The Iola register., 1886-10-29

Orel are the other flsh with which llT0se
waters abound. Herring arrive in vast
shoals along the whole southern coast.
The mackerel are equal in size and
flavor to those caught in Atlantic waters.
In San Francisco they have sold for $2A
per barrel Herring oil fisheries. near
Sitka, two years ago. produced 1000
gallons of oil. Last year they produced
100000 gallons. The product fol
this year will. it is thought be still
greater. In 1880 the Alaskan fisheries
proper were valued at total of $685..
600. These figures. of course. do moi
approach those for the fur-seal industry,
but the time will come when they will
far surpass them. The one must de-
crease, the other increase.
The fur interests of Alaska well
might receive as much space as this
whole article. SO great are they and SO
varied is their history. But the sketch
here must be brief. The Russian COM
pany during its first term, with an
original capital of 723.OOO rubles, in
creased afterward to 1885, ,740 rubles,
obtained between 1897 and 1920. a
period of % years, net earnings OF
/
rubles were distributed as dividends
and the remainder added to the capital,
making it about 4,570.OOO rubles.
During the ensuing period of II years
the yield fell off considerably. but the
dividends did not. There were sh p
ped in that time $4,000 sea-otter. 49,
600 fur seal, 162. 900 beaver, and 160,-
600 fox skins, 13S, 600 pounds of whale
bone, and 100000 pounds of walrus
tusks. The sum distributed among the
shareholders for this period was about
| 8. 500, 900 rubles, or double the sum for
the first period. For the third and last
term there was further increase, the
dividend amounting to 10, 2l0, ,00O rubles,
or an increase of nearly II per cent
The working capital had now
become over 13,6OO,OOO ru-
bles. The receipts for this third term
exceeded IS, 100000 rubles. The mere
statement of these figures is sufficiently
forcible. OF the fur operations since the
American purchase, it may be said that
between 1871 and 1888 about $4,000, 900
was paid to the United States Govern
ment as rent of the PrybilOf Islands and
tax on sealskins. The Alaska CONNER
cial Company for these seal islands
originally contracted to pay fixed
rental to the Government of $3.50 4
year, besides tax of $2.62l on each
fur-seal skin and 55 cents per gallon on
seal oil shipped from them. They also
engaged to maintain a school on each
island, and to furnish the natives with
certain amounts of food and firewOOd
free of charge. Between 1870 and 1888
our average revenue was about S3l7, 900.
For last year the company paid the
Government S262, ,437, the number of
sealskins taken being 99,9SO. At the
time the company acquired its lease it
represented capital of $4,000, 900 and
owned 80 trading posts in various parts
of the country. 1t gathered last year
nine-tenths of the worlds supply of sea-
otter skins. The catch now averages
from 5000 to 5000 year, which is
more than double the number secured be-
fore the purchase. These skins are
worth from S75 to 800 in London.
About 1000 blue fox skins are taken.
The other resources of the country
are several in number, but their full
value remains to be revealed. Coal
has been found near the mouth of Cook
Inlet From 1887 to 1861 over 200
tons were mined by the Russians. the
value of which was estimated at 46, 600
rubles. The thickness of the vein va
ried from nine to twelve feet, with 20
per cent. of mineral. Its extent was
great. The coal future of Alaska may
be very great. Petroleum of good
quality has been found near the same
region. Copper was known to the ma
tives and used by them. Masses weigh
ing thirty pounds and over have been
found. On Prince of Wales Island there
is valuable copper mine. Lead has
been found in several places. though
not in large deposits. Silver ore assay
ing $3.50 ton was found in 1881, but
it was thirty miles from tidewater. Gold
has been found in hundred streams,
but the mining of it there has never yet
been made very successful. On gold
mine at Douglas Island, known as the
Paris Lode, 100000 has been expend-
ed, and Mr.. Bancroft says the results
have ..fully justified the outlay" A
stamp mill, with capacity of 800 tons
day, was completed in the summer of
last year, and between June 10 and
September 19 the aggregate yield
amounted to Sl56. 900. though the mill
stood still for one-third of the period in
consequence of a dry season. These re-
suits led the company to undertake to
erect two additional furnaces and to
place electric lights in the mill, mine
and surrounding works.
~ e.t 70
was made soon after the purchase. He
heard everywhere on his way across the
continent expressions of disapproval of
the steps taken Y the administration.
Alaska was satir:cally named ..Wal-
russia" and mock advertisements ap-
peared offering the highest price for
waste lands, worn-out colonies. and
submerged and undiscovered islands.
The impression he got from the coun-
try, however was favorable one. He
was unwilling to believe that the bar
gain would prove a bad one. This was
at time when it would have been easy
and natural-especially for an English
man-to take the other view. 1t is re-
corded of Mr.. Seward that when some
one asked him what he considered the
most important measure of his political
career he replied: 1.-The purchase of
Alaska, but it will take the people a
generation to find it out" The fore
gong summary of the resources of
Alaska may hep to show how near
right was the great Secretary.-N =
Times.
unconscious veracity.