35 



Tliat the privilege of liniitiiig" fur-bearing animals in the northeastern 

 sea, and on land, was "the exclusive right" of the greatest importance 

 that was granted in this ukase is made entirely clear in the jn^ohibi- 

 tion stated in Article X in these words, '' pi'ol'il^iting the enjoyment of 

 these profits and advantages not only to those who wonld wish to sail 

 to those countries on their own account, but to all former hunters and 

 trappers who have been engaged in this trade and have their vessels and 

 furs at those places." 



This company conducted its operations in reference to the fur trade 

 at great cost and with niucli i)rolit during the twenty years of its char- 

 tered existence, and then ai)plied to Kussia for a renewal of its charter 

 for an additional term of twenty years. 



The ukase of 1790 tvas found to he insufficient for the protection of 

 the privileges granted by it, and an additional ukase was necessary 

 for that purj^ose, which was issued Se])tember 4, 1821. There could 

 be no need to again assert the right of Russia to grant the exclusive 

 privilegeto its snhjects of " hunting and trading.^'' " which had been carried 

 on by (her) loj^al subjects in the northeastern seas and along the coasts 

 of America" for many years anterior to 1799, and for a quarter of 

 a century since that date; but Russia, through its Emperor and 

 directing senate, in the most solemn manner, declared that the free 

 right of navigation, which 7cas not restricted by the uhase of 1799, had 

 been abused, to the detriment of " the trade of our subjects on i\\Q. 

 Aleutian Islands and on the northwest coast of America, appertaining 

 unto Russia." 



This necessity for an additional ukase could not be expressed more 

 distinctly, or more tersely, than it is in the terms of that ukase, which 

 are as follows: 



The directing senate raaketh known unto all men : Whereas in an 

 edict of His Imperial Majesty, issued to the diie(;ting senate on the 

 4th day of September, and signed by His Imperial Majesty's own hand, 

 it is thus expressed : 



Observing from reports submitted to us that the trade of our sub- 

 jects on the Aleutian Islands and on the northwest coast of America 

 appertaining unto Russia, is subjected, because of secret and illicit 

 traftic, to oi)pression and impediments, and finding that the principal 

 cause of these difficulties is tiie want of rules establishing the bounda- 

 ries for navigation along these coasts, and the order of naval commu- 

 nication as well in those places as on the whole of the eastern coast of 

 Siberia and the Kurile Islands, we have deemed it necesary to deter- 

 mine these communications by specific regulations, which are hereto 

 attached. 



In forwarding these regulations to the directing senate M'e command 

 that the same be pnblislied for universal information, and that the 

 proper measures be taken to carry them into execution. 



