that a regular custom-house be established at Monterey.
The fur trade is a branch of Californian commerce respecting which we have but little information for the period covered by this chapter. Foreigners secured most of the otter skins by contraband methods; the Indians killed a few animals as in former years; and in several instances Californians were regularly licensed by the territorial authorities to engage in otter-hunting on the coast. Hardly a vessel sailed without carrying away more or less skins, which all traders were eager to obtain. The authorities, both of nation and territory, understood the importance of this export, and made some weak and unsuccessful efforts to develop it, or at least to secure the legal revenue which even as carried on at the time it should yield.[1]
A slight controversy about the obtaining of salt from the salinas near Los Angeles in 1834 brought the general subject before the authorities. The pueblo claimed the salinas and refused the request of San Fernando and San Gabriel to use them. The decision locally is not known, but from communications between Ramirez, Herrera, and Figueroa, it appears that the estanco on salt had not been very strictly en-
- ↑ Figueroa, Cosas Financieras, 1834, MS. March, 1831, Victoria permits otter-hunting on condition that two thirds of the crews be Californians; that S. Francisco be the northern limit of hunting; and that duties be paid on the skins taken by the Aleuts for their share. Dept. Rec., MS., ix. 94; April, the Kadiaks offered to give instruction in the art of taking otter. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxx. 200. April, Pacheco at Sta Bárbara denies having permitted otter-hunting. Dept. St. Pap., Ben., MS., ii. 5. Aug., hunting free to Californians, so long as there is no intercourse with foreigners or abuse of gentiles. Dept. Rec., MS., ix. 41. In 1832 Estrada, Castro, Ortega, and Alvarado were licensed to take otter in S. Francisco Bay; hired Aleuts and bidarkas from the Russians; obtained the services of mission Indians from S. José; and did quite a prosperous business for a time. Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 39-40; iii. 8; Vallejo, Notas, MS., 36-8. Sept. 8th, Zamorano to com. of S. Francisco. Vallejo, Doc., MS., i. 323. Subject mentioned in the instructions to Figueroa. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., ii. 221-2. Feb. 16, 1833, Figueroa permits Teodoro Gonzalez to hunt otters from Monterey to Sta Bárbara. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 92-5. May 2, 1834, proposition to impose a tax on skins exported considered in the dip. Leg. Rec., MS., ii. 51. Robinson, Statement, MS., 19, says he collected about 3,000 otter skins in one year, which he sent to China. The best were worth $60.
