any pactof these interior coasts above 54° 40° north Iutitude. Thus it is perfectly plain that by the claim of Russia to sovereiguty over wll the northwest eoast of America ahove SL deerees north latitude up to Bering Strait. and by interdicting trade with the natives of that coast throughout its whole length, Russia, Great Britain and the United States understood distinctly that by “coast” was meant the entire boundary of all of the waters of the bays and inlets in comtroversy.
CLAIM OF GREAT BRITAIN TO NORTHWEST COAST.
Great Britain set up a vague, indefinite claim in contlict with the claim of Russia, Tt is indieated by Mr, Pelly, Deputy Governor of the Hudson's Bay Compuny to Mr. George Canning in a letter of September 25, 1822, Tt is lased upon the oceupaney hy the Hud- son's Bay Company of trading stations in the interior of the coun- try then known as New Caledonia, which he describes as heing west of the Rocky Mountains and extending from about 49- latitude north tonhout 4° north latitude. Te indicates the location of these sta- tions, but none of them are near any part of the voust. He adds:
By these iieans an extensive tree is carried on with all those Didian tribes which inhabit the country from abent 60° north latitude as far south as the month of Fraser's Rivér, which is in abont 44° north latitnde, amd between the Rocky Memutains and the sea.
The British for traders have never met with the truer: of any other nation in that conntry, and it dees not appear that any part of it has ever heen occupied by the subjects of Rassia or of any other foreign Power.
All the considerable rivers whieh: fall inte the Pacitie Ocean in this extent of coast have not yet been sutlicienthy explored to ascertain whether any of them are omivivable with large beats, aud Jute safe liarbours at their discharge inte the sea; the fare procured in that country have therefore been brought to Eng- land down the Peace River and through the Minison’s Bay Company's territories. Bat it is probable that, in steh an extent of const, some practicable commmunica- tion with the sea will be discoveret which woul save the expensive transport of gomls and furs throngh the interior of America. . .
| have thus given a brief outline of the Britieh trating stations on the northwest coast of America, etc.[1]
Although he designates these stations as being “on the northwest coast of America,” not one of them is situated west of the 127th degree of west longitude. The nearest one indicated is about the
- ↑ U. S. C. App., 109–110.
