39 



zens of the United States from resorting to the coast of Eussia at any 

 point where there is a Eussian establishment witliout the permission 

 from the governor or commander. Those were the points along the 

 coasts where hunting was most i^rofitable, where the fur-seals were 

 , mostly hunted, and where, for that purpose, Eussian establishments 

 were located. 



If the "fishing" mentioned in the treaty of 1824 meant seal "hunt- 

 ing," why was this "hunting" or "fishing" forbidden to the i)eople of 

 the United States at the places where the Eussians found it most 

 profitable*? The Indians at that time hunted seals in Bering Sea out- 

 side the limit of 3 miles fiom the coast, and the Eussians hunted them 

 on the Pribilof Islands. Why should American citizens be excluded 

 from "hunting" seals on shore where the Eussians had establishments 

 and yet be admitted to the right of "fishing" for seals in the sea, 

 "along the coasts" where the Indians "hunted" them'? These words, 

 "hunting" and "fishing," have each a natural and c]ear signification, 

 Avhich is most strongly emphasized in these ukases and in the treaty 

 of 1824 as being entirely distinct, and there is no warrant in the con- 

 text of either of these ukases, or treaties, or in the circumstances that 

 led to them, for construing "hunting" and "fishing" as identical or 

 synonymous terms. 



The ratification of the treaty of Ai)ril 5-17, 1824, with Eussia was 

 proclaimed on the 12th day of January, 1825. Until then it was not 

 in force. As early as June 12, 1824, Baron Tuyll, Eussian minister at 

 Washington, was instructed by his Government "to the effect that the 

 Northwestern Coast of America, along the extent of which, by the provi- 

 sions of the convention, free trading and fishing are permitted subjects 

 of the North American States, extends from 54° 40' northv/ard to 

 Yakutat (Behring) Bay." 



The understanding of the treaty by Eussia is in accord with the 

 policy stated in the note of the minister of finance to ]>irector Uva- 

 rof of April 2, 1824, in which it is ordered that "the carrying on of 

 trade with foreign vessels arriving there (harbor of New Archangel, 

 now Sitka) established regulations at otie designated port." 



A conference of Eussian notables was held in St. Petersburg on July 

 21, 1824, by order of the Emperor, to "again examine" the eliect of the 

 treaty of April 5, 1824, upon Eussian rights and interests, "and also 

 the means which the Imperial ministry thinks best calculated to pre- 

 vent all injurious and unjust interj)retations," 



