172 DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 



Seven hundred and sixty more river beavers were killed than in 1858. 

 The yearly variation in the figures of this industry depends entirely ou 

 local climatic causes, which favor the northern savages more or less in 

 their hunting. This increase, as compared with the number taken last 

 year, was gained at Forts Michael and Kolmakovsky. 



Four hundred and seventy more pairs of castoreums were taken than 

 in 1858. Eleven thousand one hundred and sixty fewer fur seals were 

 killed than in 1858. The governor of the island of St. Paul assigns as 

 the cause of their decrease the lateness of the spring, owing to which 

 the cows, in forcing their way to the rookeries over the ice, lost their 

 young. 



1 have sent Lieut. Verman to the island of St. Paul to attend to 

 various commissions and to put an end to some disturbances there 

 arising from relaxation of discipline. 



Foxes killed in excess of 1858 1, 143 



White foxes in excess of 1858 1 , 174 



Lynxes, fewer than in 1858 178 



Sables in excess of 1858 219 



On Copper Island, according to the governor's report, the sea otters 

 are increasing in numbers, and very strict orders are now given not to 

 disturb them until the decrease of that animal in the government ol 

 the island of Atka renders a close time necessary there. 



Only 1 pood of walrus tusks was received. The governor of the 

 island of Unga has reported to me that on the northern side of the 

 peninsula of Aliaska, in Mollerovshy Bay, tusks to the amount of 500 

 poods were taken in the course of 1856-'57, and were stored there. On 

 my arrival at Mollerovsky Bay, in 1858, the tusks which had been col- 

 lected were missing, the walrus rookeries had been ruined, and every- 

 thing had been burned. It is not known who stole the tusks, but there 

 were found white biscuits, provisions, a whaleboat oar, and the prints 

 of boots, which proved that it was the whalers. 



I have the honor to report this to the board of administration 



No. 30. 



Letter from Captain of the First Class and Knight Ivan Vassilievitch 

 Furuhelm, chief manager of the Russian American colonies, to the hoard 

 of administration of the Russian American Company. Written from 

 the colonies July 16, 1863. 



Noting, for immediate execution, the contents of dispatch No. Ill, 

 of January 31, 18G3, from the board of administration, I have the honor 

 to submit, for the board's consideration, the following estimates as to 

 the cost of preparing the dried and salted sealskins: 



REQUIRED FOR THE DRYING OF SEALSKINS. 



Roubles. 



Wood for each 1,000 skins, 2\ fathoms, making the cost of each skin 2. 85 



For tying the bundle of 100 skins, 12 arshin sea-lion hide straps (a medium- 

 sized skin, worth 40 kopecks, yields 16 arshin straps), making for one skin.. . 10 



Total 2.95 



Or 03 



To this we must add the pay of the Aleuts for each bachelor sealskin 75 



Total 78 



