CASE OF GRP]AT BRITAIN. 65 



Companies, arising out of tlie interference by Russian 

 orticials with the British vessel "Dryad." The claim for 

 damages by the former Company was waived, on condition 

 that the latter should grant a lease of all their continental 

 territory northward to Cape Spencer, Cross Sound (about 

 latitude 5S^), on a hxed rental. This arrangement was for 

 ten years, but was renewed, and actually continued in 

 force for twenty-eight years. 



In 1840, the British flag was hoisted and saluted at the ^'''"^- p-557. 

 mouth of the Stikine, the Hudson's Bay Company taking 

 possession. A post was also established by the Company 

 at Taku Inlet. 



At this time whalers were just beginning to resort to .^Jj>i<i.,.p.,583, 

 Behring Sea; from 1840 to 1842 a large part of the fleet see°Appendix, 

 was engaged in whaling on the " Kadiak grounds." Writ- ^•'i- i- ^"- 5- 

 ing in 1842, Etholen sa^^s, that for some time he had been 

 constantly receiving reports from various parts of the 

 Colony of the appearance of American whalers in the 

 neighbourhood of the shores. 



In the same year Etholen relieved Kuprianof as (rovernor Alaska, p. 559. 

 at Sitka. 



In 1841, the Charter of the Russian- American Company ibid.,p.568. 

 was renewed for a further term of twenty years. Etholen 

 reported the presence of fifty foreign whalers in Behring 

 Sea. 



In 1842, according to Etholen, thirty foreign whalers ii>id.,p.583. 

 were in Behring Sea. 



He asks the Russian Government to send cruisers to pre- 

 serve this sea as a mare clamum. 

 84 His efforts were, however, unsuccessful, the Min- 



ister for Foreign Affairs replying that the Treaty 

 between Russia and the United States gave to American 

 citizens the right to engage in fishing over the whole extent 

 of the Pacific Ocean. 



In the same year, inland explorations by Zagoskin, which ^.Alaska, pp.553, 

 continued till 1844, began. Sir George Simpson, Governor ma., pp., 553- 

 of the Hudson's Bay Company, reached the Stikine post^^*^" 

 just in time to prevent an Indian uprising. He also visited 

 the Russian Establishment at Sitka and completed an 

 arrangement between the Companies to interdict trade in 

 spirits on the coast. 



About this time the Russian- American Company became 

 alarmed at the danger to their fur trade. Every effort 

 was, therefore, put forward by the Company and the Gov- 

 ernors to induce the Foreign Office of the Russian Gov- 

 ernment to drive off these whalers from the coasts, and by 

 excluding them for a great distance from shore, prevent 

 trespasses on shore and the traffic in furs. 



In 1843, explorations were carried out by the Russians iW'^- 1'- °'^^- 

 on the Sustchina and Copper Rivers. 



The whalers, from 1843 to 1850, landed on the Aleutian and ggJI''*^- I'l'- ^^3, 

 Kurile Islands, committing depredations. United States 

 captains openly carried on a traific in furs with the natives. 



Tikhmenieff writes : 



From 1843 to 1850 there were constant comiilaints by the Compauy |''^^'^°'^fix 

 of the increasing boldness of the whalers. vol.T No? 5?"^ ' 



S. Ex. 177, pt. 4 5 



