Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-08-13
Tne FUR Trade Of Alasnn-

For years Spain, by her possession OF
uexico and Central America, dominated
.he Pacific and enrlched herself with
he commerce of the Indies. In vain
England and other powers sougnt for
tome other route INTO the Pacific than
lae long and dangerous one around
Cape Horn. There existed at that time
+ general belief among geographers
that from Hudson's Bay or the North
Sea, as the Arctic Ocean was then
cslled, aud which was considered easily
accessible from the Atlantic, there
must be a passage into the Pacific.
which was known as the Straits OF
knian. DilIgent search on the Atlantic
side, and occasional voyages in the
Pacific, failed to reveal such a geo.
graphical feature. At last, in 172S,
Russian expedition under Behring sailed
through the straits which how bear his
name, without being aware that they
were out of the open sea.
In 174l Behring, after long voyage
ID search of the American coast sight
cd the snowy crest of q giant peak,
the first glimpse the great explorer had
of the continent of America, and named
it st. Elias. With his crew afflicted
with scurvy, engendered b. improper
food AID exposure during their long
voyage, and himself failing rapidly IN
health, Bebring sailed tor home without
exploring the discovered land. For
months the vessel wandered simlessly
about until 1t was wrecked upon small
island of almost barren rock rising
abruptly from the water. Here the
crew passed the winter. subsisting upon
fish and the fur-bearing seals and other
amphiblous animals they were able to
capture. On this bleak isle, where the
roar of the surf beating against its
rocky cliffs never ceases, the spirit of
BehriDg took Its flight. He AID many
OF his affllcted crew we're buried there
by their surviving comrades before the
return of spring and sunshine gave
them renewed vigor and hope. Con-
structing then q rade craft from the
timbers of their wrecked vessel, the
few Survivors launched it upon the un-
known waters, ard, turning the bow to
the westward, finally reached the Bay
of Avatschs, from which they had
started a ear before. With them they
took the skins of the animals they had
slain, using them for clothing and
blankets. These proved to be very
valuable, leading to the dispatch Of
several vessels to the islands of the
Aleutian group In search ef more. Thus
began the fur trade to the Pacific. The
little sea-girt island Is known to the
present day as Behring's Isle. This
was followed by the establishment of
stations for the fur trade on the islands
and at various points on the mainland.
These ftirs were chiefly procured by
purchase from the natives, and were all
sent by vessel to the town of Petro-
pavlovski, in Ksmtschatks. from which
they were forwarded by dog sledges to
Irkutsk, a distance of 3, ,450 miles.
From there some were sent south l. 300
miles to Pekin, China, and the others
were forwarded across 700 miles of
dreary waste to st. Petersburg. The
poorest nsvigators and least scientific
explorers of the Pacific were the Rus
slams and Spanisrds. One English yoy-
age was worth dozen such as they ire
quently made. Russians occupied the
coasts and islands of Alaska thirty
years, entertaining the belief that from
Mount st. Elias westward and north
westward to the coast OF Asia was vast
sea OF islands; while the Spaniards, af-
ter several voyages from Mexico to
Alaska, were unable to draw chart of
the coast line with the least approach 10
accuracy. 1t was left for the celebrated
-kA 49, b,
England IN search of the Straits of
Aaian, to demonstrate to the Russians
IN 171S that Alaska was a vast north
western projection of the continent,
ringed with thousands of islands great
and small, and to enlighten the Span
Iards upon the character of our coast |
line, though only following the course
pursued by their own vessels few |
years before.
The Alaskan fur trade was concen-
rated in the hands OF the Russian /
American Trading Company by royal
charter in 17S1, and was expanded |
mil there were forty stations estab- |
ished on the islands and mainlands, |
with headquarters at New Archangel, |
Or Sltka, as 1t is now called. The |
charter was renewed in 1899, and ex-
pired finally in 1868. and four years
ater Alaska was purchased by the |
United States. In 1870 the Govern
nent leased to the Alaska Commercial
Company the exclusive privilege of
catching fur seals IL the new territory, |
continuing them to the two iGlands of st.
Paul and st. George. and limiting the
lumber of seals TO be killed annually |
o loo, 900. This lease was for twenty
Years, and has six years yet to run.
The yearly rental is $50, 900 and 50 tax
ipon each seal taken. not enough to
pay in the twenty years the purchase
'Iice, though the company has realized
hat sum many times over. The North
vest Trading Company has stations at
7arious points, where are collected furs
If all kinds, and where they are largely
Engaged in packing fish and manufac-
uriug oil. The fur-bearing animals
hat abound, such as the wolf, fox,
beaver, ermine, marten, otter, squirrel,
,ear. aud the numberless multitude of
eals that swarm about the rocks and
slaIds of the coasts, furnish an annual
upply Of fur that is exceedingly valu-
.ble. 1t was at first feared that the de-
truchon of 100 900 seals annually would
esul; in their practical determination,
,ut observation proves the contrary to
,e the case.