THE UKASE OF 1821, 45 



suiipose that a total suspension of killiiio- every i^i^^'^s of fur- 



^ J •»■ n J seals at sea to be 



fifth year will effectually stop tlie diininutioni^^''^^*^^*''^*^' 

 of the fur-seals, and that it will be safe at the 

 expiration of the close season to resume killing at 

 the rate mentioned above (fifty thousand annu- 

 ally). By a strict observance of such rules, and 

 a prohibition of all killing of fur-seals at sea or 

 in the passes of the Aleutian Islands, we may 

 hope to make this industry a permanent and 

 reliable source of income to the Company, 

 without disturbing tha price of these valuable 

 skins in the market." ^ 



In 1819 Eiccord, the then commander of Kam- ^ The Pigott affair. 



Certain contracts 



cliatka, acting under advice of one Dobello, a^^^*^,. foi-eiguers 



' ■ o J annulJed. Control 



foreigner in the employ of the Russian Govern- j^^^^^'^'^'^'^^'*^'''^'^'^^' 

 ment, granted to an Englishman named Pigott^^"^^' 

 the right for ten years to hunt whales on the 

 coast of Eastern Siberia.^ This grant was at 

 oiice repudiated by the Government. A con- 

 siderable amount of correspondence resulted, 

 which illustrates the complete control which 

 Russia claimed and actually exercised over 

 Bering Sea prior to 1821, and how jealous she 

 and her chartered Company were of the intru- 

 sion of foreigners. 



Under date of April 10, 1820, the Minister - 



1 Vol. T, p. 58. 



^Tikhmenief, vol I, pp. 192-200. 



annnlled. Control 

 3isedover Ber- 

 Sea prior to 



