The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-05-07
History Of Behring Sea.

The Sea of Kamchatka was dis
covered in the year 1925 by Vitus
Behring. Vitus Behring was Rus
sian subject, sailing under the Rus
sian flag. From the date of that
discovery until the purchase OF
Alaska in 1867 Russia held undis-
puted sway over the sea, whose
name had been changed to Behring,
in honor of its discoverer.
In1745 the Aleutian Islands were
discovered, and in 1868, the inter-
ests of the Russians becoming more
fully awakened, the sea, its islands
and coast were explored by order
of Queen Catharine of Russia.
In 1890 the Pribylov Islands were
found. They were desolate and unin-
habited but the Government, find
ing them to be the great assembly
ground of the fur seals, transferred
Aleuts from their native islands.
After a time they became contented
and settled on the fog-dimmed Pri-
bylovs afterward nothing could in
duce them to forsake their adopted
home.
Having found otter, seal and
other valuable animals within the
limits of its territory, Russian pro-
lection was extended, and as early
as the year 1894 the right to trade
with the islands was granted to mer-
chants by Russia, the Government
always requiring percentage of the
gains. From 1925 to 1867. a period
of 142 years, Russian monarchs
held as absolute sway over Behring
Sea as over any other part of their
domain. If individual or company
desired to trade within its boundary
the permission came from the Gear,
with rules and stipulations to which
they were compelled to adhere.
In the treaty of cession, the west
ern limit of Russian America, or
Alaska, is as positively stated as the
eastern limit, viz: "The western
limit within which the territories
and dominions conveyed are con-
tanned passes through a point in
Behring Straits on the parallel OF
IS degrees 80 minutes N, at its in
tersection by the meridian which
passes midway between the Islands
of krusenstern or Ingalook, and
the Island of Ratmanoff, or Noon.
arboak, and proceeds due north
without Limitation into the same
frozen ocean.
The same western limit, beginning
at the same initial point, proceeds
thence in course nearly southwest,
through Behring Strait and Behring
Sea so as to pass midway between
the northwest point of the Island
of st. Lawrence and the southeast
point of Cape Choukotski, to the
meridian of 172 W.; thence from
the intersection of that meridian in
a southeasterly direction, so as to
pass midway between the Island of
Attou and the Copper Island of the
| Kormandorsky couplet or group in
the North Pacific Ocean, to the
meridian of 1913 degs. w., so as to
include in the territory conveyed
the whole of the Aleutian Islands
east of the meridian"
Thus it will be seen that Behring
Sea is recongnized as part Of the
territory divided between Russia
and the United States. No other
country has claimed islands or other
possessions within it's limits, and
its topography makes it impossible
that it should be claimed as an
open highway. Behring Strait is a
passage between Siberia and Alaska,
and beyond that is the Attic Ocean
and unexplored regions. It is there
fore practically an inland sea sub
| ject to the dominion Of the nations
bordering upon its waters. And
here the question strikes one rather
forcibly, if the United States side Of
the sea is free foraging ground, why
is not the Russian portion equally
free?
If the sea was Russia's to give,
then the portion sold is as truly
the property Of the purchaser as it
was her own previous to the nego-
tiation. IF the Alaska side was not
legally hers, neither is the remain
der, and therefore poachers have
the same right in all parts; they
are no longer poachers, and are
amenable to no law for taking pub
lie property. But Russia is ready
to protect her rights, and no nation
has the temerity to dispute them.
The United States has been 80 sure
of just appreciation of her claims
that she has made no provision for
their Infringement t.-Philad'a Star.
Hope for Thin Women.
Pleasant, indeed, are the ways
that lead to corpulence, says Celia
Logan in "How to Reduce Your
Weight" making . little detour in
favor Of the thin women. It's broad
avenues may be named Eat street,
Drink street, Sleep-and-take-your-
ease street. Five articles of food
may be said to be the foreordained
means of building up int. They