16 IMPERIAL RUSSIAN EDICTS. 



UKASE OF 1821. » 



Edict of Jiis Imperial Majesty Autocrat of all the Eussia^. 



The Directing Senate maketh known unto all men. Whereas in an 

 edict of His Imperial Majesty, issued to the Directing Senate on the 4tli 

 day of September, and signed by His Imperial Majesty's own hand, it is 

 thus expressed: 



" Observing from reports submitted to us that the trade of our sub- 

 jects on the Aleutian Islands and on the noithwest coast of America 

 appertaining unto Eussia, is subjected, because of secret and illicit 

 traffic, to oppression and impediments; and finding that the principal 

 cause of these difficulties is the want of rnles establishing the boun- 

 daries for navigation along these coasts, and the order of naval com- 

 muiucation as well in these places as on the wliole of the eastern coast 

 of Siberia and the Kurile Islands, we have deemed it necessary to de- 

 termine these communications by specific regulations, which are hereto 

 attached." 



"In forwarding these regulations to the Directing Senate, we com- 

 mand that the same be published for universal information, and that 

 the proper measures betaken to carry them into execution." 



(Coimtersigued: Count D, Gurief, Minister of Finances.) 



It is therefore decreed by the Directing Senate that His Imperial 

 Majesty's edict be published for the information of all men, and that 

 the same be obeyed by all whom it nuiy concern. 



The original is signed hy the Directing Senate. 



Printed at St. Petersburg, in the Senate, 7th September, 1821. 



On the original is written in the handwriting of His Imperial Maj- 

 esty, thus: 

 Be it accordingly — 



Alexander. 

 Kamennoy Ostroff, 4th Septeinber, 1821. 



RULES ESTABLISHED FOR THE LIMITS OF NAVIGATION AND ORDER 

 OF COMMUNICATION ALONG THE COAST OF EASTERN SIBERIA, THE 

 NORTHWEST COAST OF AMERICA, AND THE ALEUTIAN, KURILE, AND 

 OTHER ISLANDS. 



Sec. 1. The pursuits of commerce, whaling, and fishery, and of all 

 other industry on all islands, ports, and gulfs including the whole of 

 the northwest coast of America, beginning from Behring's Straits to 

 the 51° of northern latitude, also from the Aleutian Islands to the east- 

 ern coast of Siberia, as well as along the Kurile Islands from Behring's 

 Straits to the South Cape of the Islaud of Urup, viz, to the •45° 50' 

 northern latitude, is exclusively granted to Kussian subjects. 



Sec. 2. It is therefore prohibited to all foreign vessels not only to 

 land on the coasts and islands belonging to i-Jussia as stated above, 

 but also to approach them within less than a hundred Italian miles. 



' Tr.Tuslatiou as sent oiit by tlic Russian Goveinniont iu 1821. 



