THE COD FISHERY OF ALASKA. 211 



the Sanborn took 64,000 fish, the Porpoise 36,000, and the Sarah Louise 36,000 ; the trips sold for 

 12 to 13 cents per pound. Captain Caton came up in the Porpoise in 1868 and tried to make two 

 trips, but got only half a fare on the second. In 1868 there were fourteen vessels at the Shumagins. 

 The best fare was brought by the Mandiago (Captain Haines) between 80,000 and 90,000 fish; the 

 Sanborn took about 60,000 ; the Porpoise alone tried two trips and caught 63,000 fish. The prices 

 were the same as in 1867. 



The influence of the discovery of these extensive fishing banks in the waters of Alaska upon 

 negotiations for the cession of Russian America to the United States has been declared consider- 

 able, as will appear from the following extracts from tEe work of Mr. McDonald, already quoted. 



"In January, 1866, the author, while attending the session of the legislature at Olympia, the 

 capital of Washington Territory, determined to make another bold push for Alaska, by soliciting 

 the good offices of our Government for the purpose of obtaining a permanent foothold, and to open 

 the prolific fishing grounds in those regions to our ambitious fishermen. To this end we penned 

 the following memorial: 



" To His Excellency Andrew Johnson, President of the United States : 



" Your memorialists, the legislative assembly of Washington Territory, beg leave to show that 

 vast quantities of cod, halibut, and salmon of excellent quality are found along the shores of Russian 

 America. Your memorialists respectfully request your Excellency to obtain such rights and. privi- 

 leges of the Government of Russia as will enable our fishing vessels to visit the harbors and its 

 possessions, to the end that fuel, water, and provisions may be obtained ; that our sick and dis- 

 abled fishermen may obtain sanitary assistance, together with the privilege of taking and curing 

 fish and repairing vessels in need of repairs. Your memorialists further request that the Secretary 

 of the Treasury be instructed to forward to the collector of customs of this, Puget Sound district, 

 such fishing license, abstract journals, and log-books as will enable our hardy fishermen to obtain 

 the bounties now paid to the fishermen in the Atlantic States. Your memorialists finally pray 

 your Excellency to employ such ships as may be spared from the Pacific naval fleet in surveying 

 the fishing banks known to navigators to exist from the Cortez Bank to Behring Strait. 



"This memorial, written by a fisherman in behalf of the fishing industry on the northeast coast, 

 passed both branches of our Territorial legislature with commendable unanimity and dispatch. In 

 forwarding a copy of the above-named memorial to the Secretary of State we imparted such infor- 

 mation touching the fisheries around the Russian possessions, and the impulse which the opening 

 of those resources to our fishermen would impart to the commercial development on the northwest 

 coast. In acknowledging our humble services the illustrious Secretary assured us that " in con- 

 summating the recent purchase, I was strongly fortified by the letters which you wrote to me 

 touching the valuable fisheries in those waters." The New York Times of April 1, 1867 (the 

 acknowledged organ of Secretary Seward), said " that a memorial from the Territorial legislature 

 of Washington Territory, dated January, 1866, asking the President to obtain certain rights for 

 the fishermen, was the foundation of the present treaty. 



"On the 18th of October, 1867, the transfer of this vast territory from Russia to the United 

 States was officially consummated by the respective commissioners of the two Governments, at 

 Sitka, in the presence of the Russian population, who cheerfully welcomed the few Americans there 

 also present. The union has been very cheerfully accepted by the people of the Territory. Our 

 Government, on assuming possession, found numerous adventurers from the Pacific States domi- 

 ciled in various parts of the Territory engaged in trade and in developing the resources in those 

 regions; vessels laden with ware entered every harbor; stores were opened as by magic in every 



