Sitka, but qaanelled witli 

 Barauoffand returned. 



In 1815, the liussian vessel " Isabel " reached Sitka with ^i''''- 1'- ■^"•'• 

 Dr. Shefter on board. 



In 181G, the Eussian vessel " Rurik" (Captain Kotzebue) i'''<i-. i'- soi. 

 touched at St. Lawrence Island and explored Kotzebue 

 Sound, north of Behrinfi" Strait. 



Two ITnited States vessels visited the Eussian Settle- ^,^o/tJi west 



, , 1 . Coast, vol. 1, p. 



ments this year. ;i:!5. 



In 1817, Kotzebue, on an exploring- expedition to the 

 North, only reached St. Lawrence Island. An exi^edition Aia«ka, p.rm. 

 in two vessels under Ilagemeister, sent by liussia, reached 



Sitka. 

 32 In 1818, Hagemeister superseded Baranoft', under 



instructions. Bo(iuefeuil, a French officer, arrived 52^5.25^^*' ^^' 

 at Sitka in the " Bordelais," a trading- vessel. He sailed 

 for Prince of Wales Archi])elago, but had a conflict with 

 natives and returned to Sitka. Honuefeuil notes meeting,.^' "/*'\'^.®''* 



I c* { OJlSt Vol 1 p. 



a United States and a British trading vessel in Alaskan 3^8. 

 waters. 



In 1818 and 1821, expeditions were dispatched by the j^rSicT^tu 

 British (iovernment in search of a northwest passage from ;■'••. ^"i- xix, p. 

 the Atlantic to the Pacitic. These eftbrts were continued, 

 and in 1824 and 1825 Parry, Beechey, and Franklin were 

 engaged in the same quest, Beechey having been directed 

 to ])ass through Behring Strait and to rendezvous with the 

 others at Kotzebue Sound. These eftbrts were stimulated 

 by the offer by Parliament of large pecuniary rewards, and 

 it is obvious that the value of the discovery, if made, 

 depended on the free right of navigation for purposes of 

 commerce through Behring Strait. 



In 1811), the Lnited States traders obtained most of the '^^''''^"' ^'■^^^■ 

 trade, bartering with the Kolosh flre-arms and rum for 

 skins. They obtained about 8,000 skins a year. The Rus- 

 sians could not successfully compete with them. 



The privileges granted for twenty years to the llnssian- 

 Americau Company were now about to expire, and (toIov- 

 nin was instructed to inquire as to its operations. His 

 Report was not favourable. 



He writes : 



Three things arc wanting, in the organization of tlie Company's Il)i<l,p. ."k"!!. 

 colonies — a clearer deliiiition of the duties l)elonging to the various 

 oflicers, a, distinction of rank, and a regular uniform, so that foreign- 

 ers ^■isiting these parts may see something indicating the existence of 

 forts and trooj.s belonging to the Russian sceptre — something resem- 

 bling a regular garrison. At present they can come to no otlicr con- 

 clusion than that these stations are but temporary fortifications 

 erected by lulnters as a defence against savages. 



In 1820, four trading vessels are known to have been ,, ^''/*'';'*^^f* 



. ' .1 , i Coast, vol.i,p-iJ40. 



operating on the north-west coast. 



The extent of Russian occupation at about the date of Alaska, ].. 522. 

 the expiry of the tirst Charter can be shoAvn by the Census 

 taken in 1810, which states the number of Russians as 

 follows : , 



