CHAPTER IV. 
EXPORT TIMBER TRADE. 
Tr is in the Governments of Olonetz and Archangel that 
the export timber trade of Russia has attained its greatest 
developments, and one of the most important marts is the 
town of Onega, which is situated on the river of that 
name at its embouchure into the Gulf of Onega on the 
White Sea. It flows from Lake Latcha, taking its 
departure not far from Kargopol. The district was afore- 
time annexed to the Republic of Novogarod, which granted 
permission to Dutch and other merchants to cut wood and 
dig iron and mica in the vicinity of the lake. 
Lake Latcha is connected with Lake Woshe a little further 
to thesouth. The river isa broad stream some four hundred 
miles in length, flowing through some fine scenery, and 
having its course varied by some fine rapids. 
For many years a considerable exportation of timber 
has been carried on by the English Timber Company, or 
the Onega Timber Company, as it is generally called, which 
has held a concession for the cutting and exportation of 
timber from the district. 
The most extensive timber operations in this district, 
and they may be considered the most extensive operations 
of the kind carried on by any one party in the empire, 
are those of this company, which is understood to be a 
company of British capitalists engaged extensively, if not 
exclusively, in the timber trade. From a gentleman well 
acquainted with the local administration I received the 
following information :— 
‘Most of the trees cut down for timber grow within a 
