86 



the interior of tlie continent, sliall forever enjoy tlie right of navigating 

 freely, and without any hindrance whatever, all the rivers and streams 

 which, in tlieir course towards the Pacific Ocean, may cross the line 

 of demarkation upon tlie line of coast described in article three of the 

 present Convention. 



" VII. It is also understood that for the space of ten years from the 

 signature of the present convention, the vessels of the two Powers, or 

 those belonging to their respective subjects, shall mutually be at lib- 

 erty to frequent, without any hindrance whatever, all the inland seas, 

 the gulfs, havens, and creeks on the coast mentioned in article three 

 for the purposes of fishing and trading with the natives. 



"VIII. The port of Sitka, or Nova Archangelsk, shall be open to the 

 commerce and vessels of British subjects for the space of ten years 

 from the date of the exchange of the ratifications of the present con- 

 vention. In the event of an extention of this term of ten years being 

 granted to any other power, the like extention shall be granted also to 

 Great Britain. 



" IX. The above-mentioned liberty of commerce shall not ai)ply to the 

 trade in spirituous liquors, in fire-arms, or other arms, gunpowder or 

 other warlike stores; the high contracting Parties reciprocally engag- 

 ing not to permit the above-mentioned articles to be sold or delivered, 

 in any manner whatever, to the natives of the country. 



"X. Every British or Eussian vessel navigating the Pacific Ocean, 

 which may be compelled by storms or by accident, to take shelter in 

 the ports of the respective Parties, shall be at liberty to refit therein, 

 to provide itself with all necessary stores, and to put to sea again, 

 without paying any other port and lighthouse dues, which shall be the 

 same as those paid by national vessels. In case, however, the master 

 of such vessel should be under the necessity of disposing of a part of 

 his merchandise in order to defray his expenses, he shall conform him- 

 self to the regulations and tariffs of the place where he may have 

 landed." 



From these treaties it will be seen that the respective subjects or 

 citizens of the High Contracting Parties were not to be molested or 

 disturbed in navigating, or in fisliing in, any part of the Pacific Ocean, 

 or in landing on the coasts of either country, not then occupied, 

 in order to trade with the natives, except under certain specified 

 conditions which have no bearing upon the present controversy. 



