ALASKA. 107 



THE HISTOET OP THE BUSINESS AS CONDUCTED BY THE 



RUSSIANS. 



[Translated by the writerfromVeniamiaov's Zapieskie, &c., Saiut Peterstarg, 



1842, vol. ii, pp. 568. *] 



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

 to 1805, (or that is, until the time of the arrival in America of 

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

 gressed without count 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 1806 and 



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

 removed to Ounalashka. 



In 1808 killing was again commenced, but the people in this 

 year were allowed to kill only on Saint George ; on Saint Paul hunt- 

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

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

 viously taken were annually killed. Prom this time ( Saint George, 



1808, and Saint Paul, 1810) up tol822, takingfurseals 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 Mlled, 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 should 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. Ohestyahkov, chief ruler after Moorayvev, estimated 

 that from the increase resulting from the legislation of Mooray- 

 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, he 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 possiblie 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 



* Tlie italics are mine, and the trauslatiou ia nearly literal, as might be inferred by the 

 idiom hero and there. — H. W. E. 



