FISHERIES IN ALASKA.. 



No. 



Mr. F. W. Seward to Mr. Chappdl, 



Department of State, 



Washington, June 6, 1867. 

 Sir : I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th ultimo, and 

 to state, in reply, that it is not deemed expedient at this time to give such a letter 

 as you desire. It may be proper, however, to inform you that authority has 

 been granted to the collector of customs at San Francisco to clear vessels from 

 that port to Sitka, in Russia America, under certified manifests countersigned by 

 the Russian consul, domestic goods not taxable, and other foreign and domestic 

 goods on which all duties and taxes have been paid, but no others, and no arms, 

 ammunition or ardent spirits. No other shipment to Sitka, nor any shipments 

 of merchandise to any other parts or places in Russian America, can be author- 

 ized in the present transition stage of the territory. It is presumed that when 

 the formal transfer of the territory and public property shall have been fully 

 accomplished the Treasury Department will develop, as rapidly as the public 

 interest may require, facilities for trade and the prosecution of the fisheries, and 

 will duly promulgate through the press ail proper information on the subject. 

 I am. sir. your obedient servant, 



F. W. SEWARD, 

 Acting Secretary. 



No. 6. 



Mr. Broivnmg to Mr. Seward. 



Department of the Interior, 



Washington, D. C, October 26, 1S67. 

 Sir : In reply to your communication of the 24th instant in relation to attempts 

 of American citizens to acquire pre-emption rights to lands at Sitka, in the newly 

 acquired Territory of Alaska, I have the honor to enclose for your information 

 a copy of a report this day made to me by the Commissioner of the General Land 

 Office upon the subject of your inquiries. Such claims and settlements are not 

 only without the sanction of law, but are in direct violation of the provisions of 

 the laws of Congress applicable to public domain secured to the United States 

 by any treaty made with a foreign nation ; and, if deemed necessary and advisa- 

 ble, military force may be used to remove the intruders. 



This department has no officers at Sitka, nor in any other part of the " Rus- 

 sian purchase," and must rely upon the State Department to cause the necessary 

 orders in the premises to be communicated to our authorities there. 



I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



.0. H. BROWNING, Secretary. 

 Hon. William H. Seward, 



Secretary of State. 



Mr. Wilson to Mr. Browning. 



Department of the Interior, 



General Land Office, October 26, 1867. 

 Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the department letter of 

 yesterday, enclosing a communication of the 24th from the honorable Secretary 



