THE RUSSIAN AMERICAN COMPANY. 71 



covered by tlie general declaration concerning the Aleutian Islands 

 and other northern localities. With regard to the second, however 

 (('ross Sound), which is situated under latitude 57°, and consequently 

 forms part of the coast and islands to which Eussia's right has been 

 disputed, it would be impracticable to apply to it the same rule, 

 unless some other valid reasons are produced ui^on which to base such 

 a demand. 



In order to neglect no means by which the Government of His Impe- 

 rial Majesty may give proof of its fatherly care of the interests of the 

 Eussian American Comi^any, General de Tuyll should be instructed to 

 use every means at his command to persuade the Washington cabinet 

 that in favoring the limitation about to be j)roj)osed relating to Cross 

 Sound there is no intention or desire to give any i)rovocation for further 

 dispute between tlie two i)o\vers. 



And General de Tuyll sliould be given to understand that the recog- 

 nition of the undisputed i)riniary right of Eussia in those regions is of 

 supreme importance, not in any way to be compared with the later and 

 comi)aratively trivial concessions of the convention Avith the Govern- 

 ment of the United States, concluded April 5/17, and that it must, under 

 all circumstances, be sustained. 



This opinion was finally unanimously agreed ux)on by all the mem- 

 .bers of the committee. 



St. Petersburg, July L*l, 1824. 



Nesselrode. 

 G. L. Kankrin. 

 Spekansky. 

 Drttshinin. 

 poletica. 



No. 15. 



From the Board of AfTminisfratiou of the Eussian American Company 

 to Captain of the first rank and Knir/ht Ivan Antoncvltch Kupreianof. 

 Written from St. Fetersbi<r<j, March 31, 1810. 



From your disi)atch No. 114, of April 20, we learn that you have re- 

 quested the Creole Shayashnikof to ex])ress hisoT)inion as to when you 

 may begin taking a fall catch of far- seals on tlie island of St. Paul, and 

 wlien you may establish a close season on St. George and the Com- 

 mander Islands. The board of administration respectfully requests that 

 you will in every respect act in accordance Avith the o[)inions of Shay- 

 ashnikof, who possesses a thorougli knowledge of this industry. At 

 the same time you Avill bear in mind that we look upon the fur-seal catcli 

 as the most inJi)ortant item of our colonial enterprises, which must bo 

 ]»reserved at all hazards, even to the temporary neglect of other re- 

 sources. Everything must be done to inevent a decrease or extermi- 

 nation of these valuable animals. 



K. Prokofyef, 

 N. KusoF, 

 A. Severin, 



Directors. 



