The Opening of the Maritime Fur Trade at Bering Strait

Book excerpt: Makes a significant contribution to our knowledge of the early maritime trade in the northern Pacific in general, & in the Bering Strait area in particular. The maritime fur trade was an important commercial force in the Bering Strait region from the early 19th cent. until the outbreak of WW2; nevertheless, its origins are not well understood. But two important documents shed considerable light on the genesis of this trade. These manuscripts describe the voyages of the Amer. trading brigs "Gen. San Martin" & "Pedler" in 1819-20. They provide info. on the relationships that existed between the Amer. maritime traders & the Russian officials in Kamchatka & Alaska, as well as with the inhab. of the Bering Strait region in the first qtr. of the 19th cent. Illustrations.