XVI FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



The remaining paragraphs are not pertinent to the subject we are 

 considering. We quote only the last one : 



la conclusion of this our most gracious order for the benefit of the Russian- Amer- 

 ican Company (under highest protection), we enjoin all our military and civil au- 

 thorities in the above-meutionetl localitil^s, not only not to prevent them from enjoying 

 to the fullest extent the privileges granted l)y us,'bnt in caseof ueed to protect them 

 with all their power from loss or injury, and to render them, upon application of the 

 company's authorities, all necessary aid, assistance, and protection. 



To give effect to this, our most gracious order, we subscribe it with our own hand, 

 and give orders to confirm it with our imperial seal. Given at St. Petersburg, in the 

 year after the birth of Christ, ITLti), the 27th day of December, in the, fourth year of 

 our reign. 



Paul. 



This assertion of dominion was not disputed or questioned by any of the 

 powers ; the right of the autocrat of Kussia to control and dispose of 

 these possessions was conceded, tacitly at least, by all the nations. 

 His title rested upon (1) discovery; (2) first occupation; (3) peaceful 

 and undisputed possession for more than half a century. By virtue of 

 this imperial decree, the Russian-American Company, as early as 1799, 

 without protest or objection from any quarter, were invested with ab- 

 solute control of all the territory embraced in its charter, from Bering 

 Straits to the 55th parallel on the American coast, and as far south as 

 Japan on tlie continent of Asia, subject only to the ultimate sovereignty 

 of the G/ar. 



Twenty-two years later, upon the complaint of the company that 

 foreign traders were interfering with the rights conferred by its charter, 

 the Emperor Alexander issued the celebrated ordinance extending his 

 dominion to the 51st parallel on the North American coast, and pro- 

 hibiting foreign vessels to approach within 100 miles of the shore. We 

 quote the first three sections : 



Whereas it appears from reports submitted to us that the commerce of our subjects 

 on the Aleutian Islands, and along that part of the coast of northwestern America 

 belonging to the Russian domiujon, is exposed to injury and various molestations, 

 owing to the existence of secret, illicit trade ; and whereas it appears that the princi- 

 pal cause of siich molestations is to be found in the want of regulations establishing 

 the limits of navigation along these shores, and prescribing the order of procedure in 

 maritime matters along said shores, as in general on the eastern coast of Siberia and 

 the Kurile Islands, we have resolved to regulate these matters by a special ordinance 

 herewith appended. 



Transmitting said ordinance to the administrative senate, we order that it be pub- 

 lished for general information, and the proper steps be taken to carry it into execu- 

 tion. 



^' Ordinance —coucerning the restriction of navigation and regulating the coasting 

 traffic along the coasts of eastern Siberia, northwestern America, the Aleutian and 

 Kurile Islands, etc. 



" Section 1. The transaction t)f commerce, and the pursuit of whaling and fishing, 

 or any other industry on the islands, in the harbors and inlets, and, in general, all 

 along the northwestern coast of America from Bering Strait to the fifty-first parallel 

 of northern latitude, and likewise on the Aleutian Islands and along the eastern coast 

 of Siberia, and on the Kurile Islands; that is, from Bering Strait to the southern 

 promontory of the island of Urup, viz, as far south as latitude 45 degrees 50 minutes 

 north, are exclusively reserved to subjects of the Russian Empire. 



" Skc. 2. Accordingly, no foreign vessel shall be allowed either to put to shore at 

 any of the coasts and islands under Russian dominion as specified in the preceding 

 section, or even to approach the same to within a distance of less than 100 Italian 

 miles. Any vessel contravening this provision shall be subject to confiscation with 

 her whole cargo. 



" Skc. 3. Exempt from this prohil)itiou are: Vessels cast away in a storm, or com. 

 pelled to put lo shore on account of complete want of food provisions, provided they 

 are unable to laud anywhere else except at a coast belonging to Russia. In such 

 cases the vessels are required to furnish proof of the real existence of causes necessi- 

 tating the exemption. Ships scut out by friendly powers for merely scientific pur- 

 lioscs .ire also exempted from the preceding ro-^ul'ation (section 2). Snch ships must, 

 hu\\.M(>r, be provided beloroLiand with passports issued by the Russian ministry iii 

 marine." 



