The Georgetown news., 1855-11-15
Sitka-The RussO-Amcrican and Hud-
son Bay Fur Companies.

y
islands, north Of "a deg. 40 min. and the
whole Of the continent west of l4l deg, the
islands of the Kurile group to the south
point, in 45 deg. so min. This extensive
territory has been granted to a Russian
American Fur Company, which was estab-
lished under charter from the Emperor
Paul, 8th July, 1909, wit power to occupy
and bring under the dominion of Russia,
all territories north or south of 50 deg, not
previous y occupied and placed under sub
lection by another nation. The Russian
Company and Hudson Bay Company were
brought into collision, and the latter expe-
rienced considerable loss in their endeavors
to prevent British territory and the ada
cent regions being occupied by the Musco-
vites. In 1884, the Hudson Bay Company
expended several thousand pounds in an ex-
petition to establish trading stations en- the
large river Stickine, in Sc deg. 20 min
The Russians resented by force this proce-
dure Of the Company, although England
claimed the privilege of navigating the riv-
ers flowing from the interior of the CONT
nent to the Pacific, across the line of boun-
dairy established under the treaty Of 1925.
The British government required redress for
this intractlon Of the treaty; and after negO-
tiations between the two Governments, and
the two chartered companies, it was agreed
in 1889, that from lst June, 1910, the Hud-
son Bay Company should enjoy for ten
years the exclusive use Of the continent as
signed to Russia, by Mr. Canning in 1925,
and extending from "a deg. 40 min. north,
to Cape SpenSer, near So deg. north, in
consideration of the annual payment Of q
600 otter skins to the Russian American
Company, whose headquarters are at Sit
ka. The charter of the Russian Company
was renewed in 1889, when they had thirty
six hunting and fishing Establishments
Their stock bears high premium.
Sitka, or New Archangel, founded in
1905, is a military station, and the chief
post Of the Russian Fur Company. The
fort mounts sixteen short eighteen and for
ty-two nine Founders, and there are about
three hundred officers and men. Most of
the men, and all the officers, although in the
employ of the Company, receive pay and
promotion from the Russian Government,
while attached to the Company, in which
the Emperor is shareholder The Com
pany have twelve vessels, varying from one
hundred to four hundred tons each, mount
ing ten guns of different calibre.
About twelve of the Company's officers
dine daily at the table of the Governor,
which is sumptuouSly served. There is a
Greek Bishop, with several priests and dea-
cous, and also Lutheran Minister There
are schools for the children of the Europe
ans, and halfbreeds.
Subordinate to Sitka, there is a smaller
establishment of the same kind at Alaska,
which supplies one post in Bristol Bay and
three posts in Cooks Inlet, all connected
with minor stations, in the interior. An
other station in Norton Sound has its own
inland dependencies. The Russian Compa-
ny has also permanent forts or flying posts
in the Aleutian and Kurile Islands, and a
chain OF agencies from Ochotsk, in Kam-
schatka, to st. Petersburgh, for the trans
mission of goods, etc. The distances are
nearly thus, in geographical miles: St. Pc
tersburg-tO Moscow, 400; to Tobolsk, l.
800; to Irkutsh, l,600; to Yakusk, 800;
to Ochotsk, 600; thence to Petropaulowski
and the Bay of Avatchu, 100 miles.
The whole of the territories is divided in
to six agencies, each controlled by the
GOvernor-Generalw who resides at Sitka.
The inhabitants of the Aleutian and Ku-
rile Islands, and those Of the large island of
Kodiak, are regarded as the immediate ser
wants Of the Russian Company, in whose
service each man between Is and so may
be required to pass at least three years.
Nba Gf ( hn ol
two great bays called Cooks Inlet and
Prince Williams Sound, are also under the
control of the Company, and obliged to pay
an annual tax III turs and skins The other
abOrigines in the Russian territories are not
allowed to trade with any people but those
of the Russian Company. In 1889, the
number of Russians in the territories Of the
Company was 730; Of native subjects, l.
442 creoles; and about II 900 aborigines OF
the kurile, Aleutian and Kodiak Island.
When Sir @. Simpson visited Sitka. in
1912, the operations of the Company were
becoming kmore extensive than they had
hitherto been; the exclusive license OF trade
had been extended for a further term OF
twenty years-the direction was about to
be remodeled, and generally an improved
order of things was in progress: The Rus
sian trade in furs is considerable, not only
for the supply of Russia itself. but also for
bartpr with the Chinese at Kiatcha, on the
frontiers of Tartary.
The trade of Sitka, in 1912, was estima-
ted at 10000 fur seals, 1000 sea otterS,
- O0O beavers, $500 land otters. foxes,
martens and 10000 sea-horse teeth.
Formerly the Russians killed the seal
vouno or old, and at all times, to the num-
Der Of 100000 year, now they follow the
example Of the Hudson Bay Company and
kill only such limited number OF males as
have attained full growth.
The progress of Sitka in commerce is con-
siderable. In April, 1912, Sir G. Simpson
found eleven vessels and two steamers in
the harbor; one, steam tug, had its ma
chinery cast and manufactured at Sitka.-