33 



collectiug fars was withheld from the concessions made by Russia to 

 Great Britain and the United States in 1824 and 1825. 



In accordance with what was then the practice of the great powers as 

 to the right of declaring the closure of extensive areas of sea as territo- 

 rial appurtenances, Russia claimed that Behving Sea was marc clausum, 

 and in practice this claim was carried into effect as to the control of 

 the fur trade. 



Her iieople did not hunt whales at that period to any great extent, 

 nor did they condnct fisheries for commercial purposes. It was the 

 double purpose of protecting her fur trade and yet permitting whaling 

 and other fishing within safe limits that caused the Emperor, Alexan- 

 der I, to issue the ukase of 1821. The whalers and fishermen had 

 begun to deal with the natives for furs and to catch seals in Behring 

 Sea. Russia resented this as a wrong and an invasion of her territorial 

 rights, and the ukase was issued to prevent its increase or continuance. 



The ordinary three-mile limit was as fully recognized then as it has 

 been since that time, generally, as to coasts bordering the open ocean, 

 or even more fully recognized. But Russia paid no attention to it in 

 Bering Sea, and for her own security in respect of her only industry 

 in those waters — the fur trade — and to keep down insurrection, she 

 fixed a line of prohibition to navigators at 100 Italian miles from her 

 coasts. In doing this, and in opening Bering Sea to whalers and 

 fishermen and other navigators in the parts not included in the 100- 

 mile limit, she asserted and exercised an exceptional jurisdiction over 

 that sea and claimed that her power extended over the entire sea, 

 but waived her rights at the distance of over 100 miles from the coasts. 



In 1799 the interest ot Russia and her subjects in the fur trade had 

 become so important tliat on July 8, 1799, nearly twenty-five years 

 before the date of the treaty with the United States of April, 5-17, 

 1824, the Einjieror Paul issued his ukase, in which he declared 

 that — 



The benefits and advantages resulting to our Empire from hunting 

 and trading carried on by our loyal subjects in the northeastern seas 

 and along tlie coasts of America Iiave attracted our Imperial attention 

 and consideration; therefore, having taken under our injmcdiate pro- 

 tection a comi)any organized for the above-named ])urpose of carrying 

 on hunting and trading, we allow it to assume the appellation of 

 "Russian American Company, operating under our higliest protection ;" 

 and for the purpose of aiding the corai)any in its enterprises, we allow 

 the commanders of our land and sea forces to employ said forces in the 

 company's aid if occasion requires it, while for further relief and assist- 

 ance of said company, and having examined their rules and regulations, 

 H495 M 3 



