IN THE PRESENT. 267 



were purchased in England by J. M. Oppenlieim Markets. 

 & Company,^ and in the fifties New York^ also re- 

 ceived a supply from the Russian American Com- 

 pany, but it was not until the lease of the Pribilof 

 Islands to the Alaska Commercial Company in 

 1870, and through the united efforts of that 

 Company with C. M. Lampson & Company that 

 the sealskin industry received the impetus which 

 has built it up to its present condition.^ At the 

 same time the methods of dyeing and dressing 

 the skins were perfected through the same 

 agency, and sealskins made an article of fashion 

 in general use in Europe and America, and 

 became much more valuable as merchandise * ' 



IN THE PRESENT. 



As a result of these endeavors and the increased 

 prices, London has become practically ihe sole 

 market in which the skins of the fur-seal are sold, 

 and buyers gather there semiannually from 

 from different countries to purchase the skins,^ 

 which, to the number of one hundred and fifty 

 thousand or more, are sold at public auction.^ 



1 Walter E. Jlartin, Vol. II, p. 567. 



2 Letter to the Board of Administration of the Russian American 

 Company from the chief manager of the Russian American Colo- 

 nies, dated November 8 (20), 1854, Vol. I, p. 83. 



^ Emil Teichmann, Vol. II, p. 582. 



' C. A. Williams, Vol. II, p. 546. 



6 Ibid., Vol. II, p. 546 ; G. C. Lampson, Vol. II, p. 561. 



6H. S. Bevingtou, Vol. II, p. 552. 



