94 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
The tax to be paid for skins was raised considerably. Under the present contract 
the company pays to the Russian Government 10.38 “metallic” rubles (gold) per skin 
taken, one-half to be ]»aid in St. Petersburg in the month of May, in advance of the 
sealing season. This advance payment, from 1891 to 1894, was made on a basis of 
50,000 skins to be taken. In the meantime Russia had agreed with England not to 
take more than 30,000 skins a year, hence from 1895 the advance payment was made 
on a basis of only 30,000 skins. The other lialf is paid at the end of the season, when 
tlie amonnt of the catch is known. Tlie amount which the Russian Government pays 
the natives for their work, 1.50 rubles per skin, is usually paid at the islands by the 
company at the end of the season and deducted from the draft of the balance due in 
St. Petersburg. It will be seen that by this arrangement the Russian Government is 
amply protected, but in addition the company is obliged to deposit Imperial Russian 
bonds with the Government in St. Petersburg to an amount ecpraling that of the 
advance payment. 
The entire sealing business is exclusively in the hands of the local administration, 
and the company has nothing further to do with it but to receive the skins at the side 
of the vessel, except that it accepts or rejects the skins immediately npon theii- being 
brought from tbe killing-gTounds and superintends the salting of the skins, for which 
purpose it also furnishes the salt. The administrator, therefore, has unlimited power 
to determine how many seals are to be taken, and also how, when, where, and by whom 
they are to be taken. The Government undertakes the driving, killing, skinning, 
salting, bundling, and delivery. The administration takes the temporary receipt for 
the skins issued by the company’s overseer at the salt-houses and finally the agent’s 
receipt when the skins are received on board the company’s vessel. The skins are 
then brought to Petropanlski, where the ispravnik can not give clearance papers with- 
out first receiving the certificate of the administrator of the islands that the company 
has complied with the Government requirements. 
Like Hutchinson, Kohl, Philippeus Oo., whose establishments both on the 
islands and in Petropanlski the Russian Seal Skin Company acquired, the latter has 
the exclusive right to keep a store on each island in which to sell to the natives such 
staples and articles as are necessary for their existence and comfort. The company 
is not allowed to bring such articles as it may deem thus necessary, bnt the adminis- 
trator each year makes out a detailed list of quantities and qualities, specified in the 
minntest details, which goods the c.ompany, upon his recpiisition, are obliged to bring 
during the year and to sell to the natives at a certain stipulated percentage over the 
cei'tified market price, the Government showing a decided preference for Russian 
goods. Should any of the goods thus ordered remain unsold on the company’s hands 
the loss falls upon the company. As a rule, the company sells for cash to the natives, 
unless the administrator expressly authorizes a fainily head to take goods on credit, 
in which individual case the amount is si)ecifically limited. At the first distribution 
of money for work or furs the amount is paid and the debt canceled before new sales 
can be made. 
For the privilege of thus trading the company has to pay all the various license 
and guild fees to which the Russian merchants are liable, in this case amounting to 
many hundred rubles. 
