IV CONTENTS. 



Geographical skktch of the Piubilof Islands: Page. 



Locatiou 15 



Group cousists of four islauds 16 



St. Paul Island 16 



St. George Island 17 



Otter Island 17 



Walrus Islaud 18 



Absence of harbors 18 



Climate 18 



Animal life 19 



Inhabitants 20 



Vegetation 20 



Discovery and occupation of the shores and islands of Bering Sea : 



Bering's first exjjedition 20 



Bering's second expedition 21 



Resources of Commander Islands made known 22 



Discovery of Pribilof Islands ; due to search for furs 23 



Cook's expedition to Bering Sea 24 



Subsequent Russian expeditions 24 



Shores and islands became Russian territory as early as 1800 25 



Claims to the Northwest Coast of America: 



Early competition for jiossession of coast of America 26 



Russian competition. Settlement at Kadiak Island 26 



Founding of Sitka 28 



British competition 29 



Spanish competition 29 



The Nootka Sound controversy 30 



Treaty of 1790 between Great Britain and Spain 31 



American competition 32 



This competition certain to result in international conflict 33 



The Russian American Company: 



Its political and commercial importance 34 



The outgrowth of trading associations 34 



Chartered in 1799 35 



Its rights and privileges under first charter 35 



Its obligations 36 



Its mode of government 36 



Ofiiuers of Imperial navy engaged in its service 36 



Paid no royalty 37 



Summary 37 



The ukase of 1821: 



Ukase of 1821 and second charter of the company 38 



Purpose of the ukase 38 



Its title and first two sections 39 



Reason why limit of one hundred miles was chosen 39 



This limit enabled Russia to protect seal herd of Pribilof Islands 40 



