94 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISIl COMMISSION. 



The tax to be paid for skins was raised considerably. Under the present contract 

 the company pays to the Russian Government 10.38 ''metallic" rubles (gold) per skin 

 taken, due-half to be ])aid in St. Petersburg in the month of May, in advance of the 

 sealing season. This advance payment, from 1891 to 1804, was made on a basis of 

 5(),00(t skins to be taken. In the meantime Russia had agreed witli Kngland not to 

 take more than 30,000 skins a year, hence from 1805 the advance payment was made 

 on a basis of only 30,000 skins. The other iialf is i)aid at the end of the season, when 

 the amount of the catch is known. The amount which the Russian Government pays 

 the natives for their work, 1.50 rubles per skin, is usually paid at the islands by the 

 company at the end of the season and deducted from the draft of the balance due in 

 St. Petersburg. It will be seen that by this arrangement the Russian Government is 

 amply protected, but in addition the company is obliged to deposit Imperial Russian 

 bonds with the Government in St. Petersburg to an amount eciualing that of the 

 advance payment. 



The entire sealing business is exclusively iu the hands of the local administration, 

 aiul the company has nothing further to do with it but to receive the skins at the side 

 of the vessel, except that it accepts or rejects the skins immediately upon their being 

 brought from the killing-grounds and superintends the salting of the skins, for which 

 purpose it also furnishes the salt. The administrator, therefore, has unlimited i)ower 

 to determine how many seals are to be taken, and also how, when, where, and by whom 

 they are to be taken. The Government undertakes the driving, killing, skinning, 

 salting, bundling, and delivery. The administration takes the temporary receipt for 

 the skins issued by the company's overseer at the salt-houses and finally the agent's 

 receipt when the skins are received on board the company's vessel. The skins are 

 then brought to Petropaulski, where the ispravnik can not give clearance i)apers with- 

 out first receiving the certificate of the administrator of the islands that the company 

 has complied with the Government requirements. 



Like Hutchinson, Kohl, Philipi)eus & Co., whose establishments both on the 

 islands and in Petropaulski the Russian Seal Skin Oomi)any acquired, the latter has 

 the exclusive right to keep a store on each island in which to sell to the natives such 

 staples and articles as are necessary for their existence and comfort. The company 

 is not allowed to bring such articles as it may deem thus necessary, but the adminis- 

 trator each year makes out a detailed list of quiiiitities and qualities, specified in the 

 minutest details, which goods the company, upou his reciuisition, are obliged to biing 

 during the year and to sell to the natives at a certain sti|)ulated percentage over the 

 certified market price, the Government showing a decided i)refcrence for Russian 

 goods. Should any of the goods thus oi-dered remain unsold on the company's hands 

 the loss falls upon the comi)any. As a rul(>, the company sells for cash to the natives, 

 unless tbo administrator exi)ressly authorizes a family head to take goods on credit, 

 in which individual case tlie amount is specifically limited. At the first distribution 

 of ujouey for work or furs the amount is paid and the debt canceled before new sales 

 can be made. 



For the privilege of thus trading the company has to pay all the various license 

 and guild iees to which the Russian merchants are liable, in this case amounting to 

 many hundred rubles. 



