ALASKA. 107 



THE HISTORY OF THE BUSINESS AS CONDUCTED BY THE 



KUSSIANS. 



[Translated by the writer from Voniamiuov's Zapieskic, &c., Saint Petersburg, 



1842, voI.ii,pi). 5Grf. *] 



From tlie time of the discovery of the Prybilov Islands, up 

 to 1805, (or tbilt is, uutil the time of the arrival iu America of 

 General Resanov,) the taking of fur-seals on both islands pro- 

 gressed without connt or lists, and without responsible heads 

 or chiefs, because then (1787 to 1805 inclusive) there were a 

 number of companies represented by as many agents or leaders, 

 and all of them vied with each other in taking as many as they 

 could before the killing was stopped. After this, in 180G and 



1807, there were no seals taken, and nearly all the people were 

 removed to Ounalashka. 



In 1808 killing Avas again commenced^ but the people iu this 

 yearwereallowed tokillonlyonSaintGeorge-jOnSaintPaulhunt- 

 ers were not permitted this year or the next: it was not until 

 the fourtb year after this that as many as half the number pre- 

 viously taken wereanuually killed. rromthistime(SaiutGeorge, 



1808, and Saint Paul, 1810) up to 1822, takingfur-seals progressed 

 on both islands without any economy and with slight circum- 

 spection, as if there were a race in killing for the most skins. 

 Cows were taken in tJie drives and hilled^ and were also driven 

 from the rookeries to places where they were slaughtered. 



It was only in 1822 that G. Moorayvev (governor) ordered 

 that young seals sbould be spared every year for breeding, and 

 from that time there were taken from the Prybilov Islands, in- 

 stead of 40,000 to 50,000, which Moorayvev ordered to be spared 

 in four successive years, no more than 8,000 to 10,000. Since 

 this, G. Chestyabkov, chief ruler after Moorayvev, estimated 

 that from the increase resulting from the legislation of jNIooray- 

 vev, which was so honestly carried out on the Prybilov Islands 

 that in these four years the seals on Saint Paul increased to 

 double their previous number, be could give an order which in- 

 creased the number to be annually slain to 40,000, and this last 

 order or course directed for these islands demanded as many 

 seals as could be got, but with all possible exertion hardly 

 28,000 were obtained. 



After this, when it was most plainly seen that the seals were, 

 on account of this wicked killing, steadily growing less and less 



* Tlio italics aro mine, and the translation is nearly literal, as might bo inferred by the 

 idiom here and there.— H. W. E. 



